How to Install a Water Softener

Excessively hard water can damage plumbing pipes and appliances, it can cause problems for bathing and washing clothes, and it can affect the taste of water used for drinking and cooking. Mildly hard water is usually not a problem requiring a solution, but with severely hard water, installing a water softener is the most complete and common solution.

When Does Hard Water Require Softening?

At one point, water softener companies successfully convinced most homeowners that they needed water softeners. This trend has changed in recent years, and state health departments now recommend that water softeners are advisable only when tests show that the mineral content of the water exceeds 7 grains per gallon. If you have excessively hard water, a water softener can improve its taste, reduce water spots on dishes, prevent scale buildup on pipes, and improve the ability of soap to clean dishes and clothes.

But be aware that softening water can have some negative effects. In some cases, softened water can corrode pipes, leading to elevated lead and copper levels in drinking water. A water softener can also cause increased sodium levels in drinking water, and the automatic recharge cycle in a water softener causes sodium to be sent into the environment via the sewer system. And the process by which water softeners regenerate also wastes a considerable amount of water.

Before installing a water softener, make sure that you truly need one, and weigh the possible negatives. If your water test shows a hardness level of about 7 grains per gallon or less, there probably is no reason to consider a water softener.

Before You Begin

Test the Water Supply

Before installing a water softener, have the hardness of your potable water supply tested. Knowing how hard the water is ahead of time will help you determine the proper settings for the softener, and it can help you decide which water softener system is right for you.

There are also DIY test kits available, similar to those used to test swimming pool water. These water quality tests can be purchased at any home center or hardware store, or from online retailers.

Check Your Utilities

Water hardness information may already be available from your community's water utility department, which should have precise measurements of the mineral hardness of the water supply. In some areas, especially those that draw water from lakes and rivers, the water supply may be sufficiently soft that no homes require water softeners. In other regions, especially those that draw water from wells, the hardness may be high enough that all homes will benefit from softened water.

Select Proper Location

Before beginning installation, you'll need to select a location for the unit. The water softener needs to be positioned where it can condition the indoor potable water supply, but not the pipes leading to outdoor water connections. Softened water can damage or kill living plants, so you should install the water softener so that unconditioned water can still flow to outdoor spigots and lawn irrigation systems. Check the unit’s instructions for the recommended uses of the softened water.

Find a suitable flat location for the water softener, accessible on all sides. All water softeners make use of two tanks: a mineral tank (sometimes called a resin tank) which contains plastic resin beads that capture hard minerals through an ion-attraction process, and a brine tank containing salt or potassium chloride solution that periodically pumps water through the mineral tank to wash and regenerate the plastic resin beads. In some models, both tanks are combined in one convenient unit. Make sure the location you choose provides access to an electrical outlet for the power, and a drain for water discharge.

Can I Install a Water Softener Myself?

Installing a water softener is fairly straightforward, provided you have the plumbing skills required to make the various water supply connections. It's regarded as an advanced-level project for that reason. You will likely be cutting into plumbing pipes to insert the water softener into the water supply system, and this may require using a propane torch to solder copper pipes and fittings. If you're not experienced at this type of work, it is better to have the water softener installed by a plumber or water softener service that specializes in this work.

Installing a water softener will be easier if you understand precisely how a water softener works. Some research on the different types of water softeners and how they function is a good idea.

The project demonstrated here shows how to install the most popular type of water softener, an ion-exchange system that uses a brine tank with salt or potassium pellets to provide the backwash solution. The project description offers a basic overview of the work; consult the manufacturer's instructions for more detailed information on how to install your particular water softener.