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Author:
Anonymous User
I'm installing a water softener and I'd like to run the drain into the sewer line that sticks up out of the ground right outside my garage. Is there some type of an adapter that I can use to tap my 3/4" PVC pipe into on the 5" sewer line? I'm not sure what I actually need to do this. Do I need to use a check valve for backflow or some type of trap to prevent methane gas from coming back up? I was thinking about an alternative where I could make a small dry well about 3' deep but I'm not sure how many gallons of water are backwashed and how often it would happen. I don't want to make a swamp on the side of my house. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thank you. -CC
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Author:
PLUMBILL
I can tell by your level of experence you need to call a licensed plumber and have them help you with this project.
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Author:
GSchreiber, CWS VI (MN)
I agree with Plumbill. Installing a water softener is not a DIY project. There are several easy ways for a plumber to properly install the drain line. Hooking direct to a sewer line, even though it may sound easy, it not the right thing to do. We can tell you all of those ways but then you have to decide which is best for you. I don't believe you have the needed knowledge to make that decision. Keep this in mind: If the sewer backs up with the softener in line, if not properly installed, your next water drawn through the water softener will not be what you want.
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Author:
anode guy (IN)
Having installed a water softener myself once, and having had a Kinetico installed while I watched, I can provide perhaps, some insight.
First of all, it can be a DIY job. The drain from the water softener is for the rinse water that carries a fair bit of salt. It can drain to a floor drain, if the floor drain is connected to a sewer. If it is just going to the sump (if you're on septic) then you are required by code to dump the salt in the septic system.
The plumber that installed the first softener in this house, chose to dump the salt in the sump. Each year, my sump pump rusted out, and it was because I had all this salt dumped under my basement floor! Spring rains made for a very salty sea the sump pump had to empty out. Poor pumps rusted like crazy.
The new Kinetico dumps the salt in an existing drain line, but it's not joined in per se, so a drain backup wouldn't go into the softener.
The installer just added an S trap to the side of the drain pipe and the softener simply dumps its salt water into the drain... the same as if it were a mini-sink.
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Author:
Anonymous User
Normally the softener should discharge indirectly with an airgap into a trapped receptor....
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Author:
Anonymous User
Sounds simple enough to me. If I tap into the sewer line with a floor drain and run some flexible hose to the top of the drain there would be no way for the sewer to backup into the softener. I assume it would be a smart thing to leave several inches between the flexible hose and the drain to prevent any type of vacuum from being created. I've seen several of my neighbors softeners installed who were installed by professionals just drain them right into the ground. I can do that but I'm really trying to avoid that. Unfortunately I just can't dump it into a utility sink or laundry line because they are all on the other side of the house. Oh well. I've researched installing a softener for several weeks now and I believe I have all the bases covered except on exactly how to drain it. If I screw it up, well then I guess I'll call a good plumber but at least I tried. Thanks everyone for all your help. -CC
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Author:
PLUMBILL
S-traps are not permitted by most codes, there design renders them to a typical siphon action especialy with a high volume discharge from a water softner. If one is installed you my be subjecting the building and the occupants to un-wanted sewer gasses.
Well, Mr. Anode guy you better stick with positive electrodes you are less likley to get burned.
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Author:
plumbhelp (MA)
i myself had to re-pipe my softner after purchasing my home. the original installer had the discharge line stuffed right down into the bottom of the p-trap of my washer stand pipe. NO AIR GAP!!!! i found on line, a neat fitting that will allow u to dump your washer AND is an air gap for the softener. and mounts to the top of the washer standpipe. please install these systems with care.
use air gaps. and(or) try and install them to a dry well area. these are the only 2 approved methods that i know of in my area.
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Author:
Anonymous User
Just for the record, I guess I should say that it wouldnt be going directly to the sewer line. It's really off the cleanout (which I know is attached to the sewer line) pipe that already has a P-Trap installed. My plan is to tap into that with a floor drain installed to another p-trap and then leave an approx 2" air gap with either flexible hose or cpvc. I'm assuming I wont get any strange odor out of the floor drain because of the extra p-trap I have installed. I guess I should say this isnt so much about installing the softener as it is building a proper drain. I have setup softeners in the past and was able to drain them into utility sinks. This scenario I am in in my new house is a tougher one then I initially expected. But from all the adivce I have received from you guys I believe I know what to do now.
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