Cutting into main before water softener

[prime311]

Hi! Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I moved into a home recently with a well and I always had city service before so I'm not too familiar with water softeners. I've read through the manual and looked a lot online but can't find a definitive answer. The entire homes water supply runs off the softener, including an outdoor bibb. I want to cut into the main prior to the water softener to get the bibb and my refrigerator on the hard water. So 2 questions on that.

1. What will happen to water in the line that is in and after the water softener? Will this drain in reverse or does the water softener prevent this from happening?

2. Can a temporary loss of any water from the main cause a problem with the softener itself? I think no, but figured it's worth asking about.


Thanks!
Spence

[speedbump]

If where you cut in is lower than the plumbing, there will be some drainage. If you were to open a faucet after the softener, it will let air into the plumbing which will help more water to drain out. Once you turn the water back on, the air in the lines will be pushed out by the water pressure as will some collected debris from the pipes themselves. No harm will come from this.

[prime311]

Great, thanks! Both the inlet and outlet pipes go above the water softener and I'll be cutting into the inlet above the softener. Its a 2 story home, so it sounds like I can expect at least some reverse flow drainage through the softener. Maybe I'll put a ball valve in after the softener since the lines will need to be drained anyway.

[prime311]

Just an update. I got the line in yesterday. Smooth sailing. Thanks again for the help.

[grandwater]

your system might not be a traditional water soften, cation exchange system. we have used the same set up but with a strong base anion to remove uranium from well.

[speedbump]

we have used the same set up but with a strong base anion to remove uranium from well.

Are you sure your not referring to Radon gas?