How Can You Drain Your Water Softener
The most convenient way of getting rid of the water softener backwash from your brine tank is to attach it straight to your local sewage system.
However, in some remote areas, a direct connection to the sewer system might not be available and even if there is, some municipalities have restrictions concerning discharging water softener backwash directly into the sewer system.
Therefor, before choosing a type of drain, it is best to consult the local rules and regulations regarding the discharge of water softener backwash. These rules can influence which water softener is best for you and even the type of salt you use in your system.
Regardless of the type of drain you end up using you will need to ensure an air gap when installing your drain line.
How To Install A Water Softener Drain Line
The exact process of installing a drain line for your water softener will depend on the system youve bought. Typically, however, there will be two drain lines that need to be connected, using the following process:
It might be self-explanatory, but you shouldnt connect these two drain lines or there would be no point in installing them separately in the first place.
You should look at your water softeners instructions to learn more about the exact steps you need to follow to install your water softeners drain lines.
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Water systems designer, R& D
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Water systems designer, R& D
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Gary Slusser said:IMO you are talking to two anti DIYer guys that love to make things difficult for DIYers if they can but, the best place for the drain water from the softener is into a normally working septic system or sewer line. If you want to use the floor drain, there really is no way to measure how high the water could get in the basement so you can’t install an air gap to where it would be at an ‘approved’ height. And then if it were me, I’d say I have more important things to concern myself with than if flood water in my basement touched the end of my softener drain line. I’m just saying…
If you read the warranty of any ATU septic system they all state discharging a water treatment system into their system voids the warranty.
- High concentrations of calcium and magnesium in the softener backwash water have no deleterious effect on the biological function occurring in the septic tank and may, in some cases, be helpful.
- The additional volume of wastewater generated is added slowly to the wastewater stream, and does not cause any hydraulic overload problems.
- Soil structure in the soil absorption field is positively affected by the calcium and magnesium ions in water softener effluent.
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Best Backwash Drain Options In The Basement Or Crawlspace
Anything under 8 feet in height difference could possibly be drained by running a drain line upstairs to a nearby sink or floor drain.
However, if your systems’ drain isn’t assisted by water pressure the height difference is too great, there are options to use pumps that can overcome greater height differences.
Use caution when selecting a pumping system as, because of the high salt concentration, brine can be very corrosive. To extend the lifetime of your pump make sure that if the pump is submerged in standing water for prolonged periods it is regularly rinsed with water without any salt in it. Alternatively, stainless steel or plastic pumps are available.
Regardless of which type of pump you use, be sure to install an air gap between the drain pipe and the pump basin.
Kenmore 7170327 Water Softener Drain Hose Adapter O
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Genuine Original Equipment Manufacturer parts! This drain hose adapter O-ring is for water softeners. Drain hose adapter O-ring 7170327 prevents leaking between the drain hose adapter and the valve cover. Shut off the water supply and disconnect the power before installing this part. Wear work gloves to protect your hands. For Kenmore, Kenmore Elite, Whirlpool, & Waterworks.
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Best Backwash Drain Options Outside
Caution: Before implementing any of the solutions below, be sure to consult local authorities for any rules and regulations around surface or subsurface discharge of water softener backwash!
When installing a drain outside make sure the drain line ends with a proper air gap and that the end of the hose is covered to protect it from any wildlife or outside contaminants.
In colder climates it is best to keep any drainage away from your homes’ foundation, as the high salt concentration could potentially damage the concrete over time.
Attach A Cover Over The End Of The Tube
Family Handyman
Screw a drain cover over the end of the tubing as it approaches daylight to keep critters out. To prevent erosion, make a rock bed around the end of the tube. Where the tube passes by the downspout from the gutter, we installed a Y-fitting and drained the roof water from the gutter system directly into the main drainage line. That line eventually emptied into the low spot in the back yard. Once all the parts of the drainage system were installed, we covered the tubes with several inches of rock. We then covered the rock with landscape filter fabric and finally tamped the soil to the surrounding grade over the rock and fabric. This meant digging, and lots of it! Theres no magic number for the depth of your trench.
Figure that youll need at least 3 in. of gravel under the 4-in. tube, 3 in. on top of the tube and about 6 in. of soil over that. Also, figure in whatever slope you need to get to the low spot.
