Should You DIY or Just Buy?

In this article, we’re going to discuss if you should DIY or BUY something. We’re talking about the Premium Dual RV/Marine Water Softener Regeneration Kit and Water Filter. This dual-stage water filtration equipment is very popular with RVers. The first stage works as a prefilter that catches any sediment such as dirt, rust, and other larger particles that may be floating in the water. The second stage is to eliminate chlorine, improve taste and odors. 

When it’s not being used as a prefilter, it doubles as a regeneration kit for ANY portable water softener that is equipped with ¾” garden hose fittings. Simply fill up the housing with either Morton’s Water Softener Salt or 2lbs of table salt. Then proceed to do a backwash to eliminate all of the calcium and magnesium the resin has been holding on to. The MSRP for this kit is $45.99, in many cases, you might be able to find it for as low as $39.99. And for that price, you also get the following: brine hose and quick-connect fittings to easily connect the unit to your water softener using standard garden hose ports

So now that you know what it does, how much it costs, can you build one with off-the-shelf parts for cheaper? Let’s find out! 

 Below is a screenshot of an itemized parts list that makes up the Regen Kit. The only thing we’re missing would be the poly tubing, which can be purchased online for around $10, we also do not have the female garden hose to ¼” connector, those could be found on Amazon for another $10. So if we add the two parts we’re missing, plus the amount below, we’re already looking at  $74.49! 

If you’re thinking that you could piece together a regen kit with parts found on Amazon.com, you can, but you’ll end up spending nearly the same amount, around $70.96.

DIY solutions for a variety of products and projects will allow anyone to save money,  but for a regen kit, you’re better off purchasing the premade Pro+Aqua Pre-Filter/Regen kit from iFilters.com because it has everything you need and you don’t have to order parts from different sellers, hoping that it all arrives on time and that they fit together. Plus the kit from iFilters offers is cheaper than going the DIY route.