Does Home Depot Install Water Softeners? (Easy Installation Guide) - CharlieTrotters (2023)

FAQs

Is it easy to install a water softener yourself? ›

Installing a water softener yourself allows you to work on the project at your own pace and without spending extra money on a plumber. If you're simply replacing an old water softener, this can be done in under an hour.

Installing a water softener doesn't take too long when a professional technician is completing the installation. As long as no unforeseen setbacks or problems are encountered, a professional plumber should be able to install a water softener in about two to three hours.

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.

The average price to professionally install a whole-home water softener is $1,500, including both materials and labor. Depending on the type of system you choose, the process could cost as little as $500 or as much as $6,000.

The decision to soften is a personal choice that can affect your home and the environment. If your water's hardness is greater than 7 grains per gallon or 120 mg/L, then you might need a water softener to ensure your appliances run well and to improve the taste, smell, or look of your water.

How Long Does It Take to Get Soft Water After Installing a Water Softener? You won't have entirely soft water throughout your home right away. Instead, it will take 48 hours after installation for all your water to be soft. The reason for this has to do with your water heater.

Typically, you can expect In 6 weeks, scale will be gone from your kettle. In 6 months, scale will be gone from your hot water cylinderRead More...

A water softener will need a drain such as a floor drain or utility sink. 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.

Water softeners can last 10 to 20 years, depending on the type and quality you buy. On average, a single tank electric water softener could last you up to 12 years, while a Kinetico system can last as many as 20 years.

How far from a water heater should a water softener be installed? ›

Additionally, there should be at least 10 feet of piping between your water heater and water softener. This distance will prevent the possibility of hot water migrating backward into the softener during its regeneration cycle. If hot water gets into your softener, it could damage some of the tubing inside.

Increases Home Value

A water softener not only saves you money in your day-to-day routines, but it can also put more money in your pocket. A water softener or reverse osmosis system installed in your home can increase your home's value when you want to sell the home.

That change can easily be made with plumbing and connections already in place. If your home isn't pre-plumbed for a softening system, you'll need to be comfortable cutting and soldering pipes to connect your new water treatment system to your water supply.

The most common alternative to water softeners is called a water conditioner and offers a viable way to reduce the damage hard water can cause throughout your home through a process distinct from the process used by water softeners.

Only use hot water to soften it

Save water and salt by softening only the hot water and allowing the cold water not to make it hard. You'll probably see little change, but it will cut your salt and wastewater consumption in half.

The major disadvantage to water softening is the potential health risks for people on low sodium diets. The exchange of hardness minerals for sodium adds 7.5 milligrams per quart for each gpg of hardness removed. In addition, calcium and magnesium are eliminated from the homeowner's diet.

Water softener: Water softeners can cause low water pressure due to blockages in the system or a malfunction in the recharging cycles. To check if a water softener is causing low water pressure, look for the bypass valve which is normally on top of the water softener.

Households with three people or fewer typically need a softener with a grain capacity of around 20,000 units. Households with four or more people typically need a softener with a grain capacity of 30,000 units or more.

The standard requires that the pressure drop of the water softener must not exceed 15 psi at the manufacturer's rated service flow, which must be at least four gpm.

The bottom line is that water-softening systems are safe. Most people can drink hard or soft water with no side effects. Higher sodium levels may be of concern to some; however, drinking bottled water and using soft water only for laundry, dishwashing, and bathing is a simple fix.

Should you drink softened water? ›

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. Unless your water is very hard to start with, the softened version is unlikely to exceed this.

No, it is not recommended to use water during water softener regeneration. Water can be used during the regeneration process, but the water drawn from the tank will be hard. The best thing to do is to wait for it to finish the process. The regeneration process takes about ninety minutes to two hours.

You will likely need to add one full 40 lb. bag of salt to your water softener per month (on average), to keep your salt at an adequate level.

It is generally agreed upon that regular regenerations are the best, because they keep the resin bed active. This should be every two to three days, although highly efficient softeners may generate every day or even multiple times a day.

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.

A home water softener will provide you with softened water which will start to remove the mineral deposits and lime scale buildup that is in your pipes and on your heating elements. And, as an added bonus, it will also help to prevent future buildups.

If you own a newer water softener, you will only need to clean it once every 5 to 10 years. Older units, though, should be cleaned every year.

By code Water Softeners must be emptied into a laundry sink, floor drain, sump hole or properly trapped special outlet, preserving an air gap of at least two times the diameter of the drain line, but in no case less than 1-1/2" above the top of the receptacle used.

With soft water, your tankless system is nearly maintenance-free, as soft water prevents the buildup of hard water. So, while it's always a great idea to check on your water heater yearly, with a softener, you likely won't have to flush it.

You will get it figured out. the drain hose can either run directly outside or can run into the same pipe as your washing machine if it is installed near where that drain is located. if you are using a salt based water softener you can drain it to the outside. the salt will not harm the vegetation.

