With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
A water softener system is a great addition to any home that’s receiving hard water. Hard water can cause a wide variety of problems in the home from corroded plumbing to appliance damage and poor laundry and washing experiences. But, we don’t tend to buy a water softener to display it like a new high-end coffee maker in our kitchen. These are not aesthetically pleasing pieces of equipment to look at and they tend to be installed in less obvious locations. That said, there are practical reasons to choose an installation location carefully, and these will be the focus of our article.
Simply Install it in the Basement
It is true that the default place to install a new water softener is in the basement. But, this is not a hard and fast rule, and it may not work for everyone. A water softener needs to be located away from the busiest areas in the home, and yet access is needed to add water softening salt. If the home lacks a basement or garage, the next most likely location is a space near the water heater. This may be a closet or other space where a door can be mounted to limit access and cover the equipment. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that can have a major impact on the water softener placement choice.
The Main Water Line
The incoming water from a private well or public water supply must pass through the water softener. So, it makes good sense to install the equipment near the main water line in the home. This will ensure that the water undergoes an ion exchange process before it reaches the taps and plumbing fixtures. There is no need to direct external faucets to the water softener because softened water is a bad choice for watering plants. A water softener is vulnerable to the elements and it shouldn’t be installed next to the main water line outside the home. External plumbing should be avoided at all costs to protect your investment over the long term.
Access to an Outlet
A water softener requires power, and it should be located near an outlet. This location should be dry to promote safety, and the outlet should be dedicated to the equipment. The spot should be level and easy to access to make adding salt and essential maintenance easier.
At Least 3m Piping to the Water Heater
The water softener should have at least 3m of piping between it and the water heater. This is the minimum safe distance to prevent the migration of hot water back into the water softener during a regeneration cycle. Introducing hot water into the softening equipment can cause a lot of damage to the internal components and water carrying tubes.
Consider Salt Storage
Many people find the “ideal location” for their water softener systems and forget all about the salt requirements. Even a smaller home with a couple of occupants will require a significant volume of salt depending on the water hardness. Harder water requires more softening, and this consumes more salt. Dragging bags of water softening salt around the home can become a real chore fast. But, with a little planning, it is possible to store the water softener salt without any major problems.
Under optimal storage conditions, water softener salt will not perish, and it can last for a very long time. The salt tends to come in various plastic bag sizes, and it can be a little bulky to move around. Salt is a corrosive substance and it must be stored carefully to prevent damage to your home. There are four things to bear in mind when you store water softening salt:
1. Dry Storage Conditions
Salt is hygroscopic which means that it will soak up moisture from the air if it’s kept in humid conditions. This is especially true if a partially used bag is open to the air. Moisture will make the salt crystallize and clump together, which will cause problems when you need to refill the brine tank. These lumps of salt will need to be broken apart or the larger pieces will reduce the surface contact with the salt and water. This may lower the salt concentration, which can lower the efficacy and efficiency of the entire system. Clumps of salt can cause salt bridging issues which exacerbate the problem further, and in extreme cases, the water softener may stop softening entirely.
2. Avoid Metal Surfaces
Salt is a stable compound, but when it’s mixed with water and air, it can be corrosive on bare metal surfaces. Salt-induced rust is a major problem in coastal areas and airborne chloride (salt) ions will degrade untreated metallic surfaces quickly.
3. Avoid Contamination
The best water softening salts cost more because they are purer and they are less likely to damage the equipment. So, it makes good sense to protect the salt against rodents and other possible sources of contamination that may degrade the quality. Always store the salt in a closed location away from liquids or other containers that could leak or spill on it.
4. Avoid the Water Softener
Some people store their water softening salt on top of their water softener. This is a bad idea because the bags are heavy and they can damage the equipment. The brine tank and media tank covers can become distorted and this allows contaminants to enter.
Access to the Drain
During the regeneration cycle, the resin media tank is flushed with a brine solution from the brine tank. The purpose of this flushing process is twofold. The brine cleans the surface of the resin media beads that become clogged with mineral ions over time. As the surface of the beads is covered, they lose efficiency and ultimately they will be unable to facilitate the ion exchange process. The second reason is that the brine solution coats the resin beads with a fresh layer of charged salt ions which are required for the ion exchange. As you can imagine, the flushed waste minerals need to be directed into a drain with the wastewater. So, ready access to a drain is a key requirement if you want the water softener to work efficiently.
If you’re considering a water softener installation in your home, contact your local water treatment specialist.