Installing and Using a Catalytic Water Softener

A catalytic water softener is an alternative to the traditional water softeners that use salt compounds to remove magnesium and calcium in your drinking water. Catalytic softeners are often called water conditioners because they do not remove these minerals. Instead, they use an alloy called an amplified catalyst to prevent the formation of more than a certain amount of calcium deposits. Installing your own catalytic water softener involves a few steps and tools, but many DIY-er's find the benefits are well worth the effort.

Step 1 - Drain Water Lines

Read all instructions for your catalytic water softener carefully. It is a good idea to have the contact information of your local plumber to be on the safe side. Turn off the water supply at its main shutoff valve, and check that this valve works correctly before trying to turn on any faucet. Also disconnect the electricity to your hot water heater. Open all your indoor and outdoor water faucets to temporarily drain the water supply.

Step 2 - Place Water Tanks

Your water softener tanks should be installed in a dry and level area that is out of the way of foot traffic. If you want to keep your water softener indoors, it is essential that it is in an area where there is not a lot of temperature fluctuation. If you have a catalytic water softener system with 2 tanks, the larger (known as the brine) tank should be the one most easily accessible. This is the one that will need refilling on a regular basis. If you want to place your water tanks outdoors, make sure they are out of direct sunlight.

Step 3 - Install Softener System

Locate the opening in the mineral tank for the distributor tube and insert this. The mineral tank has tiny filter beads called media; use masking tape to prevent these from falling into the distributor tube. If your tank needs a gravel underbed, slowly pour the gravel through a funnel into the mineral tank until you see it covers the intake screen. Add the water softener resin according to the instructions, and then tape off the end of the distributor tube.

Attach the softener's top basket to the underside of the control valve on the mineral tank. The inner O-ring should be coated with lubricant before doing this step. The hole located in the center of the valve should fit snugly over the distributor tube. Tighten this clockwise as needed.

Step 4 - Connect Water Tubes

Connect the bypass and control valves together; these should have arrows at their joining points. Make sure any screws or clamps are completely tightened. Then attach the softener's connectors to the bypass valve. Connect your needed length of PVC or flexible tubing to the fitting of the brine tank, and run this to the drain. Fill the brine tank to its recommended fill line and install the catalytic amplified power component according to the instructions. Set the bypass valve to "service" and the softener to the backwash stage. Run your softener through a backwash cycle and check for leaks.