Hello, I am moving from a house with a Softener to one without. I am a believer in their value. Both houses (old & new) are similiar in age (mid-80's) and construction. The one w/o the softener shows all the signs of hard water deposits/damage. The one with the Softener shows pristine fixtures and appliances.

Most softener retrofits soften the entire house. Doing it that way all the plumbing, fixtures, and appliances get the benefits of soft water. The easiest and most cost effective installation of a softener loop is where the water service enters the home. At that location you also need a drain and except a Kinetico softener you need electricity. Jan 25, 2012 We had a water softener installed by Ameriflow for Lowe's. When we purchased the water softener through Lowe's, they said Ameriflow would come out. Can You Install A Water Softener Without A Loop. Home Water Softeners for Rent or Sale from Rayne. Advanced technology that provides amazing versatility, maximum efficiency settings, and soft water tailored just the way you want it! ADVANTAGESOptional Up Flow Technology For More Complete Regeneration.

I will definately be installing a softener in my 'new' house So, onto my questions; Is it absolutely necessary to have a 'loop' before installing a softener? How can I tell if a house has a loop or not?

I suspect it does have one. Out of interest, will a softener help to 'un-do' the years of scale/calcium etc. I'm thinking of installing a softener myself, but will rethink it if a loop needs to go in. THanks in advance -Scot.

A softener loop is preplumbed as the house is built. It provides a place where the plumbing is exposed so you can cut into it and run your inlet and outlet lines from/to it. In some cases, it should always be done but isn't, there is also a drain connection preplumbed. If there is no loop, and the water service line plumbing is exposed, you install a softener the same way as with a loop and run the drain line to a drain line, sump pump or floor drain etc. If the plumbing is not exposed, then you have to find where the service line comes into the building and that usually requires opening walls where the line most likely comes in. Usually the only houses that have a loop are those on a slab and the loop is in the garage; sometimes by the water heater where the inside water shutoff valve is. Outside faucets and any irrigation is usually plumbed ahead of the loop so they don't get softened water.

If a house isn't preplumbed, the outside faucets probably will be plumbed after the location the softener is installed in. MSN more. You need a water test to know how much hardness etc. Is in the water, or look at the water company's web site if you don't have your own well.

Gary Quality Water Associates. We were lucky. In our house in Valrico, Florida (slab foundation, block walls, built in 1999) because as the house was being constructed the plumber was smart enough to install a 'loop' along with a drain line inside the garage. It probably took him an additional 20 minutes and maybe $10 worth of CPVC pipe, but his thoughtfulness made it so simple to have the water softener installed.

The 'drain' line, which in our case went directly into the DWV, is very important as the salt from the backwash will kill the grass if just drained outside. When we moved into another house (also in Florida) that we purchased after that, there was no loop, and we had to 'cut' into the main water inlet, run two pipes (inlet & return) each about 10 feet long under ground, along side garage, then drill through garage wall for entry/exit for these pipes, which connected to the water softener inside garage. What was most unfortunate in THIS installation is the 'backwash drain' went directly outside and emptied onto a small area of stones.