How To Add Water Softener To Water Heater

Pros & Cons

Navigating the pros and cons of every option

A h2o softener is a not bad appliance to have in the habitation. Non merely will information technology relieve you coin in the short term, but it will as well go along your home's pipes and appliances in top working condition, saving you money in the long term. While you may know you need a water softener subsequently testing your water's hardness, the thought of installing a system can be daunting. Notice the best installation option for you by considering every arroyo, from totally DIY to a completely hands-off experience (and everything in between).

DIY Installation

How it works: If you're a savvy DIY-er, y'all tin can easily practice it all. From the initial inquiry to the system purchase to the final installation, y'all're completely in control when it comes to fixing your difficult h2o headaches. And if you lot're replacing an outdated softener, you can hands swap out your unit using some bones push-on flexible connectors that are bachelor at your local hardware or dwelling house improvement store.
Pros: By tackling this project yourself, you tin work on the projection at your ain step, ensuring that yous're comfortable with your home needs, apparatus selection and installation. If you're proficient with plumbing, the project will have no more than half a twenty-four hours. If information technology's simply a replacement h2o softener installation, this tin be completed in almost an hr. Additionally, you won't have to pay a premium for installation—depending on where you alive and the complexity of the installation, those costs boilerplate betwixt $200 and $500.
Cons: This solo effort will crave some midlevel plumbing knowledge if you are installing a softener for the first time or your dwelling house was not preplumbed for a softener. You may need to cutting some pipes for the water softener and your h2o supply to align. Creating a detailed checklist to make sure you're fully prepared and don't miss key steps, like shutting off the water supply before get-go, is imperative if you decide to forgo outside help.
Before y'all do it: Aside from determining the best water softening solution for your domicile, you'll need to discover the best place for information technology. The ideal spot will be a dry, level location with at to the lowest degree 10 feet of piping between the water softener and your h2o heater, near an electrical outlet and close to the water's main line and a drain.

Difficulty:
Difficulty: 3-4 From the initial research to purchasing your softener to the actual installation, yous exercise it all. If you have moderate plumbing skills or are replacing an quondam unit, the process can be very straightforward.

Time investment:
Time: 5 You're completely responsible for every stride of the process, from shopping for a softener to installing it.

Price:
Cost: 2 Skipping professional assistance can save pregnant dollars.

Retailer Installation

How it works: You either research and select your organization at any major retailer—including Dwelling house Depot, Lowe'south and Sears—or work with i of their salespeople to choose the best system for your domicile. Once you have selected the water softener, one of the retailer'southward contracted specialists (professionals) volition assist you with the remaining details and take care of installation.
Pros: Purchasing through a retailer offers several key benefits. You lot tin can buy the installation of your water softener as role of a complete apparatus parcel, resulting in price savings. Most retailers also offer a finance plan to spread the cost of the purchase and installation over the course of a few months. The retailer does the legwork in finding a plumber who is equipped to handle the installation of your organisation and can provide insight into complementary products that are designed for your softener, similar a whole-dwelling water filter, softener cleanser or a sure blazon of salt. Last, retailers can offer warranty extensions to protect your investment.
Cons: You may find inconsistencies in the services provided from retailer to retailer, and depending on where you live, it may take several days to schedule the installation.
Before you practise it: You can go h2o softener shopping tips to know which system is right for your home before you head to the store. It'due south best to accept a general thought of what you demand so that the salesperson can help discover the perfect solution based on some of your basic household information.

Difficulty:
Difficulty: 1 Having a salesperson aid you with your purchase can make it easier and less stressful to select a organisation. Plus, they facilitate the installation.

Time Investment:
Time: 2 Going in with a basic idea of what yous're looking for volition require some inquiry and background information, only the retailer will assist lead you lot to your solution and make last preparations.

Cost:
Cost: 3 Your retailer will exist able to negotiate rates within their installer network, getting you the all-time cost for installation. If you opt for additional products or an extended warranty, this will add to your terminal cost.

Water Softener Installation

Plumber Installation

How it works: Y'all're responsible for your own water softener enquiry, purchase and in-habitation preparations, merely once you get information technology habitation, you're off the hook. Water softener knowledge and installation is par for the course for professional person plumbers, then they'll exist able to expertly install your system in two or three hours, disallowment whatever unforeseen setbacks.
Pros: If you lack plumbing feel, professional installation is affordable and volition requite yous peace of mind that information technology has been done correctly. Additionally, you're withal in control of selecting which softener is right for your habitation.
Cons: On top of the cost of the h2o softener, you'll exist charged an installation fee, which varies past region and visitor. If you haven't already purchased a water softener but are starting to enquiry plumbers, they may try to lead y'all toward a item product they behave—even though information technology may not be the correct option for your dwelling house or your budget. Equally for availability, yous may not get an appointment right away, so planning ahead in order to most accurately predict when yous'll need the water softener installed is a factor to consider as well. Terminal, you'll need to take your water softener and whatsoever related equipment prepare for the plumber.
Earlier yous do it: Depending on your location, the accessibility of the plumbing in your home and where you plan to install your softener, the cost for installation will vary. Gathering estimates from several area plumbers volition provide you with the general cost of installation, any requirements you'll need to gear up before the official appointment and comfort with the professional who will be facilitating the installation.

Difficulty:
Difficulty: 3-4 Since you'll demand to enquiry both the best system and plumber for your dwelling, equally well as navigate the actual purchase and setup for installation, this pick requires a bit more coordination and work.

Fourth dimension investment:
Time: 4 You're responsible for most of the work, merely get peace of mind with a professional installation.

Toll:
Cost: 4 Using outside help will bump up the overall cost of the project.

With 3 options bachelor, selecting which is correct for you will come up down to whether you want to research and select the appliance, your budget, and how comfortable you feel tackling the actual installation of the water softener. After examining all the dissimilar components, y'all'll exist able to strike the perfect balance and notice the best solution for your abode.