Do you have concerns about your water source and want to know how to install a water softener with a well?
Well-water does not undergo any treatment as municipal water does. It comes straight from the ground and contains many minerals that can cause many problems to homes that use it as a chief water source.
Water filters can work to get rid of minerals found in well water, but only in small quantities like in drinking water. But for bigger amounts like for washing clothes or bathing, water softeners are necessary.
Water that comes from a well picks up minerals as it flows through the ground. These minerals make the water “hard,” and some of them do not pose a danger to people, but some do.
Minerals like magnesium and calcium become problematic to household water systems. When mixed with detergent or soap products, they will make it not properly dissolve.
If you use hard water for bathing, you will feel that the soap cannot be removed from your skin. And if you use it for washing clothes, the soap will not seem to break apart and will likely build up and produce stains within the dishwasher, washing machine, bathroom surfaces, or kitchen drains.
These minerals can also adhere to the pipework, causing corrosion and restrain the flow of water.
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What is the best solution to solve the problem of hard water?
If you are one of the unfortunate ones that live in an area that depends on well water as the main water source, you need to make it soft. And you will need to find a suitable water softener to make your household water supply usable and drinkable.
But before finding and installing a water softener in your home, you will need to test your well-water for hardness.
How can you test your water for hardness?
Before performing any water treatment of any kind, you will need to test your water. Upon purchasing a water softener, you have the option of buying a test kit.
A water softener specialist can also test your water since you will need to hire one to install it in your home.
If the test shows that your water has a measurement between sixty to one hundred twenty GPG or grains per gallon, it will require a water softener to remove its hardness.
If it shows less than or equal to one GPG of calcium carbonate, it is still soft and will not need a water softener.
There are other methods to fight against hard water, like filtration or descaling, but ineffective in solving the issue of hardness in water. A water softener is the most effective technique and utterly essential if you only depend on well water for your household.
How does a water softener work in your home?
A typical water softener will have a resin and brine tank, along with a control system. There are control and timer valves that have to be attached to your home’s water supply system.
The water softener will do its chief task of softening the water before it enters your home.
The untreated hard water will first go to the resin tank that has many beads arranged at the bottom to form a bed. The beads will turn magnesium and calcium ions into sodium or any other type of desirable ions.
The resin beads contain sodium ions that are negatively charged and attract positively charged magnesium and calcium ions. The weaker sodium ions are forcefully displaced from the beads and incorporate with the water.
After the water penetrates and goes through the resin beads, it goes to the tank bottom, and it will become clear of impurities. With an outlet manifold and riser tube, soft water is pumped out from the tank and is suitable for use.
Clear and soft water is then disseminated everywhere in your home via the cold water pipe.
The water softening process uses small amounts of sodium only and does not cause harm to the health of everyone living in the house, and makes it appropriate for everyday use.
What are the benefits of using a water softener for well water treatment?
It can remove iron
Most water softeners can remove iron (which often have a large concentration in well waters) as well as magnesium and calcium. High iron amounts are dangerous to the human body cause damage to the pancreas, liver, heart, stomach, and skin cells.
Iron can also leave stains on sinks, plates, bathtubs, bathroom floors and clogs the pipes. A water softener in your home will enable the water to be free of iron and safe for everyone to use.
Reduces corrosion
Corrosion often occurs in the interiors of the pipes as mineral particles accumulate and bind on their surfaces.
Water softer de-clogs the residual buildup and enables the water to flow freely. It also extends the lifespan of your plumbing since the household fixture is unaffected and works effectively.
Water heats faster
Whenever you try to heat hard water, it will take a while to reach boiling point compared to soft water. Once you install a water softener, your water heater will function twenty-two percent quicker to heat it.
Having a water softener in your home will result in lowering your electric bill and consume less energy.
Drinking water becomes healthier
Everyone wants their water to drink without any impurities to avoid any waterborne diseases. A water softener can remove excessively harmful minerals that improve upon its taste and quality, thus making it suitable to drink.
A water softener will turn out to be safer and less expensive than boiling water all the time for cooking or drinking.
Less accumulation of soapy scum
As most minerals are removed from the water, detergent and soap products will lather easily and no longer, and create scum, which can be difficult to get rid of.
You can save up on those products since they will froth faster and last longer.
What are the factors your need to consider before installing a water softener?
Before performing the actual water softening installation procedure, you will need to understand the kind of water you have and think about the needs of your home.
