Do All Water Softeners Need A Drain

Here s how to drain it.

Do all water softeners need a drain.

The chloride passes through the treatment plant and ends up in our lakes and streams. After placing the brine inside its tank add salt to up to its maximum capacity. The hard minerals stick to little plastic resin beads and the dirt settles and collects at the bottom of the tank. Why your water softener needs a drain.

There are a few different methods that you can use to drain your water softener s brine tank. According to most plumbing codes a water softener drain line must not be connected directly to the household waste system. This is to prevent non potable water from flowing backwards possibly mixing and contaminating potable drinking water. Most water softeners recommend that you fill 2 3 rd of them with salt and in some cases water.

Add salt into the brine tank. Most water softeners require two drain tubes. In some communities home water softeners drain to municipal wastewater treatment plants which are not designed to remove chloride. Cabinet style softeners however do not need you to install a brine line.

A softener drain line must not be connected directly to the waste system but must be emptied into a laundry tray floor drain or properly trapped special outlet preserving an air gap of at least two times the diameter of the drain line but in no case less than 1 1 2 above the top of the receptacle used. Connect the drain tubes. If the water inside is still relatively clean you can scoop it into a large container or your laundry tub so that you can use it again once you have fixed the problem. By code water softeners must be emptied into a laundry sink floor drain sump hole or properly trapped special outlet preserving an air gap of at least two times the diameter of the drain line but in no case less than 1 1 2 above the top of the.

Turn on the water supply. The other drain tube connects to the brine tank and serves as an overflow drain. You can simply scoop out all of the water in your water softener by hand with a bucket.