If a company has to install a drain line for a water softener why would they have to cut the sheet rock to locate a line? One plumber said he had to go thru the wall and the other said he could go through the attic. Obviously the previous owners didn't have a water softener so when I moved into this house, I found out when the washer and dryer was moved to the garage their was no drain line for a softener and need to get this repaired. Any help on this question would be appreciated.



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The thing to understand about water softeners and filtration treatment systems is; most codes require that the discharge from such devices drain thru an air gap into a vented trap. The reason for that is if the sewer system "backs up" for any reason, the raw sewage cannot cross-contaminate the potable water system. In a house that has never had plumbing installed for such a device, drain pipe modifications must be made; either thru sheetrock, or other means.

If they go thru the attic and not through the wall, I won't have to then worry about cutting into the wall though. But someone else told me that having the water softener push upward thru the attic is hard on the unit.... so I have two different opinions , one to go thru the wall and one the attic....