How to Install a Water Softener

Let's start from the beginning......

You've decided you want a softener (that's a good start).

Now, where to put it?

We have installed softeners in many different situations, here are a few places to consider:

The old favorite - Under the kitchen sink. In a lot of houses this is where you will find the mains entering the property.

Outside. Softeners can be installed outside without any problems, providing that it is fully insulated from the elements. The best way to do this is in a wooden box that is insulated with polystyrene sheets. You also need to make sure that the pipe work (including the hoses) is fully insulated as well.

In the loft. Softeners can be installed in the loft, but there are some drawbacks. A softener consists of a pressurized vessel in a brine tank. The softener will already have an overflow outlet on the tank itself, and this is fine when installed on the ground floor. In the loft you want to make doubley sure that you have covered an overflow situation. This can be easily achieved by placing the tank in a bund which can be in the form of a plastic water tank. The tank can then be fitted with 22.5mm plastic overflow pipe, similar to your cold water storage tank overflow. Be sure to insulate the pipe work and hoses as well.

We have found that each and every property is an individual case and needs to be fully thought through before you install your softener.

You've got your softener, so let's check a few things before you start cutting pipes!

What's my water pressure?

That's a very good question - you can buy pressure tests kits for very little at most leading DIY stores, or you can get your plumber to do this for you. With a water softener too high a pressure can be as bad as too low.

The maximum and minimum pressure for our softeners is as follows:

Blue Water Range

Max - 4.5 bar

Min - 1.7 bar

Nuwave Range

Max - 5 bar

Min - 1.7 bar

Crown Range

Max - 8 bar

Min - 1 bar

Check List

• Water Softener (it helps)
• 2 Hoses inlet and outlet
• Drain and overflow hose (1/2" garden hose size)
• Non return valve - This is a regulation and must be fitted. The reason for this is to stop any back flow of softened water into the street mains
• 2 valves inlet and outlet - These will have either a 15/22 compression connector one end and a 3/4" male connector the other end (just like a washing machine valve). These will allow you to turn the supply to and from the softener off.
• 1 bypass valve - This can be a normal 15mm or 22mm valve. This valve will allow you to bypass the softener for servicing or if you want to take it with you should you move house.
• 3 rubber washers
• 1 rubber mesh washer - This is to be installed on the softeners outlet hose. In the unlikely event of resin loss from the softener, it will go no further than the mesh.
• Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) if needed.
• Any other fittings and tools you need to complete your installation. Always think the installation out first and draw out how you are going to do it, you can then buy all you need in one go. This saves you cutting a pipe and then realizing that you've forgotten something.

The Softener Bypass Valve Set

The Example below is based on positioning the softener by the incoming mains. The example shows our 15mm bypass set. Not all incoming mains are kind enough to be in a straight line! But as long as you get the valves in the order below you can't go wrong.

Connecting The Drain or Waste Water

When fitting the softener drain/waste to the waste water system in your house you must have a 20mm air gap between the softener waste hose and your stand pipe etc..... This is a regulation and in place to stop any waste water from your house backing up and entering the water softener.

The fitting below will fit onto most stand pipes and will give you the 20mm you need between the top of the pipe and the end of the softener waste. The example below shows a 3/8" connection for the softener waste, but they also come in 1/2" which will accept our drain and overflow hose.

A softener installation can be done by any keen DIY plumber, but make sure you comply to all your local plumbing regulations. If you are in doubt have your local plumber fit it for you.

All our softeners come with a full start up guide which will guide you through the initial set up of your SWS water softener.

We have covered a very basic softener installation above and some can be more complicated than others, if you need advice just call us and we'll be happy to talk you through it - don't forget you can contact us 7 days a week.

Happy plumbing!!