Water Softener Install

Installing a customer supplied water softener.
#skilledtrades #plumbing #water #plumber #install #repair #fyp #tradesman #plumbinglife

[@theplumbersplunger]

I would typically use an air gap fitting but the hose that came with this softener did not fit any of the three different ones I had.

[@Noxish]

Is this a good brand?

[@PigeonFuff]

Water softeners are absolute game changers. Totally worth it

[@EASsirenVids01]

“Can’t wash soap off their hands” Felt exactly like this after we got a water softener

[@xsteal]

That's cause it's actually not washing off. Do this test. Wash hands with dish soap. See how many times u can make hands foam up again, by rubbings hands together. It's the reason skyn gets so dry.

[@arcticredpanda4598]

because it's true

[@NicktheDIYguy]

I’m not a plumber but I love watching these types of trade shorts more than my own trade lol

[@kevinscheifele6833]

I install softeners for boiler and RO pre treatment. Absolutely necessary. Huge huge softeners. I wouldn't go without 1 in my house either.

[@lodan420]

How much sodium the softened water has depends on what the hardness of the water was initially.

[@kevingaddis7276]

Nice job i have installed 100s of them. Just like you have done hear.

[@denisemurphy3915]

So does it remove fluoride, or is your area unfortunate not to have fluoridated water?

[@SamSung-ww3rp]

How long does the system last before it needs to be replaced

[@chasewaite9427]

Oh my god, a plumber that actually knows about water softeners and how they work! This is beautiful 🥲

[@joeransom1567]

I had a customer put her softener on bypass. I asked why she said because her doctor said her sodium level is too high due to the water from the softener I said ma'am, the water from the softener is not what you use when you're taking a shower or drinking. but she was older can't tell her nothing lol

[@PlumbSharp]

I installed the same system 😂

[@MisterTwister88]

What’s your policy as far as warranty work on customer supplied materials?

[@bmo14lax]

Do they create systems that already have this Pre-installed? I feel like I'd rather have one of those in new construction. I understand you'll need to put these filters for older builds, but on newer ones do they include it in the plumbing already? Seems like a smart move to do that in the future for consumers if they are not already existing.

[@ImTrans-Former]

No . Usually they’ll run the waterlines like shown here , an outlet and drain . The rest is up to the homeowner to pay to have it installed unless they can do it themselves.

[@boblog131]

Do you have a bypass for if the softner fails

[@jamesebarker226]

What is inside a de-chlorinator that removes Chlorine from city water? Does that tank need serviced anytime?

[@denyel_]

i shower for SO LONG in soft water i feel so slippery and oily

[@jalenjose3905]

Heavy water is also use into to cooldown of nuclear reactor

[@keving.2792]

Is that polybutylene? I thought that wasn’t sold anymore bc of its issues.

[@theplumbersplunger]

Polyethylene Crosslink (PEX)

[@user-pq2pq3dy6h]

Have you ever in stalled one where the water was ok and it was from the water company? If so is there a way to coat the insides of copper pipe?

[@danielsoto9952]

Theres products out there that coat the inside of the pipes and can descale. Still prefer a softener though. Just depends on your city and what they allow you to have.

[@davidanderson1074]

Sorry but it does add sodium to the water as I had to remove my system due to a family member being allergic to it, as they’re allergic to sodium

[@ImTrans-Former]

I’ve never seen an air gap quite like that before , whatever works right?

[@theplumbersplunger]

I have three different styles (fittings) that I usually use for the air gap but the hose that came with the system this customer bought did not fit any of them.

[@Eggugat]

The amount of sodium left is about 70mg/l per cubic ft of resin. Unless you use salt substitute in the brine tank. Also you didn’t show testing the raw water for hardness and programming the softener

[@theplumbersplunger]

Can’t fit everything in these shorts. Planning on doing longer form content soon too though to explain in more depth and show the full install.

[@TheSocalHandyman]

What are your thoughts on the unit you are installing?

[@theplumbersplunger]

It’s not the one I install for the company. I have installed a lot of them for customers who buy them theirselves. Haven’t had any call backs yet with issues. But I also don’t warranty customer supplied parts.

