Installing a Water Softener
Planning a water softener installation? A softener treats the water as it enters your home, removing the calcium and magnesium that cause limescale. On this page you'll find what the installation involves, how the unit works and what to check before you book an installer.
Water Softener Installation: What to Expect
Installing a water softener usually takes one to three hours, depending on where it goes and how much pipework is needed. The softener is fitted on the incoming mains, ideally close to where the water enters the house. Many people keep the kitchen cold tap on unsoftened water for drinking. It needs a drain nearby and, for electronic models, a power socket. A qualified plumber will test your water hardness, set the unit up correctly and make sure the work meets local plumbing rules.
The Components
A softener has two drain connections. The first carries away the salty rinse water after regeneration. The second is an overflow on the salt tank: if regeneration goes wrong, the tank could overflow, and this connection lets the excess drain safely.
The drain hose must not be connected straight into a waste pipe, because dirty water could be drawn back into your supply. An air gap or approved fitting in between prevents this. Ask your installer to show you how they've done it.
Most softeners have a built-in bypass, but an extra bypass valve on the pipework is worth having. It lets you send water around the softener for servicing, or if it develops a fault, without cutting off your supply.
How Does a Water Softener Work?
There are different types of water softener. The most common work by ion exchange: resin beads inside the cylinder swap the calcium and magnesium in the water for sodium, so the minerals that form limescale are removed.
Once the beads are full, they work less well. The softener then cleans them automatically (regeneration) by rinsing them with brine from the salt tank.
Reverse osmosis is a different kind of system. It pushes water through a fine membrane that removes most dissolved minerals and other substances. It is usually fitted under the kitchen sink for drinking water rather than for the whole house, and the filters need replacing regularly.
Before you buy: check your local water hardness with your water supplier, so you know how much difference a softener will make. Then measure the space where it will go, check there's a drain nearby, and ask for quotes that include the unit, fitting, bypass valve and warranty.
Compare Water Softeners
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