How To Plumb A Water Softener Drain

Even the most basic water softener needs a few basic plumbing requirements to work properly.

How to plumb a water softener drain - It will also need a nearby electrical receptor that is not controlled by a switch. Water softener drain line routing. Residential water softener drain installation tips tutorials 4 comments. One of the most important components of a proper softener installation is provision for safe drainage by avoiding a possible cross connection.

This is done by sending water at a high flow rate though the bed in reverse direction of normal water flow. The drain line must be of adequate diameter to handle the water conditioner s backwash flow rate. We make it easy to understand even for a beginning diyer. A cross connection is any point at which a water supply pipe or container is joined directly to a sewer pipe.

Collected calcium iron and magnesium ions hardness ions in the bed need to be flushed out. According to most plumbing codes a water softener drain line must not be connected directly to the household waste system. During regeneration your water softener automatically sucks all of the water out of the brine tank so activating this cycle can remove the water for you. One that can adequately provide the needed amperage check the provided manufacturer s manual for full.

The term hard water refers to a potable water supply that contains a high level of dissolved minerals mostly calcium and magnesium. So to answer your question all water softeners must have a drain that backwashes the softener bed periodically. By code water softeners must be emptied into a laundry sink floor drain sump hole or properly trapped special outlet preserving an air gap of at. Do a manual regeneration cycle.

Keep the water softener drain piping as short and low as possible. The piping around a water softener can be confusing when attempting. Less than 30 feet in length and no more than 8 feet above the floor level. Excessively hard water can damage plumbing pipes and appliances it can cause problems for bathing and washing clothes and it can affect the taste of water used for drinking and cooking.

If your water softener allows for a manual regeneration you can activate a manual regeneration cycle by pushing and holding the regenerate button to empty a water softener full of water. Use a 3 4 diameter pipe if the drain flow is more than 7 gpm. Access to a drain like utility sink or floor drain. You don t have to be a plumber to connect a water softener.