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Water Softener Installation Cost Considerations
If youre prepared to take on a bit of handiwork, the cost to install a water softener is less than a professional installation. Eliminating the cost of labor means that the price largely depends on the capabilities of your water softening unit, which is measured in grains. Typically, the higher the grain count, the higher the water softener system cost.
The number of people in a household provides a basis for the minimum number of grains you should be looking for in your next unit:
1-4 People: ~30,000 grains minimum5-6 People: ~40,000 grains minimum
Another factor that may affect the final price of your DIY water softener project is the ease of installation. If the pre-plumbing for your water softener is conveniently located near the equipment itself, you can save time and money eliminating the need for additional plumbing.
Planning your budget and want to know exactly how much it will be to install your water softener? Check out our selection of products to find the ideal unit for your needs.
Why Does My Water Softener Keep Draining
If your system is producing more backwash than expected something might be wrong with it. First, be sure to check your system for any leaks in the seals, hoses, or connectors.
Alternatively, there might be a leak somewhere inside your home and your water softener might be continuously working without you even knowing it. Check all faucets and other water outlets like the supply to the washing machine for leaks.
If there is a continuous flow through your water softener even at times when no water is being used, you might have leaks somewhere in your piping. This often occurs in colder climates after pipes crack when they are frozen during winter.
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Where To Install A Water Softener
If youre asking yourself, where does a water softener go?, its time to do a bit of investigating around your home. On the other hand, if you have a general understanding of how to plumb a water softener, you can quickly identify the most effective location.
If youre installing a whole-home system, youre going to want to place the softener as close to the entry point for water in your home. As a general rule, its best to place a water softener at the earliest possible point in your home plumbing system. That means placing your water softener somewhere it can feed into your water heater, rather than placing it downstream from this equipment. Not only will you prevent hot water from damaging your softener, but you will also extend the life of your water heater by feeding it softer water.
Every installation scenario is different, but some general plumbing requirements for installation include:
- 3 gallons per minute at the inlet
- 125 PSI maximum water pressure
Your water softener will need power to function, and general water softener electrical requirements include:
- A 120V, 60 htz grounded outlet with circuit breaker protection
- If using an extension cord, ensure that it is a #20AWG appliance replacement cord
Wondering how to install a water softener with a well? As long as the water source enters your home in the same fashion as a municipal water supply, the installation steps are identical.
Why Does A Water Softener System Need A Drain Line
Ion exchange water softeners need to regenerate to keep up with their water softening performance.
Regeneration is the process of flushing the resin bed, which contains calcium and magnesium. During ion exchange, these minerals are removed from water, in exchange for sodium. Eventually, the resin becomes saturated with calcium and magnesium, and the softener must regenerate to remove these minerals and replenish the softening tank with sodium.
During regeneration, water is flushed through the system. This water picks up hardness ions and carries them out of the system. This is where a drain line is needed: to send this water down the drain, ensuring it doesnt contaminate your homes water supply with a high concentration of hardness minerals.
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Can You Drain Your Water Softener Outside
If local regulations prevent you from draining into the sewer or perhaps if you’ve installed your water softener outside. You might be wondering if it is possible to drain your water softener outside.
The easiest way to drain your water softener backwash outside is to simply run it onto the ground, however, as there is a lot of salt in the backwash it can be very harmful to the ecosystem and the local water treatment facilities.
Caution: Keep in mind that in some places local rules and regulations might prohibit you from using this option as groundwater might be used as a source for the local drinking water supply.
This high salt content makes it perfect for other applications like killing weeds or deicing your driveway, however, unless you have plants that can survive in high salt concentrations any vegetation surrounding the drain location will likely be damaged or even killed by the discharge.
Luckily there are options to reduce the adverse effects of the minerals contained in the discharge, for example by spreading it over larger area’s or by stretching the drainage out over longer time periods.
If your water source is an onsite well make sure the drain location and the well source are at least a 100 feet apart and that the drain location is preferably downhill from the well source.
Failing to do so could potentially contaminate your well with the minerals contained in the water softener discharge.
Why Does My Water Softener Regenerate So Frequently
If your water softener seems to have an issue with continuous draining, this might be a sign that youre dealing with a problem with the system itself.
I recommend checking for leaks in your systems connectors, hoses and seals. You should also check for leaks in your water outlets, piping and faucets.
