Water Softener Installation

The water is classified as hard or soft, depending upon the minerals and their amount present in it. If the water contains ions of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron, then it is termed as hard water. The hard water can cause blockages of pipes, by depositing lime scales in them. The chemical properties of hard water prevents easy dissolution of soap and detergents, which leads to wastage of money. The water softener devices, also referred to as, ion exchangers soften the hard water by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions in it with sodium or potassium ions during water ionization. You may prefer to install an electromagnetic water softener.

How to Install a Water Softener?

The task of water softener installation is a bit tough to undertake, even if you are a person with dexterous fingers. Even a professional person, well acquainted with the task needs considerable time to finish water softener installation. If you are confident and like tinkering with instruments, go ahead and read the following instructions on how to install a water softener:

1. The first step is to identify the place where you can install the water softener in your house.
2. Next, locate the spot, where the main water pipe enters your house.
3. You may want to connect the water softener to this pipe and treat whatever amount of water enters your house.
4. On the other hand, you may want to treat only a part of the total amount of water supply and use the untreated water which is free of sodium as drinking water. This will make it necessary for you to connect the water softener to a pipe branching off the main water pipe.
5. The softening process generates waste materials, which are necessary to flush out of the water softener. This demands that you install the water softener, near a drain or a pipe leading to waste tank or a septic tank.
6. The water softener needs electricity for its functioning. Install an electrical outlet, if the place you have selected for installing a water softener does not have one near it.
7. The next step in the process to install water softener is to install the valve. This is required if you are going to connect water softener to the main water pipe. It will help maintain the undisturbed water supply to your house, if the water softener malfunctions and needs repairing.
8. Follow the instructions in the user's manual to attach the bypass valve to the water pipe you have chosen to feed the water softener.
9. Attach a plastic tubing, each to the overflow tank and to the water softener's outlet for draining the wastes and let the free ends of both of these tubes feed the drain or the waste tank you have selected.
10. Connect the bypass valve to inlet and outlet valve of the water softener.
11. Connect pipes to the bypass valves with the rubber O-rings acting as washers, between the connections.
12. Turn the water supply on and test the installed water softener and the accessories.
13. If the system is not working properly, check the user manual for the instructions or contact the customer care and get some advice.
14. Go through the user manual and acquaint yourself with the basics of water softening systems and how to use a water softener machine effectively, so that you can start using your installed water softener, right away.

The water softener installation may cause you an additional expenditure. If you are using lead piping, it is advisable that you change them. Because when soft water flows through them, it may absorb the lead which may cause lead poisoning. Every household needs soft water for the purpose of bathing and washing cloths. If your house is supplied with hard water, then it may damage your shower water filters, laundry machines and water heaters and/or reduce the life of piping system in your house. It may also adversely affect any setup that is running on solar power, by clogging its pipes. Install a water softener to avoid these problems. If you want to know more about water softener installation, read more on, 'How to Install a Water Softener'.