How to Winterize a Water Softener
Every home needs a water softener to maintain healthy pH levels, especially during winter. Here’s what you need to do before your service begins…
Step 1: Drain all water from the water softener and remove it from its housing.
Step 2: Clean out the inside of the tank with a strong cleaning solution and a sponge. Be sure to wear gloves for this step!
Step 3: Completely refill the tank with fresh salt pellets, then once again connect it to the piping system in your household. This should be done at least 40 hours before your yearly maintenance or just before having your local service technician come by for scheduled maintenance work. In general, we also recommend that you clean your water softener with a strong solution at least once per year. This will keep it working in top condition for the upcoming cooler months.
How do I winterize my water softener?
Turn off the water pump and water heater before shutting off the main water valve. Slowly set down the softener so that it is firmly on the wood strip and the inlet and outlet are over the drain. Carefully lift the tank from below, allowing it to drain fully.
How do I protect my water softener from freezing?
To get the best outcomes, keep the system at an average temperature of at least 32 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid any system component from freezing. During the coldest days, use a space heater to warm up the location around the water softener and check on the region’s temperature.
Should I winterize my water softener?
If you have a water softener or filter in your basement during the winter, you shouldn’t have to worry about it. If you have any of the following, you’ll need to winterize your system: A unit installed in an unheated garage. You’re not using a vacation home over the cold months.
Can water softener tanks freeze?
Some water treatment systems, such as softeners, reverse osmosis systems, and filters, are placed outside above ground or even buried in the ground. Keep in mind that if the temperature goes below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period (even an hour), the pipes and water treatment equipment can freeze.
What happens if the water softener freezes?
If the softener is kept in cold temperatures, we recommend draining the water from it. The tank or distribution tube might fracture due to freezing temperatures. This would allow the resin to escape from the softener.
Can a water softener be installed in the garage?
Before your water heater, water softeners are frequently placed near the incoming main water supply. The most popular water softener in the basement may be installed in the attic, garage, or even a closet dedicated to system storage.
What temperature soften water freezes?
The water inside the treatment tank of a water softener (the smaller-diameter tanks in our photos above) has very little dissolved salt and will freeze at a point at or perhaps just slightly below freezing – 32 degF. Or below.