If your Culligan water softener installation is just around the corner, you can expect a few key things: simplicity, convenience and speed. Of course, professional service is always preferable because expert installers have the tools and experience necessary to simplify the process; however, your Culligan team brings even more benefits through their knowledge of water softening, local water quality and hard water issues.
On top of that, installing a water softener on your own would require all kinds of expertise. With professional installation, you don’t need any plumbing or pipe installation knowledge — you can just sit back and relax.
Here’s what to expect before, during and after your water softener installation.
How water softener installation works
On installation day, your Culligan installer will arrive with all the necessary tools, equipment and supplies. Once they’ve introduced themselves and explained the basics of the process, they’ll get to work preparing your home, plumbing and softening system.
Here’s how the process typically works:
Step 1: Review the installation plan
Your installer will confirm where the water softener will be placed and review any important details about your home’s plumbing. In many cases, your local water specialist will have already discussed placement options during the consultation process, so you may already know where your system will be installed. Common installation locations include garages, utility rooms, basements and other areas with access to the home’s main water line, drain and power supply.
If your home has a whole-home water filtration system, it is often installed before the water softener so the softener receives prefiltered water. Additional drinking water solutions, such as a reverse osmosis system, are typically installed after the softener at a dedicated point of use, such as the kitchen sink.
Step 2: Shut off the water supply
Next, your installer will look for your main control valve so they can turn off your water supply. This allows them to work safely on the plumbing and make any needed connections.
Step 3: Connect the softener to your plumbing
Once they’re prepared, your installer will connect the water softener to your plumbing so that when your water supply is turned back on later, it will all flow through the softening system before reaching any of your home’s taps.
To make this happen, your technician may need to add some additional piping or two to route the main water supply as required. This can involve cutting your existing pipes — which is just one more reason it’s a good idea to have your softener installed by a trained professional.
Step 4: Connect the drain line
Next, your installer will connect the softener to a drain line. This is how a softening system flushes out the mineral content responsible for hard water and its symptoms (such as water spots or soap residue). A secure drain connection helps support reliable operation and helps prevent water from ending up where it should not.
Step 5: Fill the brine tank with salt
Next, you’ll be able to watch while your technician fills the brine tank with salt — that way, you know how the process works and how to replicate it in the future. In most cases, your dealer provides the salt required for this first fill at no additional cost.
Step 6: Program the system for your home
One of the final steps is programming. Unlike salt refills, you likely won’t need to do this yourself at any point in your water softener’s lifespan; however, it can still be helpful to watch what your installer does. After verifying your water needs — that is, the amount of soft water you require based on hardness levels, family size and water usage — your technician will program the system to soften accordingly. After this, it’s time to open your water supply line and let your water softener work for the first time.
Step 7: Walk through system basics
At this point, your installer will go over a few key things with you:
- How the water softening system works
- Where the display is and how to use it
- What regeneration means and how often it happens
- How to utilize the bypass valve to bypass the softener when you don’t need soft water
- Where the salt goes, how to refill it and how often this needs to be done
- What water softener maintenance looks like
- What to do in the event of a power outage
- How to access owner’s guides and manuals
Finally, your technician will clean everything up and make sure they haven’t left any water, debris or extra pipe material in the installation space. At this point, your water softener is up and running, and soft water should be right around the corner.
Having a water softener installed: how to prepare
Most parts of the water installation process will be handled for you. However, if you want to keep things running as smoothly as possible, it’s helpful to know what you can do (and what you should leave to the professionals):
What to do
- Make plenty of time: Installing a water softener doesn’t take a full day, but the process can range between two and four hours. This depends on the water softening system you chose, the age of your plumbing and other factors.
- Prepare the space: On installation day, make sure your selected space is cleared and clean. It’s usually safe to prepare about nine square feet, although the actual necessary space could be smaller depending on the size of your water softening system.
- Provide access: Your installer will need access to your water supply, pipes, a drain and an electrical outlet.
Write down your questions: If there’s anything you want to know, be sure to make a note so you don’t forget. Your Culligan installer will explain everything and cover any additional details you ask about.
What not to do
- Turn off your own water supply: While you may be able to handle this step yourself, it’s smarter to let your installer turn off your water. That way, they know exactly what happened and when.
- Provide tools or supplies: No need to buy or provide tools. Your installer knows what they need and how to use it, so you aren’t responsible for purchasing anything.
- Handle your own plumbing: If you try to make a cut in your plumbing and don’t know the integrity of it — for example, maybe a copper pipe has oxidized and become brittle — you could collapse all your pipes. Culligan installers know proper plumbing codes and have the right tools, experience and expertise to handle this process smoothly and safely.
- Worry: Installing a water softener on your own or having a friend do the work can leave you with twice the costs — not just in repairing errors and potential long-term damage, but in the time you spend worrying. Culligan does things right the first time and, if any issues should arise, we don’t leave you to call a plumber or handle problems yourself; we provide reliable support and service.
After installation: maintaining your water softener
After installation, your technician will show you how to maintain your water softener. Fortunately, this doesn’t require a lot of work.
Salt refills
The main need is to periodically replenish the salt. Your installer can give you a rough estimate of how often you’ll need to refill your brine tank — a schedule based on your water usage and the number of people using water.
Monitoring your system
If you selected a WiFi-connected Culligan water softening system with smart features, it will automatically monitor the salt level and tell you how many days of salt are remaining. An easy-to-read display provides system alerts and lets you know your softener is working.
