Water softener installation
A softener only works well when it's matched to your water and your household. Here's what a solid installation looks like in the Grand Valley.
A softener is a pressure tank of resin beads plus a brine tank of salt. As water flows through, the resin grabs calcium and magnesium. When the resin fills up, the control valve runs a regeneration: it rinses the beads with brine, flushes the hardness to a drain, and goes back to work. You top off the salt every so often.
How is a softener sized?
From two numbers: your hardness in grains per gallon and how much water the house uses each day. Together they set the resin capacity and how often the unit regenerates. Too small and hard water slips through before the next regeneration. Too big and you pay for capacity you don't use. Because hardness varies between the City of Grand Junction, Ute Water, Clifton Water and the town systems, the installer should test your tap instead of borrowing a neighbor's number.
What does a typical install include?
- Water test. Hardness at minimum, ideally iron too, since iron fouls resin.
- Location. Usually near where the main line enters, often in the garage. Grand Junction winters bring hard freezes, so a unit in an unheated space needs protection.
- Bypass valve. Lets water go around the softener for service.
- Drain and power. Regeneration water needs a drain with a proper air gap, and the control valve needs an outlet.
- Setup. Programming hardness and household size, then showing you how to add salt and use the bypass.
Is efficiency worth paying attention to?
Yes, especially in a dry climate. EPA WaterSense notes that a typical softener uses 20 to 70 gallons of water per regeneration. It recommends models certified to NSF/ANSI 44 that regenerate on demand and use 4 gallons or less per 1,000 grains removed. Ask the installer for the unit's rated salt and water efficiency.
Who can install one in Colorado?
A registered plumbing contractor, or a registered water conditioning contractor working under a registered water conditioning principal, with a certified installer on the job. Ask which applies, and ask whether your city or Mesa County requires a permit for your setup.
What affects the price?
- The type and capacity of the unit
- How much re-piping it takes to reach the main line
- Whether a drain and outlet are close by
- Add-ons such as a sediment pre-filter or an RO drinking tap
The water treatment company sets its price once it knows your water, your plumbing and which equipment fits. We don't quote prices, and any figure given over the phone before someone has tested your water or seen where the unit will go is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Should my sprinklers get softened water?
Usually not. Most installers leave irrigation and some hose bibs on hard water, which saves salt and keeps it out of the yard. Ask how the plumbing will be split.
Do I need a permit for a softener in Grand Junction?
It depends on the work. The Mesa County Building Department handles permits for Grand Junction, Palisade and unincorporated areas. Your installer should know, or you can ask the department.
Related services
More background: Grand Junction hard water guide.
Scale on the faucets or a softener that stopped working?
Call and we'll connect you with a water treatment company that works in your part of the Grand Valley.