Las Vegas water softener installation, step by step

The steps, in order

1. Turn off the water at the main and open a tap to drain pressure.
2. Fit the bypass valve to the softener’s control head, so you can switch the softener out of the line.
3. Connect inlet and outlet to the loop or the cut main line; arrows on the valve show the flow direction.
4. Run the drain line from the control head to a drain, with an air gap so waste water can’t siphon back.
5. Connect the brine tank overflow to a drain as well.
6. Plug in, set the clock and enter the hardness: 16 for valley water, 16 to 19 in Henderson.
7. Add salt and water, then start a manual recharge to rinse the new resin.
8. Open taps slowly to clear air, and check every joint for drips.

Hiring an installer

Water softener installers in Las Vegas range from plumbers to companies that sell their own brand. Compare quotes on:

• the softener’s size in grains, and whether it fits your household (see the softener sizes by household);
• what’s included: bypass, fittings, drain line, removal of the old unit, first salt;
• warranty length on tank, resin and control valve, and who honors it;
• whether they hold a Nevada contractor’s license for plumbing work.

DIY with a loop

If the loop is there and you’re comfortable with plumbing fittings, a homeowner can do this in an afternoon. The parts people most often get wrong are the flow direction and the air gap on the drain.

After installation

Check the salt level after the first week, confirm the hardness setting stayed after any power cut, and test a glass of water after a few days: soap should lather easily and a test strip should read near zero.