How to Install a Water Softener | This Old House

Why in the heck did this installer do this. What a waste of time and resources. How about install the softener to another location or perhaps shoot the water lines into the attic and up and over to garage and back. This is how contractors scam individuals. Ask questions people and get more than one estimate.

Wouldn’t the outdoor hose bib be better if it was from the hard water side? Unless you’re washing super high end luxury cars, why would you want to soften your outdoor water?

"Looks like coffee grounds or caviar..."

"Yes, actually it's both."

Nice video. I wish I could have seen the installation of the unit. Can the pipe that dumps the calcium & magnesium be connected to a standpipe in a laundry room?

I'm in Arizona too and the main comes from outside to the front of the single story on slab house and disappears in the wall. The laundry room and water heater is on the end of the garage. It would take a lot of work and dollars to get a water softener installed in my place. I would probably have to open a wall to access the water main inside the house so that I could get whole house softened water. Considering the plumbing prices here in Phoenix I would guess a 2nd mortgage to pay for it.

I like when that white guys described those beeds. NIGGITIVLEY. whoa there Phillip.

I've only been a plumber for approx. a year.
However, "This old house", just helped me realize how much of a bunch of incompetent morons they are , and how proficient I've become in The last year!
First of all, all that exposed copper...
Ten different connections, routing under this and that..!!???
Put the unit in the garage near the waterheater.
Then make access in the wall, via Sawzall or oscillator, and all you have to do is add a couple of new "stub-outs", pro press, and you're done!!!!
A third of the cost that would be required to do it thier way!!!
Just another example of the accepted norm, being a way that "professionals" can take monetary advantage of the common consumers unawareness.

That was some nice copper sodering

How to install water softener? do I tap off the hot and cold lines for water heater

Ok weird question...I have hard water issues..I have well water and a 2500 gallon water tank..this was my dads place so I was never aware of any hard water issues during the 20 years he and my mom lived there..they've passed now and years later there is a bad hard water issue..years ago I noticed a 40lb bag of salt next to the water tank..was he adding salt to the water?.just salt and hiw much per gallon?🤔😁

Great!! Lol I came here thinking you just buy the water softener and some hose to do it yourself but clearly it’s NOT! will need to hire a professional...

Can a water softener be installed in the main water line before the water meter?

What an artist! Look how gorgeous that copper is

Everybody was awesome in this video good peoples!!!!

Anyone know approximately how much this particular job (including components and labor) might run in 2022?

Per pipe is the best thing ever made. Couldn’t imagine how tedious an all copper job would be

what size copper?

Not enuf info. I'm trying to figure out brine line connection, the discharge, the backwash and also what this other inlet on the brine tank is (it's not the brine line hole)

That is really helpful for my nex protect thenks

I like Bill , he seems like he's the real pro

this is the worst water softening company, avoid at all costs

Good install! I have two houses. I had an Ecowater installed in one home in 1999. I had a Culligan installed in the other one in 2006. 23 years later the Ecowater is still going with no repairs. The Culligan had to be repaired three times and finally had to be replaced in 2015 and then that one needed repaired twice already. Get an Ecowater, you won't be sorry... UPDATE: Ecowater is still going, but replaced the board a few months ago. It still worked, I just couldn't set the time...

Was researching on how to DIY water softener installation and once I saw the digging and drilling, I'll just go ahead and pay a pro to do it lol!

It would have been easier and far cheaper to put the softner right at the inlet pipe, build a box for it, add an outlet. The gherkin doesn't even explain the brine tank, salt, and the function therein. All that copper running around the garage is so janke and ridiculous.

Phoenix's main water supply is from the salt river not from the CAP, this guy is a gherkin, most CAP water goes to Tucson and agriculture.

This is what I've been looking for. Thank you This Old House

Culligan water softener $1995 plus installation, installation $2995. Total $4990.

This installer is a great plumber.

That backwash line will rot in no time from salt,should have used cpvc.

wheres the bypass loop?

a day and a half job condensed into 15 mn

This just makes me think of that scene in Moonstruck “copper, which is the only pipe I use.”

i’ve probably seen this video 5 times i love the install

If I tap from the main supply line outside thru the garage softener,Can I tap the soft water to the water heater cold inlet? I need help out there,The plumber wants $2200 for that work,My main line is 9feet away to the water heater and softener is next to it if I can tap the soft water.Will this work?

"I'll let you do it... In case there's a leak" 😂

Very professional
Question: do we still need a water filteration system in the presence of this softening system?

I know this video is old, but I want to commend Mr. Wayner for his beautiful work. THAT is a beautiful job,. It's not every day you see softeners piped in with copper (the best installation in my opinion). This job he did is dripping with pride from the sweat joints, the pipe wrap going through the wall to prevent corrosion against the stucco mesh, to the elbows tight against the walls, the level of the pipes, everything. Beautiful work. In this day & age where "good enough" is done, seeing a man take pride in his work like this deserves recognition. The homeowners got every penny worth they paid for that system installation. I guarantee you that even if the softener has had to be replaced by now, the piping is still in place with no leaks.

is there a no or little copper option? you'll need a 2nd mortgage for that copper alone

It really weirds me out seeing waterlines outside and just barely under the ground.

So much for diy 😂

Very informative, I’m looking to replace my system soon. Never messed with my water other than replacing pipes and basic maintenance. Thanks for sharing!

The grounded wire to the pipe, was that reinstalled?If so, was it installed to the soft water pipe or the hard water pipe? Also, I don't have a big bowl sink for water to drain, how would I drain it to the sewers?

people need to be aware that Culligan systems are proprietary. That makes you beholden to Culligan for any repair or maintenance. something to think about.

Piping job was an A+, why couldn't they just loop it at the water heater inlet?

Useless video

Beautiful explanation. Best!

Seeing the pipes go up the outside wall make me cringe

After adding water softener i advise change the water heater... i had a tank less heater replaced it after adding a softener my water heats up so fast now and much more pressure

What a project for soft water, I bet that install was 10 grand...

Cool that you were in Laveen!