How often should water softener resin be replaced? ›

Water softener resin will usually need to be replaced every 10 years. Resin that's exposed to high levels of chlorine, iron, or water hardness will only last around 5 years.

Do water softeners need to be serviced? Many water softeners are automatic, but others might need service when there's a difference in water quality. Besides adding salt to your softener and occasionally cleaning out the brine tank, most water softener manufacturers recommend that you service your softener annually.

The pellets are definitely superior when it comes to salt pellets vs. salt crystals. Although they're pricier than their crystal counterparts, they can be used as-is without further processing. On the other hand, salt crystals need to be ground down into a fine powder before adding to your softener.

The use of water softeners in hard water areas and even moderately soft water areas is becoming a common occurrence. This practice has a potentially detrimental effect on the performance of the anode in the water heater which can cause a reduction in the life of the water heater.

Unlike tank-style units that could go several years between maintenance, tankless water heaters should be flushed once a year.

An oversized water softener will certainly have the capacity to make sure that every gallon of water you use is appropriately treated for hardness. On the other hand, going too big can result in “channeling,” which occurs when there isn't enough water to fill the entire softener.

When picking a water softener, it is important to know just how hard your water is as each model is designed to treat a specific range of hard water levels. You need to ensure it has the capacity to treat your specific hard water symptoms.

A water softener should last 10 to 15 years. If your unit is facing more wear and tear, it could be due to improper maintenance or particularly hard water. If you'd like to extend the lifespan of your water softener, one option is to add a pre-filter.

A new installation does require some additional plumbing knowledge, but can be tackled in a few hours. You'll want to make sure you have all the necessary supplies and tools before you begin, as you may need to cut some pipes to align your water softener and water supply lines.

If you forget to top off your water softener, the water softening resin will stay saturated. This brings the ion exchange to a screeching halt and allows hard water minerals into your pipes, fixtures and appliances.

Which is better water softener with or without salt? ›

The choice is clear—only a salt-based water softener is proven to provide softer water, healthier skin, and no scale buildup or soap scum. A salt-based system is a better investment.

Can a Water Softener Work Without Salt? Typical water softening systems need salt in order to regenerate and produce soft water. Without sodium, the softener can no longer effectively remove calcium and magnesium from your water, allowing hard water back into your pipes and home.

Agriculture depends on the use of repurposed water for irrigation but high-sodium water is detrimental to crops. The ban on water softeners is to preserve the integrity of our wastewater so that it can be used for agriculture.

Soften only what you need to. People often choose to soften showers, sinks, and laundry hookups. Toilets, hose bibs, basement sinks, and other cold water taps typically do not need to be connected to a softener. In many cases, people choose to soften only the hot water.

You can plumb your softened water supply into the water chiller compartment of your fridge. This means that your drinking water will be softened. If your fridge or fridge freezer has an ice maker that runs from the water supply, the ice will also be made from softened water.

Increases Home Value

A water softener not only saves you money in your day-to-day routines, but it can also put more money in your pocket. A water softener or reverse osmosis system installed in your home can increase your home's value when you want to sell the home.

Quick In-Home Testing

Fill the bottle one-third full, add a few drops of pure liquid soap and shake vigorously for a few seconds. If there is a distinct lack of fluffy bubbles and the water appears cloudy and/or milky, your water is hard.

You can drink softened water, but it's important to check the hardness level beforehand. If it's below 400 ppm, then it's safe to drink. If it's above 400 ppm, then you will need to place a reverse osmosis filter to get rid of the sodium levels.

The major disadvantage to softening water is the potential health risks for people that might be on low sodium diets. The exchange of hardness minerals for sodium adds 7.5 milligrams per quart for each gpg of hardness removed. In addition, calcium and magnesium are eliminated from the homeowner's diet.

Water softeners can last 10 to 20 years, depending on the type and quality you buy. On average, a single tank electric water softener could last you up to 12 years, while a Kinetico system can last as many as 20 years. However, no appliance lasts forever.

Does hard water cause hair loss? ›

That's because hard water contains a buildup of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. This produces a film on the hair, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate. As a result, the hair is left dry and prone to breakage. Leave these issues unresolved and it could even lead to hair loss.

The membrane manufacturers will often specify what the maximum hardness concentration can be, but the industry rule of thumb is that hardness should not exceed 120 to 170 mg/L (7 to 10 grains per gallon).

There are two specific situations where the use and drinking of softened water is inadvisable. These are: In the reconstitution of infant formula powders, as softened water could affect its fine nutritional balance, or; For anyone on a medically prescribed low sodium diet.

Drawbacks of Soft Water

Since soft water contains very few dissolved minerals, it tends to leach minerals off other surfaces, including your metal plumbing pipes. This can result in pitting and pinhole leaks in metal plumbing pipes.