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Water Softener Diy Installation
Installing a water softener yourself allows you to work on the project at your own pace and without spending extra money on a plumber. If youre simply replacing an old water softener, this can be done in under an hour. A new installation does require some additional plumbing knowledge, but can be tackled in a few hours. Youll want to make sure you have all the necessary supplies and tools before you begin, as you may need to cut some pipes to align your water softener and water supply lines. Creating a detailed checklist before you begin, will ensure you dont miss any steps.
Whirlpool® Water Softeners come with everything to install and hook up to 1 NPT . ). If your plumbing is smaller or larger than 1
Before You Get Started:
- Two 1 NPT female connectors and enough tubing to connect from the water softener to your existing plumbing. You may have copper, PVC, CPVC, steel or PEX plumbing. Each of these plumbing types may require different materials and different tools for installation.
- A drain is necessary for the regeneration or recharge process. 12 feet of drain tubing is supplied but if your drain is further then 5 feet away, you will need to purchase enough ½ tubing to reach your drain. The drain should not be more than 30 feet away from the softener and the drain line should not be elevated more than 8 feet above the floor.
- The power cord needs to be plugged into a 110V continuous live outlet. The unit comes with a 10 foot power cord.
Some Soils Are Tough To Dig
The soil we dug up for our 70-ft. long trench and dry well was among the worst for digging. The mostly clay soil was full of 4- to 8-in. fieldstonea far cry from the ideal sand soil. The digging took me and a helper two solid days of backbreaking labor. With any luck, yours will be a lot easier to dig, but be prepared. Get a large chisel-point bar to pry stones out of the way just to make room for each shovelful.
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Dig An Adjoining Trench
Family Handyman
Dig the trench deep enough to drain downhill from the side of the dry well. Youll also need at least 3 in. of crushed rock to add to the bottom of the trench to promote water absorption. Assuming your lot isnt shaped like a large salad bowl with the house at the bottom center, look for a spot thats lower than the house to drain the excess water. If one of those spots is right next to your neighbors garage, resist the temptation. If the lay of the land isnt obvious, use a line level with stakes and a tape measure to check for water escape routes. Remember, you might not be able to use all the techniques we show, so pick those that best meet your needs.
Water Softener Drain Adapter
Series PWSTA WaterSoftener Systems PURE WATERWaterSoftener Systems IOM-WQ-PWSTA Location of Softener and Drain Locate the softener close to a clean working drain and connect according to local plumbing codes. tank two adapter tank two yokes tank one water meter 9100. 5 General and Commercial Installation Checklist View Doc
Installing Your Fleck WaterSoftener Quality Water TreatmentYour kitchen and bathroom faucets help create more of a vacuum to drain the water out after securely threading the ¾”adapter into either the assembly and secure it there with the two small stainless steel clamps supplied. 7. Now position your watersoftener unit in place for final Retrieve Content
Superior Water And Air Utah WaterSoftener Systems watersoftener and you should have water to your house. The AC adapter power pack comes with a 15 foot power cord and is designed for use with the control valve. Drain Line 3/4Water Flow Proper DLFC orientation directs water flow towards Fetch Document
Recharging Water Softner Carpet Cleaning Equipment Recharging Model AC39 Manual WaterSoftener Every second recharging, before the above procedures, switch the inlet line to the outlet side of the blue tank adapter and turn the water This will immediately start water flowing to the drain. Access Document
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Importance Of Understanding Local Regulations
Its essential to read up on any rules and regulations that your local authority might have about water softener drainage before you purchase a system.
These regulations could affect the type of system you can purchase, or whether a water softener that regenerates is right for you at all.
There are plenty of options for draining water softener backwash, so dont worry if local regulations forbid you from flushing the backwash in a certain manner.
For instance, you might not be allowed to drain your water softener backwash onto the ground if your local authority uses groundwater as a source for the public drinking water supply. In this case, you should consider hooking your water softeners drain pipe to your sewage connection.
Some local authorities might also prohibit you from sending backwash water directly into your sewage line. In this case, you can consider flushing your water softener outside instead.
How To Install A Water Softener
Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron’s articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
- Skill Level: Advanced
- Estimated Cost: $800 to $10,000
The term “hard water” refers to a potable water supply that contains a high level of dissolved mineralsmostly calcium and magnesium. 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. Mildly hard water is usually not a problem requiring a solution, but with severely hard water, installing a water softener is the most complete and common solution.
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