Using your app
Our smart water softeners use the Culligan Connect App to send information right to your phone. Keep an eye on this app so you can quickly and effectively respond to any maintenance needs.
Getting support
If any questions or issues with your system arise, just call your local Culligan experts. We’ll have one of our professionally trained technicians diagnose the problem and make sure your system is operating at peak efficiency.
In addition, most Culligan locations offer service and maintenance packages that make it easy to keep your system operating at peak performance. Offerings vary by location but may include salt delivery, system inspections and free repairs.
What to expect after installing your softener
When the installation is complete and your technician has answered all your questions, it’s finally time to sit back and appreciate the benefits of water softening. This is where you really get to see the difference between hard and soft water.
Here’s what you can expect:
Soft water
Your cold water should be soft right away. However, because your hot water tank starts out full of your existing hard water, you need to use that water before it can be replaced with soft water. This can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two depending on the size of your water heater and how much water you use.
Fewer cleaning supplies
When you have soft water, soap and other cleaning supplies work more effectively. That means you can use less and get better results — for example, your laundry will be softer even without using dryer sheets, and you can likely use about a quarter of the soap you used before.
Fewer marks and spots
Mineral buildup, water spots and other hard water issues should be a thing of the past once your softener is up and running. That means you won’t have to scrub mineral deposits around your faucets or end up with spotty silverware that needs to go back in the dishwasher.
Better efficiency
Hard minerals can build up in water-using appliances and reduce their efficiency, effectiveness and longevity. Soft water, on the other hand, is easier on those appliances and can help them last longer.
Smooth-feeling water
When you take the first shower or bath after your water softener installation, you might notice a “slippery” feeling. This is completely normal and is caused by the natural oils in your skin, which were blocked by hard minerals but can now reach the surface. That helps prevent dryness and promote skin and scalp health.
The Culligan installation experience
Home stylist, author and Culligan partner Emily Henderson (@em_henderson ) shared her experience installing her first Culligan system: “I was intimidated by the idea of getting a softener installed — especially after we finished renovating — but working with the pros at Culligan made it so easy. Their process is simple: a Culligan team member will come over, test your water, and they’ll personally recommend solutions for you… Then, an expert installer spent about half a day hooking the system up to our main water valve.”
“Honestly, the best thing about it is that both times we’ve had it installed, it’s been so seamless that I haven’t had to deal with it once. Not one breakdown, one time I needed to troubleshoot, zero frustrations, and honestly, I haven’t even thought about it,” Henderson said.
The Culligan Connect app
If you’ve purchased one of Culligan’s smart water softeners, you have access to a free smartphone app called the Culligan Connect™ App. Your technician can help you connect your system to this app and show you how to navigate the interface so you can:
- Track your water usage
- Check your salt supply
- Get service and leak alerts
- Set your system on bypass when you don’t need soft water
With a smart water softener, your local Culligan experts can also monitor your system remotely for issues, providing you further peace of mind.
Water softener installation FAQs
Get quick answers to the most common installation questions.
Where is a water softener typically installed?
Water softeners are commonly installed on the home’s main water line near where water enters the home, such as a basement, utility room, garage or in some cases outdoors, depending on climate and local installation norms. Your local Culligan water expert will help confirm the best location for access, drainage and long-term serviceability.
Should a water softener go before or after a water filter?
Whole-home water filters are often installed before the water softener. For example, a sediment filter may be installed ahead of the softener to help reduce particles before water reaches the system. Depending on your water quality, a carbon filter may also be installed before the softener.
Reverse osmosis drinking water systems are often installed after the softener at a dedicated tap. The ideal setup depends on your water quality, plumbing and household goals, so your local Culligan expert can help recommend the right setup for your home.
What is a bypass valve and when would you use it?
A bypass valve lets you route water around the softener when needed, such as during service, maintenance or troubleshooting. Your installer will show you where it is and how it works during installation.
Do I need reverse osmosis if I already have a water softener?
A water softener addresses hardness minerals that cause scale and buildup. Reverse osmosis is a drinking water solution installed at a point of use, typically under the kitchen sink, to help address a broader range of drinking water concerns. Many homes use both, depending on goals and water test results.
Can you install a reverse osmosis system after a water softener?
Yes. In many homes, reverse osmosis systems are installed after the water softener at a dedicated drinking water tap. The softener helps reduce hardness minerals throughout the home, while reverse osmosis supports drinking water quality at a dedicated tap.
Your local Culligan expert can help determine whether this type of setup makes sense for your home based on your water test results and household needs.
How do you plumb a water softener?
A water softener is typically connected to the home’s main water line so water flows through the system before reaching most household fixtures and appliances. Installation may involve shutting off the water supply, modifying existing plumbing, connecting the softener inlet and outlet, attaching a drain line and programming the system settings.
Because installation involves plumbing connections, drainage requirements and local code considerations, professional installation is recommended. Your Culligan technician can handle the setup and show you how to operate and maintain the system after installation is complete.
See how easy professional softener installation can be
Whether you’ve just chosen your first softening system or are interested in water softener replacement, it’s best to rely on the experts for installation. From plumbing system and pipe solutions to expert advice and recommendations, you’ll get everything you need to start your soft water journey off right.
If you haven’t yet purchased your water softener or figured out exactly what you need, the first step is water testing and a free consultation to determine your water’s hardness levels, softening needs and more. Your local water expert can even provide background on the mineral content in your area.
Schedule your free, in-home water test and consultation today.
All images courtesy of Emily Henderson.