These are essential information in determining how big and what type the water softener unit should be to suit the needs of your household.
Its size will influence the necessary space for installation. Water softener specialists will recommend the size based on a few factors like the rate of flow, the quantity, and the quality of water that you have in your home.
Your water’s flow rate will be measured by GPM or gallons per minute. And is determined by regarding all the appliances and fixtures that function at the same time. If the rate of flow is not taken into consideration and the water softener is small, the water will remain hard, and the pressure will decrease.
Another crucial factor is the usage of water. Based on scientific surveys, a regular person uses about eighty to one hundred gallons of water daily. To get the appropriate size of the unit, you will have to multiply how many gallons each person uses in a particular residence by the number of residents.
And the hardness of water will also determine the size of the unit. For larger homes that use up lots of water, you will need a bigger water softener to remove a lot more mineral particles.
What are the three types of installation procedures?
Installation by a professional
Since installing a water softener unit can be tricky and require specific knowledge, you need professional assistance. A plumber or a water softener specialist can set it up in less than three hours.
You will end up paying for the installation fee, which may vary depending on the company and where you live.
Installation using DIY methods
If you are a crafty DIYer, then you can probably set up a water softener on your own. Performing this will take a lot of practical judgment, research, and midrange plumbing knowledge.
The advantage of installing it yourself is that you can work at your own pace and save money. You can also choose the type of water softener to acquire.
Installation by the retailer
To get this type of installation, you have to purchase the water softener in major retail outlets in your area. After selecting the water softener to buy, you will be provided a specialist from the retailer to install it.
This kind you usually get as part of an appliance package, which might offer discounts and warranties.
How to install a water softener with a well without any difficulty?
Where to install
The particular spot to place the water softener should be a consideration since it will be dependent on its type and size. Ideally, it should be on a level surface, close to the point of entry of your water source.
Since well water is your chief water supply, the entry point should be adjacent to the pressure tank. For municipal water users, the water softer is usually next to the water meter.
A power source and a drain should be close, with a big enough area to fit the water softener unit.
As long as the pipework, drains, and power source are nearby, you can install it anywhere in your house. Also, make sure that no direct sunlight will hit it since the temperature in the area should only be thirty-five to one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
Here are some areas in your home where you can situate the water softener:
- Basement
- Crawl space
- Garage
- Utility room
How to install a salt-based water softener
- Turn off the water from the main line and open the lowest faucet in your home to drain out all the water.
- Switch off the water heater.
- Go to the area on the main line where you want to install the water softener (select a spot before the line goes into the water heater.
- Sever the line with a pipe cutter.
- Attach an elbow fitting in the severed line.
- Use the measurements of the unit to measure the pipework leading the bypass valve. Cut it to fit and fuse the fittings and nipples before attaching the pipe to the valve.
- With the compression fittings, fasten the unit.
- Clinch the hose to the unit and attach it to the drainage area.
- Switch the valve to the bypass setting and flush water through to get rid of debris.
- Connect the unit to an electrical outlet, turn the valve backward, and open the valve slowly to let the water in. Check on the manual for the schedule for flushing and the amount of salt in the tank.
How to install a salt-free water softener
- Go to your preferred area to set up the water softener unit and switch off the main water supply.
- Drain out the water by opening the lowest faucet in your home.
- Sever the cold water pipe before it reaches the pre-filter housing.
- Connect the shut-off valve to the pipework. You can do it either by soldering copper or gluing PVC to it.
- Fasten the pipe to the shut-off valve with compression fittings.
- Attach the second shut-off valve, extend the pipe and fasten it with a compression fitting.
- Attach the downflow outlet close the two shut-off valves, and switch on the main water valve.
- Check for leaks after opening the valves one at a time. If you cannot find any, switch on all the valves to start the unit.
How to install a magnetic water softener
- Go to the area where you want to install the unit. It is relatively small, so you can put it anywhere along the pipeline.
- Follow its instructions in its manual to open the magnetic box and clamp it onto the pipe.
- Attach the box surrounding the pipe as per instructions to let the water flow through in the right direction.
- Shut the box surrounding the pipe and screw it in.
Conclusion
With a water softener unit, your previously hard well water can now be fully used in your home without its aforementioned problems.
With a trusty water softener in your home, you can now have clean water that you can drink and use for your daily activities, without the fear of harmful impurities.