[@luisvilleza2687]

Which is better in treating hard water ,water softener or Reverse Osmosis filtration system

[@ImTrans-Former]

RO is drinking water , softened water is not for drinking . To answer your question the Softener is better for hard water.

[@theplumbersplunger]

Softener is for removing water hardness. R.O is for filtering the water. Softeners are going to be for the entire system. R.O is usually only for drinking water

[@theplumbersplunger]

They do have whole home R.O systems though but they can be a pin to maintain and start at around $10,000 just for the system not including installation

[@LawFarin]

Maybe my softener i’m using too much salt but the water is def salty. I turned it the setting they had down but it’s still kinda salty

[@theplumbersplunger]

The hardness setting only changes how often the system regenerates and not how “soft” the water is. If you have a salty taste in the water there is an issue with the system.

[@ajmuffinstuff1]

You do calls near DFW? I have a ton of questions about a water softener. I've heard from me well water friends that they need to have an RO to remove the excess sodium that swaps with calcium / mag. If their hardness was under 4?? before softening, it would be okay. True or nah? Everyone online is peddling a product. Would love to hear your product recommendations. Especially if you aren't local to me 😂

[@ImTrans-Former]

If you have a hardness under 4 then you don’t really need a water softener. I line in Indiana and the hardness is around 21-22 untreated. There was a city just north of Indianapolis that would pretreat the water to about 7 grains of hardness. If you have a well there’s usually what’s called a whole house filter that takes away a lot of the excess minerals in well water . RO is mainly for drinking water that’s at the kitchen sink .

[@ImTrans-Former]

Also I install Aqua systems softeners. I don’t ever recommend getting one of those all in one softener’s because it’s hard to replace parts if anything happens.

[@zach88888]

Sounds like the city is providing crappy water to you guys. Why don’t they just put that filtration system at the plant instead of forcing every single homeowner to have a miniature version of one and the folks that can’t afford it gets all their plumbing and fixtures ruined. Make it make sense.

[@omartrujillo6491]

Missing a bypass

[@seanwhylly7699]

I guess that one extra 90° elbow fitting would have blown the install budget out through the roof.

[@theplumbersplunger]

Where at?

[@seanwhylly7699]

@@theplumbersplungerI'm not cropping on your demo but the water pipes behind the softener are not plumb. One or two elbows would have straighten up the water lines. It's all about function and aesthetics.

[@theplumbersplunger]

@@seanwhylly7699 I did that because I was trying to limit the changes of direction and possible flow restriction issues. It would look nicer with the extra 90’s but then I’d hear nothing but that I am causing a flow restriction 😅

[@tacklebox6239]

Hey hotshot, where’s your double check valve?

[@ImTrans-Former]

What would you need that for an where?

[@xsteal]

That's cause it's actually not washing off. Do this test. Wash hands with dish soap. See how many times u can make hands foam up again, by rubbings hands together. It's the reason skyn gets so dry.

[@bubbajoe-ln4co]

Pro tip: run a stepbit through the brine well for the overflow 90 to hold it in place. The customer will never know it but will be super thankful for that little extra

[@LikeNoOtherPlumber]

Have you tried Halo 5 house filtration system? Salt free maintenance free.

[@theplumbersplunger]

I have not. If it’s salt free though it isn’t softening the water. They are “conditioning” it. Usually just coating the minerals in the water and helps prevent them from sticking to everything.

[@lelanddimmer5979]

Softened water feels slimy, like you're showering in thin mucus.

[@theplumbersplunger]

“Silky” 😎

[@theplumbersplunger]

@@katokagome4670 that feeling is from the lack of minerals clogging your pores from the water. No way to stop it other than not having a softener. Less soap is needed when you have soft water but the feeling isn’t from the soap itself.

[@patrickodaniel929]

Salt is in the water and will not have an effect on people but plants are a different story

[@nightnightjd5733]

I always recommend filter/conditioning systems instead of salt systems. Halo 5 units are epic and far superior. But if a salt softener is what the customer wants a salt softener is what the customer gets!