How the job runs
- 1Choose the spotafter the meter, before the water heater, with a drain nearby
- 2Install a bypassletting us work on the unit while the house keeps its water
- 3Plumb inconnect inlet and outlet with unions or flexible connectors
- 4Drain lineroute the regeneration drain to a standpipe or floor drain with an air gap
- 5Set and testprogram the unit and check for leaks
01Do you need one
Toronto tap water from Lake Ontario carries a moderate load of hardness minerals. It leaves white crust on fixtures and scale inside kettles and water heaters. Many people live with it happily. Others find a softener extends the life of tankless heaters and makes cleaning easier.
It is a choice, not a necessity, and we will not oversell it.
| Hardness here | Lake Ontario water carries a moderate load of hardness minerals |
|---|---|
| Leave a hard tap? | Some owners keep the kitchen cold tap unsoftened for drinking |
| Filters | Under-sink units for drinking water are a simpler option |
02Installing right
The unit belongs after the main shut-off and before the water heater. The regeneration drain must have an air gap, which stops dirty water being drawn back into the unit.
03Filters
Whole-house sediment filters catch grit after city water main work. Under-sink filters improve drinking water taste without affecting the whole house.
04Salt and maintenance
Softeners need salt topped up and periodic cleaning of the brine tank. A bridge of hard salt can stop regeneration without any warning; break it up with a broom handle.