After testing your water and found that is hard the next step is installing a water softener to solve the problem. Installing water softener is one of the daunting tasks, and most people find it hard to do it yourself in the house. Wondering how to install water softener without hiring a professional this article is for you we are going to share how you are going to install a water softener in your home.
Benefits of installing water softener yourself
It helps save money
Disadvantages of installing water softener yourself
If you don’t have any experience of doing any home improvement projects like dealing with pipes, this, not something you don’t want to mess with it can cause a lot of damage leading to a loss. Hiring a plumber or professional may help but affect the cost (water softener cost link) of your softener.
There are different types of water softener, and each installation varies.
How to install ion exchange water softener/ salt-based water softener
Ion exchange water softener is well known and has been there for a decade. It uses salt and resin to operate (how a water softener works).
Locate the area where you need to install and probably your main water supply line or before the line feed to home appliances like a water heater, washing machine, and others.
Gather all material required. Such as pipe cutter, fittings
Locate the specific area to install the brine tank and resin tank
Shut-off your main water supply, water heater and make sure you turn off the power.
Cut the main water supply pipe using the pipe cutter. Use the bucket to drain the water in the pipe not to flood the house.
Drain all the water out the pipe by opening one of the faucets in the house.
Install by-pass valve to the control valve most system comes with one, but others don’t come with it. The by-pass valve is used to a shut-off water supply to the unit in case of maintenance without disturbing your cold water main supply line.
Install two fittings inlet and outlets. Ensure incoming hard water line connects to the inlet of the valve and outlet valve connect to the line going to your house
How to connect bypass valve to control valve
Connect the control valve to the resin tank
Place the system in place (the location you have chosen). Make sure you have connected brine tank and resin tank as well the drain pipe is connected to the sink drain.
Watch this video to the end and learn how to connect brine tank and resin tank as well the drain pipe is connected to the sink drain.
Put the 40lbs of potassium chloride or sodium chloride into the brine tank and four gallons of water put the system into the backwash/regeneration mode. Let it run full backwash cycle.
Put the shut-off valve into service mode and turn the water supply back on slowly as you check the leaks.
If no leaks your water softener is fully installed
Turning water on at high pressure can damage the system.
Any water softener you buy comes with its instruction on how to install. Refer to those set of instruction
How to install a salt-free water softener
How to install a water conditioner
The water conditioner is easy to install, and most homeowners can do it themselves.
The system is best installed on the main water supply line either before or after stopcock. It requires main electrical outlet preferably three meters as most come with this standard length of the cable.
Make sure you know the length of capable provided to connect to power outlet.
Fix the box on the nearest wall using the fixings provided. The unit can be mounted horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
Wrap the coil around the pipe ten turns. Switch on the main outlet and checks the system is working correctly.
Now that you have installed your water softener or conditioner what next, how do I know if my water softener is working well
After installing water softener your water should be soft, lather easily and should not see hard water spots. You can test your water hardness using test kit before and after installing a water softener.
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