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Water Softener Installation Location

15 years ago

I'm looking at buying a water softener for our home, its a Fleck 5600 SE. The man installing it wants to put it outside, next to our garage. I would be fine with this as long as I can be sure it won't be damaged by weather. I'm near Austin, TX, so it doesn't get extremely cold here, and we only have an occasional freeze normally. Would it be safe outside as long as we had an insulator sleeve? What about in bad weather? Also, is it pretty normal to have softeners installed outside in the south?

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Comments (5)

User
15 years ago
Installing a softener outside requires consideration for protection from FREEZING and constant sunlight (mostly UV). Most softeners, except Kineticos, require electricity so that must also be considered in an outside installation.

If possible, it's best to install a softener inside near electricity and a drain. If not possible then some small shed type protection is my recommendation. You'll still need to consider where the effluent will drain during regeneration. In some installations burying the resin and brine tanks is a reasonable solution.

It would be easier to comment if you provide more details on your site. Paved? Dirt? City? Rural? Drain and electricity available?
asolo
15 years ago
Outside install is common in the south. Agree with justalurker. Should be sheltered both for protection and decoration. FWIW, I've had one of my Kineticos outside for 16 years. Built a little min-shed on the north side of the house behind a bush. Zero problems.

Inside preferable, if available.
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"I have moderate plumbing knowledge, however I have never worked with what appears to be iron or steel" Looks like copper. Try a magnet to find out. Then, is it 3/4" or 1" cause the 5600 is only a 3/4" valve? When you sort out this mystery assemble a three ball valve bypass. You should also get the Noryl bypass and the environmental cover (for outdoor installations) Fleck offers for the 5600 control valve. The Fleck SS bypass is not as desirable. This post was edited by justalurker on Fri, Sep 20, 13 at 11:27
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Ok, because your water is chlorinated, you shouldn't have an issue with iron. You should be able to get by with a hardness test kit such as this Hatch kit - don't get a cheap one and don't get one with strips that you have to match colors. is anyone in your family on a sodium restricted diet? There is generally less sodium in soft water than a glass of milk... so you may be overthinking it. You could run a separate line for the kitchen sink. If the 48,000 grain softener will be large enough for your house depends on how hard the water is. You will want to buy your test kit and test the water before you buy a softener. If your water was at 20 grains of hardness, for example, you would go about 6 days between regens using 15lbs of salt per cu ft - if it were adjusted for more reasonable brine efficiency, it would go a shorter time between needing regens. Test your water and let us know. You may need a larger unit. If you want a particulate filter, you could install a Big Blue filter before the softener. I would wait on that... keep a place for it to install, but don't do it before you know you need it. Also, as I always say... AliceInWonderland is a great resource on here.
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nicamberry
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for the information. It would be on dirt/grass. I live in a subdivision just outside the city, electricity and drainage are available. I was told to just cover it with an insulating cover after installation. I'd rather it be inside the garage, but that is alot more expensive. Though I wouldn't want to spend the money to buy a new softener if it was ruined either. Thanks for the help so far.
User
15 years ago
Would you install your washer, dryer, and water heater outside?

A proper installation is money well spent.
zl700
15 years ago
Being in Texas myself and close to Austin, 99% of the softeners here are outside and the remaining 1% are in the garage for those willing to give up the space.
In our neighbor 1/2 the garages are detached thus, water line goes nowhere near the garage.

My neighbor across the street has his in the attached garage and I notice his wife struggles to get out of car and past it.
I was fortunate; my water line enters on the AC condenser side so mine is on the slab outside between the 2 AC units, behind the fence. Also made it easy for the irrigation tap.

The plastic tank and fiberglass body with an outdoor install sleeve available as an option will be just fine.

In the event of a cold snap, some people leave a faucet trickling and I have seen some wrapped with self regulating heat tape.

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