Have you been thinking of getting a water softener, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to get a permit? Do you even need a permit to have a water softener installed?
Luckily, you don’t need a permit to install a water softener on your property. The project can also be completed in a day or less if you choose the right person to do it. So, if you’re dealing with hard water in your area, keep on reading to learn more about installing a water softener.
What is the Cost of Installing a Water Softener
A typical water softener installation job can cost between $79 and $150 based on the work involved, the time of the year, and the location.
It usually takes a single day to have the work done, but you might have to wait if your plumber is busy. In this case, you can definitely pay extra to have the job completed as soon as possible.
Why Should I Hire a Professional Plumber to Install a Water Softener
The performance of your water system might be adversely affected by wrong or improper installation.
For example, the filtration system might not do the job the way it should, or it might break down, costing you more money for repair.
A professional and licensed plumber will be able to install the water softener in less time, check all your plumbing, and provide the needed guarantee that your system will work the way it should.
A licensed plumber or service provider will provide you with a written contract that states the detailed tasks involved in the job and the expected time of completion.
It will also include information about the warranty. They can also suggest the right type of water softener that works for your household.
In most cases, your service provider will use the hardware provided by the manufacturer to connect and operate the water softener.
However, if your situation needs extra work, they will be able to provide the necessary tools.
The water softener should be connected to the water system and electrical power supply. Testing the system is crucial to guarantee that everything is working the way it should.
Can I Install a Water Softener By Myself
Yes, you can, but it’s not recommended. Good quality water softener installation involves a lot of skills that are mastered by a licensed and experienced plumber or service provider.
In addition, a wrong connection to the water supply or the electric power can cause the water softener to malfunction, damage it, or cause a safety hazard in your home.
Why Should You Install a Water Softener
Installing a water softener is an internal job that doesn’t affect the plumbing in your area, and you can even install more than one if you’re living in a big household where multiple sinks, bathtubs, and showers are used at the same time.
A water softener is a filtration system that removes mineral concentrations. Calcium and magnesium are sometimes found in water, causing what we know as hard water.
The water flows through a filtration system that removes these minerals and then the soft or clean water leaves the system to collect and travel through the house’s piping system.
Both calcium and magnesium bond with other minerals in the water to cause buildup. This buildup can clog your tap, the showerhead, deposit inside your pipes, or in the drain to cause flooding.
The buildup can also corrode the metal pipes in the long run, causing problems in your plumbing.
Installing a water softener will also help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Hard water prevents your water-using appliances from working properly because it clogs the pipe.
As a result, your appliances will be less efficient, will use more energy, and might eventually get damaged because of the accumulated residue.
Luckily, installing a water softener will solve this problem, and it’s not that expensive.
The filtration system will remove the minerals and provide you with soft water that can be safely used for various purposes.
How Does a Water Softener Work
A water softener is a household appliance that works according to a famous chemical concept, more or less like a magnet.
With a magnet, positively charged objects are repelled when you near them to the positive pole of the magnet, but they will stick if you put them near the negative pole.
A water softener is a filtration system that works like a magnet. Calcium and magnesium are positively charged molecules, and the system has a pump that pumps the water through a filtration and softening system.
The water then passes through a negatively charged resin filter.
When the water touches these beads, the calcium and magnesium particles immediately leave the water molecules and stick to the beads.
The result is soft water that you can safely use in your house.
The same thing happens when the system cleans itself. Water and positively charged salt particles are passed through, so they get in touch with the resin beads.
The minerals will get repelled by the positive charges, leave the beads, and get flushed out of the system.
Conclusion
Hard water can be extremely annoying because the deposits can clog your pipes and drains, damage your water-using appliances, and cause corrosion in the long run.
However, installing a water softener will solve the problem because it removes the mineral deposits from the water and allows soft water to flow through your pipes.
You don’t need a permit to install a water softener in your home, but it’s recommended to hire a professional plumber to do the job.
