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How To Install A Water Softener

Hard water is the type of water enriched in minerals, that can stain your sinks, clog pipes, affects the performance of detergent, and is even harsher on human skin. A water softener is an appliance that removes excess minerals from water, making it usable.

how to install a water softener

General location for installation

The first thing to worry about is where to install it. Generally, it should be somewhere outside easy to install in your plumbing system. In most houses, the ideal place will be near the water heater, in the garage, or the basement. Some places you should avoid installing it are in direct sunlight, or a place where there is a chance of water freezing in it, otherwise it can result in permanent damage to your water softener.

Another thing to keep in mind if you have a water softener installed in your home when the temperature is expected to drop below 40-degree Fahrenheit or 4-degrees Celsius, you can protect your water softener equipment by completely draining the equipment.

The thing required in the installation place beforehand:

The required tools are as follows:

Slip joint pliers

Plumbers tape

Tape measure

Tube cutter

Soldering torch

Things At That Place

You should decide the place for the water softener after confirming the presence of the following things at that place:

  • A water drain in the floor or a utility sink for the recharging process. The drain should only be less than 30 feet away from the unit and the drain line elevation from the ground should be less than or equal to 8 inches. Two 1-inch NPT female connectors and tubing to connect the water softener unit to your existing plumbing. An electrical receptacle, up to the required amperage of the equipment
  • A water drain in the floor or a utility sink for the recharging process. The drain should only be less than 30 feet away from the unit and the drain line elevation from the ground should be less than or equal to 8 inches. Two 1-inch NPT female connectors and tubing to connect the water softener unit to your existing plumbing. 
  • An electrical receptacle, up to the required amperage of the equipment

Plumbing Requirements

Meanwhile, the plumbing requirements for this process are as follows:

  • A water flow of 3 gallons per minute through the inlet.
  • Maximum water pressure of 125 PSI. 

Electrical Requirements

The electrical requirements are as follows

  • A 120 volt, and 60 HTZ grounded outlets are also equipped with a circuit breaker.
  • In case you use an extension cord, make sure it is a ‘number 20 AWG’ appliance replacement cord. 

Preferred Location

If you want the water softener to supply water to the whole house, it is preferred to install it just before the water heater, as it also helps decrease the sediment buildup in it. As the hard water is softened by adding sodium, drinking it may pose a health risk to the people, so we will have to bypass the water faucets used to collect drinking water.

Steps for Plumbing a water softener:

Here comes the part where you install the water softener in your plumbing system. We will walk you through the basic steps to follow and the basic information needed to do so.

Step-1

Place the water, softener where you will attach it, and measure the pipes to be attached. Make sure the after inlet should be attached to the water supply, and the outlet is attached with the water heater.

Step-2

Now, shut all of your house’s water supply valves, the water heater’s supply, and its power. Then drain the remaining water in the pipes by opening some bottom floor faucets.

Step-3

Using a pipe cutter, cut into the water supply line to install elbow fittings, resulting in two lines in the inlet and out of the outlet of the bypass valve. In the correct orientation, the hard water goes into the water softener through the inlet, and soft water will come out of the outlet and be supplied to the house

Step-4

Install the pipes leading to the bypass valve. Solder the nipples and fittings beforehand to protect the plastic bypass valve from melting. Use compression fittings to attach pipes to the water softener. One thing to bear in mind is that if your electrical system is dependent on the plumbing system for grounding purposes, a jumper across the water softener unit must be installed for safe grounding.

Step-5

Fix the drain hose with the water softener and run it to a drain. The hose end must be at least 2 inches above the drain hole to avoid back siphoning of wastewater. One thing to note here is that the drain hose size should be dependent on the distance of its run and height in relation to the inlet. For example, a ½-inch Interior Diameter (ID) line can cover a distance of 15 feet, with its discharge being lower than the inlet. You will require a 5/8-inch ID for the same distance if the discharge is slightly higher than the inlet. For 15 to 25 feet, with the design being above the inlet, you use ¾ inch ID. The brine’s tank overflow tube should also be attached. The overflow discharge is set to the power to the overflow fitting

Step-6

When the softener is successfully installed, set the valve to ‘bypass’ and open the faucets and let the water run for a few minutes, to clear out any air in the pipes to prevent airlock, and any build-up sediment in the pipes. Then turn the water heater on again by opening its valves.

Step-7

Now set the valve to ‘backwash’ after the water softener in plugging it in an electrical receptor.

Step-8

Expel any buildup air left in the valve by partially opening the inlet control in the bypass valve. When the water starts flowing smoothly, open the inlet and outlet bypass controls. Then follow the instructions to fill the tank with the specified ratio of water and salt.

Step-9

Now plug in the power and again press regenerate. Wait until the unit is in its next stage, then repeat this process until you reach the ‘service’ setting.

Step-10

For the final step, you just have to program the controls.

Installing a water softener on your own can save you money, and experience in how to manage your household tools, but you have to be very careful in carrying out each step because if installed in the wrong way, it can affect your whole plumbing system. 

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