How to Install a Water Softener

Hard water refers to the type of water that is enriched with dissolved minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, cations, carbonates, bicarbonates and sulfates. You can check whether a water sample is hard or soft by using soap or detergent. If the water sample containing soap or detergent lathers easily, then it is soft water. On the contrary, hard water does not form lather easily. The effects of using hard water in our day-to-day activities are so unpleasing that many homeowners prefer to soften hard water either by temporary water softening methods or water softener installation.

The working principle of a water softener is to replace the hardness ions present in the water sample, namely calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. In simpler terms, water softeners are ion exchangers. Even though the resulting water after being treated with a water softener contains high sodium ions, they do not cause scale formation in the pipes or scum formation with soap or detergents. Let's take a look on how to install a water softener.

How to Install a Water Softener

Water softeners are available as fully automatic, semi-automatic and manually operated units. The rating of the unit is given according to the amount of hardness that it removes from a water sample prior to regeneration process. You can choose a model as per your personal preference and budget limits. If you have basic plumbing skills, you can easily install water softener. Following are the steps that should be followed while installing a water softener:

Preparation for Installing a Water Softener

Much of the water softener installation steps are done with reference to the user manual provided with the water softener unit. Read the instructions carefully and gather the necessary tools required for fixing the unit. Also, prior to installing a water softener, certain preparatory steps should be done, which are discussed as follows:

• Decide the location of the water softener; select a dry, evenly leveled and safe area.
• The water softener should be installed at the main trunk that supplies the indoor water lines.
• In case of water softener models that consist of two tanks (brine and resin), they should be positioned closely. Ensure that the brine tank is located in an accessible location.
• Switch off the electric supply to the water heater, before you begin installing the water softener.
• Turn off the water supply at the main source by adjusting the shutoff valves.
• Open all the plumbing fixtures (both indoors and outdoors) to drain the water from the water lines.

Installing a Water Softener

Once you have completed the preparatory steps for installing a water softener, you can start with the actual installation process of this water purification system. Depending upon the unit, the detailed steps for installation may vary.

• Refer to the instruction guide and fix the distributor tube in the mineral tank. Hold the top open end and flush it with the mineral tank.
• Make sure that the plastic beads from the tank do not enter the distributor tube by applying tape to the open ends.
• Add gravels into the tank, so that they cover up the screen intake. You can make use of a funnel to pour the gravel into the tank.
• The next step is to add sufficient amount of softener resin into the tank, so that it reaches to about one half of the tank.
• Secure the control valves in the same way as in the instruction guide.
• Install the bypass valve by attaching it to the control valve and tighten the screws.
• Connect the softener water piping with the bypass and then, affix a plastic tubing at the brine tank fitting.
• Open the control valve and pour about four gallon of water into the brine tank. To this brine tank, add about 40 pounds of sodium chloride (salt) or potassium chloride.
• Open the water supply valve and wait till water flow steadily from the drain.

This is an overview about water softener installation. I hope by now you have understood on how to install a water softener.