What happens during an installation
A tidy install on an accessible wall with a nearby drain and outlet moves fast. Surprises are what stretch the day.
Shut off and drain
The water is shut off at the main and the lines are drained at the install point.
Mount and connect
The softener tank and brine tank are set, and the inlet and outlet are connected with a bypass valve.
Drain and power
A drain line is run to a safe drain with an air gap, and the controller is plugged into power.
Start up and test
The system is filled, set, run through a first regeneration and checked for leaks.
What changes the time
| Factor | Effect on time | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Location of the softener | A garage wall near the main is quick, and a far corner takes more pipe | Choose a spot near the main and a drain |
| Drain access | No nearby drain means a longer run or a pump | Plan for a floor drain or standpipe |
| Power outlet | No outlet nearby means an electrical addition | Pick a spot near an outlet |
| Existing pipe | Old or corroded pipe may need replacing at the tie-in | Have the pipe checked first |
| Bypass and outdoor spigots | Extra plumbing changes add steps | Decide which taps stay unsoftened |
Ready to plan a softener or filter install?
Call and describe the location. A technician gives a clear price before work starts.
Before you buy: find out what your water needs
- Test your tap. A home test kit or a lab test gives a hardness reading in grains per gallon.
- Ask your water utility for its latest water quality report.
- Decide whether the real problem is hardness, chlorine taste, iron or something else, since each needs a different system.
- Size the softener to your household and your hardness, not to a sales brochure.
- Ask who services the equipment and how often the salt or media needs replacing.
Softener or something else?
A softener suits
- Scale on fixtures and heaters
- Hard water confirmed by a test
- A household that will keep up with salt
A filter suits
- Chlorine taste or odor
- Sediment in the water
- A problem a softener does not treat
We plumb in softeners and filters as part of plumbing installation, and scale on a tank or tankless heater is a reason to look at water heater installation and sizing together.
What to do before the installer arrives
Preparation shortens the day. An installer who can reach everything and has no surprises tends to finish quicker than one who has to move boxes or find a shutoff.
- Clear a path and a working space around the main water line and the planned spot.
- Check that an outlet is within reach of the planned location.
- Identify the main shutoff, and tell the installer if it sticks.
- Decide which outdoor spigots should stay unsoftened, such as those used for the lawn.
- Plan where the salt will be stored and how you will carry bags to the tank.
After the install
A new softener needs a few days of attention. Check the salt level, listen for the regeneration cycle and look for leaks at the bypass and drain line.
Water may feel slippery after softening, which is normal. If you have a water heater, ask whether its temperature setting or its maintenance interval should change.
Salt, regeneration and upkeep
A softener removes hardness with resin beads and cleans them with a brine solution during regeneration. The unit uses salt, and you add bags to the brine tank every few weeks, depending on the model and your water.
Check the brine tank occasionally for a hard crust, called bridging, that stops salt from dissolving. Many manufacturers suggest annual service, and your installer can tell you the interval for the model they set.
Preparing the space
Clear a path to the install spot and leave room around the unit for the brine tank and the salt bags. The location needs a drain, a power outlet and access to the main water line.
Tell the installer about any outdoor spigots you want left on untreated water. A short conversation before the visit prevents surprises on the day.
One more thing to check
Plan to be home for the visit. The installer needs to shut off the water, and you will want to see where the unit sits and how the drain line is routed.
Afterward, ask for a short walkthrough of the control head. Knowing how to set the hardness level and start a manual regeneration makes the first weeks much easier.
Wilsonville note: what the city publishes about hardness
Wilsonville's primary water source is the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant, which has been in service since 2002 and is run day to day by Veolia under contract with the city. The city raises the finished water's pH to between 7.4 and 8.0.
The city's annual water quality report does not list a hardness figure, so do not rely on a number you read elsewhere. Test your tap or ask the utility for its latest report before you size a softener, since the number decides the equipment. Our Sherwood customers draw primarily from the same plant and can use the same approach.
Frequently asked questions
A simple install often takes part of a day. Longer runs, a missing drain or outlet and corroded pipe add time.
Near the main water line, close to a drain and a power outlet, and in a space where you can reach the salt tank.
Test your tap first. A hardness reading tells you whether a softener is worth it.
Yes, and it can reduce scale in the heat exchanger. A technician plans the placement so the heater is protected.
The city's annual water quality report does not list a hardness figure. Test your tap or ask the utility for its latest report.