Shower Softener Instructions
First-Time Setup Instructions: Connecting an On The Go Portable Water Softener to a Shower
**If you purchase the shower softeners (Click Here) directly from us, they will come with the 1/2-inch NPT fittings pre-installed.**
Garden hose fittings and garden hoses should never be used in a shower setup.
1. Preparation & Required Parts
Before beginning, gather the following components:
- On The Go Portable RV Water Softener On The Go Softener (Note: The black fittings included with the softener will NOT work with a shower connection. They need to be removed and replaced with the correct ones)
- On The Go Portable Shower Water Softener Shower Water Softener
- Handheld shower head Shower Head (Required so you can use the softener inline with the shower.)
- Shower hoses (1/2" connections) Shower Hose (An additional hose is typically needed. We do not sell hoses that work in showers. You should never use a garden hose)
- Fittings 3/4" NPT Male x 1/2" NPT
- 3/4" NPT Male × 1/2" NPT fittings (Required to replace the black fittings in the softener’s gray head.)
- Thread sealant Thread sealant (Teflon tape or pipe dope for sealing leak-free connections.)
- Adjustable wrench or pliers (Use gently—most connections should be hand-tight.)
- Turn off the water supply to the shower before starting.
2. Installation Steps
Step 1: Prepare the Shower Arm
- Install the handheld shower head/wand according to its instructions.
Step 2: Install fittings (if you purchased the RV softener)
- Remove the black fittings from the softener’s gray head.
- Turn LEFT (counterclockwise) to remove. (lefty loosey, righty tighty).
- Turning right will over-tighten them and can snap them off inside the gray head. If this happens you will need to contact us for a removal tool.
- Apply thread sealant to the 3/4" NPT Male × 1/2" NPT fittings.
- Thread the adapters into the gray head until snug.
- Do NOT torque them down, over tightening tapered pipe threads will crack the gray head.
Step 3: Connect Shower Hose to the Inlet Side
- Apply thread sealant on all threaded connections
- Hook a shower hose from the wall/shower arm to the inlet of the softener.
Alternative Setup: If using a pre-filter, connect the filter to the wall/shower arm, then run a shower hose from the filter’s outlet to the softener’s inlet.
Step 4: Position the Softener
- Place the softener upright inside the shower.
- The base is adjustable to help level the unit on uneven surfaces.
Step 5: Flush the System (Crucial First-Use Step)
- Turn the water on very slowly.
- Check for leaks
- Let water run out of the OUTLET into a drain.
- Flush until resin dust is cleared (time varies by model).
- Turn the water off after flushing.
Step 6: Connect the Softener Outlet
- Apply thread sealant and connect the softener’s outlet to the shower head/wand a shower hose.
- Make sure the top cap is tight.
Step 7: Test for Leaks
- Slowly turn the water supply back on.
- Check every connection.
- If a leak appears:
- Turn off the water
- Dry the connection
- Slightly tighten the fitting and add more sealant
- Re-test
Your water softener is now ready for use!
Click here for the Water Softener Regeneration Process
Click here for the Water Softener Backflush Process
Click here to Determine the Capacity of your Water Softener
NOTE: For the regeneration and backflush process, the instructions may not align perfectly since the unit isn’t being used in an RV. These water softeners are designed specifically for RV applications, so the provided instructions are tailored with RV users in mind.
⚠️ Important Notes About Tapered Threads & Overtightening
Why Overtightening Causes Failures
Tapered pipe threads seal by wedging together. Too much force causes:
- Excessive internal pressure
- Material stress on fittings and the softener head
- Failures such as:
- Cracked female fittings (common with plastic)
- Stripped or deformed threads
- Broken pipes or broken adapters inside the softener head
This is the most common cause of damage to the gray head fittings.
How Thread Sealant Prevents Problems
Use Teflon tape or pipe dope because it:
- Lubricates the threads during tightening
- Prevents galling or seizing
- Fills microscopic gaps to create a watertight seal
NOTE:
Why It Takes Longer for Hot Water to Reach the Shower When Using a Softener
When you connect a portable water softener to your home shower, the water must travel through the softener first before reaching your showerhead. This extra step slightly increases the distance, and therefore the time, it takes for hot water from your water heater to arrive.
Inside the softener, water flows through the resin tank, moves around the resin beads, and then continues through the connecting hoses and adapters before entering the shower line. Because of this added pathway, the incoming hot water needs more time to push out the cooler water already sitting inside the softener and hoses.
In short:- The softener holds water inside it.
- That water must be pushed out before the new hot water reaches the shower.
- The more water volume the system contains, the longer it takes for hot water to appear. This delay is completely normal and expected. Once the hot water reaches the softener and moves through the system, your shower will heat up and operate normally.
Max Temp: 110 degrees Fahrenheit
Purchasing this unit from Amazon, modifying it, and then damaging it does not make it defective. Amazon orders do NOT have free return shipping. We strongly encourage you to contact us before installation if you have any questions. Many issues arise when customers without plumbing experience attempt installation and damage the system. If you are unfamiliar with: Pipe thread vs. garden hose thread, Tapered vs. straight threads, Proper tightening techniques (“righty-tighty, lefty-loosey”) call before installing this unit. Improper installation will likely result in damage to the softener.
