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In most cases, water softeners are placed in a home’s basement or garage, away from your living space. For homes without a basement, the next best place is near the water heater—again, not exactly a main focus of the home.
Where does water softener get installed?
Water softeners are most often installed near the incoming main water line before your water heater. Most commonly, this is in the basement, but water softeners can also be installed in the attic, garage or even a closet dedicated to system storage.
Do water softeners need to be inside?
The perfect location for a softener is somewhere flat, level, accessible, and near the point of entry of the house’s water supply. Ideally, this would be a heated, insulated basement, a peripheral storage room, or a convenient crawlspace. But, there are many instances where that ideal location just doesn’t exist.
How do I install a water softener in my house?
Typical Slab Foundation Installation Turn off water supply at main. Drain water lines. Make proper connections (Optional: install remote bypass) Fill brine tank half-full with salt. Ensure bypass is shut, slowly turn on water, check for leaks. Complete start-up procedure.
Can water softeners be installed outdoors?
While most water softeners and filters are able to be installed outside, the combination of sun, wind and rain is not conducive to longevity. We recommend that if you are installing a water softener or other treatment product, that you protect it from the elements as much as possible.
Does a water softener ruin a water heater?
When a water softener system is installed, it removes the “hard” minerals and replaces them with “softer” ones such as sodium. Soft water can actually corrode the water heater anode faster. So if left alone, a water softener system can actually shorten the lifespan of a water heater.
Is it OK to drink softened water?
Softened water is considered safe to drink in the majority of cases. In softened water, the sodium level increases. Sodium is not the same as salt (sodium chloride). The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) says that water with a sodium content of up to 200ppm is safe to drink.
Can water softener be installed in attic?
If you live in an area with hard water, you need a water softener. A water softener is typically installed next to your water heater, which is usually in your garage or attic. A water softener can be installed outside, preferably in a covered area.
What are the disadvantages of a water softener?
Disadvantages of Using a Water Softener The end products may be too soft for some people! Too much sodium. Not suitable for irrigation. They are expensive to install and maintain. The alternatives are also expensive. Messing with dietary mineral requirements.
Can water softener go in garage?
For homes without basements or crawl spaces, a garage is another great option for water softener installation. Typically, a garage provides plenty of space and storing softener salt is more convenient than hauling it in the basement.
Does a water softener need a drain?
Most water softeners require two drain tubes. One of the drain tubes connects to the control valve and is used to void the backwash water during the regeneration cycle. The other drain tube connects to the brine tank and serves as an overflow drain.
How long do water softeners last?
Water softeners that operate using electricity to work can last anywhere between 2-10 years, depending upon the quality of the device. Water softeners that rely on the kinetic energy from water flow can last even longer, about 20 years if they are maintained well.
Does installing a water softener clean pipes?
Installing a water softener will not rapidly remove the build-up currently in your pipes. When you install a water softening system, it will stop your pipes from clogging any further due to hard water residue scale. The limescale will gradually begin clearing out as softer water consistently runs through your pipes.
Where are GE water softeners made?
In 2016, Haier bought GE Appliances. Haier, a home appliance company in China, actually builds the water softening products and then uses the GE logo to market it.
How do I protect my outside water softener?
Heat tape or electric pipe heating cables for the water lines are also a good idea. When it comes to water softener tanks, some homeowners have an insulated box built around the system. You can also purchase plumbing insulation in sheets, or wrap an insulation blanket around them.
Why is soft water a problem for plumbers?
Soft water may leach heavy metals from pipes and appliances and makes using it as drinking water, or water for cooking, undesirable on a frequent basis.
Do water softeners cause rust?
Softeners do not remove the TDS and do not cause this type of corrosion. A softener is simply capturing some cations (mostly calcium and magnesium) and releasing other cations in the process (usually sodium or sometimes potassium). The use of dissimilar metals in the plumbing can lead to galvanic corrosion.
Can you use a water softener with a combi boiler?
A water softener will work with a combi boiler and remove all the scale in the heat exchanger of your existing system. This restores the system to its original efficiency and improves performance.
