How to Choose a Water Softener Location

If your home has an older water softener that you wish to replace with a new one, plan to put the new unit in the exact same location, since that is where the piping, power, and drain already exist. If there is no existing water softener in your home, consider the following recommendations for locating your new softener.

For starters, a new water softener should be located where it is easy to tie it into the plumbing system--in most cases, this is in a basement, garage, or utility room, often near the water heater. In addition, the water softener will need a nearby electrical receptacle that can handle the needed amperage (check the manufacturer’s specifications) and it will need a drain such as a floor drain or utility sink.

In households where sodium in the drinking water may cause a health risk, it may be necessary to bypass certain drinking water faucets (such as the kitchen sink) or, in some cases, soften only the hot-water side of the water supply system. In the latter case, you’ll need to place the softener after (downstream from) the water heater—but be aware that your entire cold water system will lose all of the benefits of water softening. Another option is to opt for a salt-free water softening system (see Salt-Free Water Softeners).