How to Install a Water Softener
Hard water contains magnesium or calcium in it, forming a sticky scum with soap, preventing it from lathering properly, and also causing “scale” to form inside kettles, pipes, and water heaters, lessening their ability to conduct heat well. You can try to filter your water through distillation, but a more inexpensive option is to install a water softener. Here’s how:
What You’ll Need:
Water softener
Extension cord
Flexible tubing
Drain
Sandpaper or file
Funnel
Masking tape
Gravel
Lubricant
Softener resin
Potassium chloride salt or softener sodium chloride
Softener’s service manual
Three-pronged 120 volts grounded outlet
Water Softener Installation Preparation
Get all your tools ready, and open the box that contains your new water softener unit. Read all the directions and make sure you understand the steps. If the water softener calls for specific tools (though this is not very likely), fetch them before you begin.
Turn off the water from your main shutoff valve, as well as the electricity that goes to your hot water heater. Try to turn on the faucet, and make sure the shutoff valves are working properly.
Open all the plumbing fixtures and drain the water lines, including those found outside.
Put the water softener in a place that’s level, safe and dry. If you’re using a two tank softener, put the resin and the brine (bigger one) near each other.
Installing The Unit
Put the distributor tube into the mineral tank, then flush the top (the open end) with the tank. Allow the screen intake to rest on the center point of the bottom.
To prevent the tiny beads or media from going into the distributor tube, tape open the tubes using masking tape.
Get your funnel and use it to pour the gravel (if included) into the tank, enough to cover the screen intake.
To fill the tank and make it between 1/2 and 3/4 full, add softener resin.
Fix the top basket to the underside of the control valve, then to the mineral tank. Make sure to lubricate the inner O-ring, before attaching the head to the tank. The hole found at the valve’s middle must fit over the distributor tube. Tighten the valve with your hand, with a clockwise motion.
Connecting The Water
Find the bypass valve, then attach it to the control valve, aligning the in and out arrows. Make sure the screws are tightened properly, so the valve’s stainless clamps and the bypass are seated.
Attach the softener’s water connection to the bypass. Fix a 3/8 inch plastic tubing to the fitting on the brine tank, then run it into a drain.
Put four gallons of water into the brine tank, then plug in the control valve. Put in 40 pounds of potassium chloride salt or sodium chloride.
Put your softener to the backwash stage, and set the bypass valve into a service position. Open the water supply valve, at least 1/4 of the way, making sure air runs off from the drain line.
As soon as you see a steady water flow from the drain, open the valve of the water supply completely.
Run your water softener through a whole backwash cycle. Make sure there are no loose fittings or leaks.
You don’t have to call a plumber to help you set up your new water softener. Just follow these steps, and you’ll ahve this unit working just fine.