A water softener is an important machine that is used to remove hardness causing ions from residential water supplies.
These ions are dissolved in water as it passes through the atmosphere and the soil on its way to municipal collection facilities.
Since the ions are not harmful towards humans, most cities do not remove them from the water before pumping it to residential neighborhoods.
As the water enters the home, it is exposed to heat and oxygen which causes the hardness causing ions to precipitate out and form scale deposits on bathroom fixtures as well as pots and pans.
These scale deposits can damage the appliances and become frustrating for homeowners to remove.
For this reason, many people choose to purchase and install a water softener that is designed to remove the ions before they enter the home's main plumbing system.
Individuals who plan to install their own softener are advised to become familiar with the process before purchasing a system for their home.
The complexity of the installation process will depend on the type of softener being used.
Homeowners who choose to go with a salt based system will find that it needs to be connected to the pipe that carries water into the home.
This will allow the water to be directed through the softener before entering the main plumbing network.
Before beginning the installation, it is very important to shut off the electricity to the water heater and run some water through the pipe in order to force out any air that is present.
A system that uses salt will typically have two tanks that need to be situated on a dry and level area that is not susceptible to freezing temperatures.
A heated garage, basement, or crawl space is a common site for the softener as long as a drain is available for the brine that will be flushed from the system.
One of the most important things to remember when installing a salt based softener is that the salt will need to be replenished every few months and the tank should be situated so that it is easily accessible.
Bags of salt can be very heavy and you do not want to be stuck carrying them up and down a lot of steps or through a small crawl space.
In addition, the softener will generally need to be plugged into a three-pronged (120 volt) outlet in order to work.
Although most systems come with a ten foot cord that can be extended if necessary, it is important to make sure that you know where the outlet is located when a site is being selected.
On a similar note, it is critical that the softener be near a drain so that backwash fluid can be directed into the waste water plumbing system after each regeneration cycle.
The failure to properly connect the system to a drain can result in flooding and severe water damage.
After the location for the softener has been selected and both the outlet and drain have been located, it is time to install the bypass valve to the head, attach the water connections to the softener, make sure the overflow line is in place, program the microprocessor, and put the system into use.
The details for completing each of these steps should be included in the owner's manual that accompanied the system.
It is extremely important for the homeowner to review the steps outlined in the manual before starting the installation process.
Steps will vary depending on the system that was purchased and those required for one softener may not be necessary for a different softener.
Although it is possible for individuals to install their own softening system with some knowledge of the plumbing network, it is generally recommended that a plumber or water softener installation technician be hired to perform the work for the homeowner.
This ensures that the product is set up correctly and may be required in order for the manufacturer's warranty to remain valid in case something happens to the softener in the future.
To learn more about manufacturer installation standards, homeowners are advised to speak with professionals in their area or contact the company directly.
These ions are dissolved in water as it passes through the atmosphere and the soil on its way to municipal collection facilities.
Since the ions are not harmful towards humans, most cities do not remove them from the water before pumping it to residential neighborhoods.
As the water enters the home, it is exposed to heat and oxygen which causes the hardness causing ions to precipitate out and form scale deposits on bathroom fixtures as well as pots and pans.
These scale deposits can damage the appliances and become frustrating for homeowners to remove.
For this reason, many people choose to purchase and install a water softener that is designed to remove the ions before they enter the home's main plumbing system.
Individuals who plan to install their own softener are advised to become familiar with the process before purchasing a system for their home.
The complexity of the installation process will depend on the type of softener being used.
Homeowners who choose to go with a salt based system will find that it needs to be connected to the pipe that carries water into the home.
This will allow the water to be directed through the softener before entering the main plumbing network.
Before beginning the installation, it is very important to shut off the electricity to the water heater and run some water through the pipe in order to force out any air that is present.
A system that uses salt will typically have two tanks that need to be situated on a dry and level area that is not susceptible to freezing temperatures.
A heated garage, basement, or crawl space is a common site for the softener as long as a drain is available for the brine that will be flushed from the system.
One of the most important things to remember when installing a salt based softener is that the salt will need to be replenished every few months and the tank should be situated so that it is easily accessible.
Bags of salt can be very heavy and you do not want to be stuck carrying them up and down a lot of steps or through a small crawl space.
In addition, the softener will generally need to be plugged into a three-pronged (120 volt) outlet in order to work.
Although most systems come with a ten foot cord that can be extended if necessary, it is important to make sure that you know where the outlet is located when a site is being selected.
On a similar note, it is critical that the softener be near a drain so that backwash fluid can be directed into the waste water plumbing system after each regeneration cycle.
The failure to properly connect the system to a drain can result in flooding and severe water damage.
After the location for the softener has been selected and both the outlet and drain have been located, it is time to install the bypass valve to the head, attach the water connections to the softener, make sure the overflow line is in place, program the microprocessor, and put the system into use.
The details for completing each of these steps should be included in the owner's manual that accompanied the system.
It is extremely important for the homeowner to review the steps outlined in the manual before starting the installation process.
Steps will vary depending on the system that was purchased and those required for one softener may not be necessary for a different softener.
Although it is possible for individuals to install their own softening system with some knowledge of the plumbing network, it is generally recommended that a plumber or water softener installation technician be hired to perform the work for the homeowner.
This ensures that the product is set up correctly and may be required in order for the manufacturer's warranty to remain valid in case something happens to the softener in the future.
To learn more about manufacturer installation standards, homeowners are advised to speak with professionals in their area or contact the company directly.