Any thoughts about running a RODI maker after water softner?

[texanjordan]

I am having my house built right now, and I would like to put my RODI station in my garage. I plan on adding a faucet from my the water softner that I will be adding and hooking up my RODI maker to that. Does anyone know any issues that might occur using sofened water? It cant be any worse than using the horrible hard water here in San Antonio...

On a seperate note, does anyone know if hot water heaters or water softners have a drain line built into them? It would be nice if I could plumb my waste line from my RODI maker right into a drain.

[aquasport24]

I don't have any issue using softened water with my rodi. Your heater should comes with a drain tray that has a drain fitting.

[Dean]

There is no harm what so ever in using soft water for your RO system. It will actually lengthen the life of the membranes. Your water heater should sit on a pan that has a drain that goes to daylight which means it just drains out on the ground outside. I would use the softener drain. Make sure your builder had the plumber plumb for a water softener loop which will include a drain that you can drain your RO system in.

[texanjordan]

Having the house pre plumbed for a water softner was one of the upgrades we choose. I am hoping to be able to just add a faucet splitter from the water softner so I can run my RODI hook up right to that, and run my RODI drain line right to the drain from the water heater. Then I can mount my RODI maker on my wall, and it will not move.

[Dean]

Having the house pre plumbed for a water softner was one of the upgrades we choose. I am hoping to be able to just add a faucet splitter from the water softner so I can run my RODI hook up right to that, and run my RODI drain line right to the drain from the water heater. Then I can mount my RODI maker on my wall, and it will not move.

The water heater doesn't have a drain per say. Just an overflow pan that dumps outside. Depending on the RODI unit you choose you may be dumping gallons of water per day directly outside. Your softener drain will go directly to the sewer system. Connecting your RODI there would keep the side of your house from getting marshy. Just trying to help and speaking from experience as a licensed master plumber. :)

[texanjordan]

Thank you for your expertese, I have no knowledge of plumbing other than an aquarium. I didnt know if a water softner came with a drain, but if it does, that will be where I will hook up my drain line.

[350gt]

I don't have any issue using softened water with my rodi. Your heater should comes with a drain tray that has a drain fitting.

I heard it will lower the ph in the water.. Any truth to that?

[aquasport24]

Tony..it was at 8.2 the only time I checked.

[350gt]

Cool, been looking into water softeners and heard about it.... Just curious, i'm still looking into getting one installed.

[Triggerman]

I hooked up a water softener at my home, you could easily put your RO/DI drain line into the same softener drain line....the builder should put a water softener loop in the garage with a drain line usually about 2-3" you will also want to put simple cutoff valves on the intake and outtake softener lines. This will eliminate you having to find and cutoff the water supply from your lawn incase you have a leak in the house...it will be as easy as closing the valves at the loop.

Don't fall for the large water softening companies that will bombard you with a new home some can cost a few thousand dollars....you can find better units online a lot less than 1k...

[350gt]

What about the ones at lowes and depot? Its only 3 1/2 here in my household, we dont use that much water... Cause i only bathe once a week ;)

[Dean]

The main differnces between water softener brands is pretty much the same as RO systems in the amount of wasted water. The pelican system is the best I have seen and its wastes none.

[texanjordan]

Des anyone have any experience with culligan? They quoted me on a rent to own system at 75 dollars per month on a 5 year contract.

[Bill S]

Seriously, the brand ones are all crap - and expensive. I'm a real estate appraiser. I recommend this company, because they offer a quality product at a very reasonable price. I do use their product, but I don't get anything for recommending them. Remember, Fleck makes the timers (the Fleck 5600 is the industry standard), and all the rest is generic off the shelf stuff. This is an easy DIY project, assuming you are pre-plumbed for a water softener:

http://www.qualitywatertreatment.com/

PS: $75 a month for 5 years is... $4500! Holy carp! You should be able to buy a very good one under $600.

[350gt]

Which would you recommend for a family of 4? I tried doing the calculator but couldnt find the hard total hardness for our area

[Triggerman]

I have a fleck system that you can order online, you can also install it on your own if you're o.k. with a little plumbing...if not you could probably find a plumber for a reasonable rate. The systems are based on how many people are in the household and the hardness level for the area your home is.

If I remember correctly the system I bought was $500-$600 including shipping....so $4500 over 5 yrs. is a tough one to swallow.

Most big box store brands are throw away systems after 3-5yrs. so the fleck system was a no brainer. All you have to do is add a bag of salt pellets about once a month and the salt is cheap.

[Triggerman]

forgot to add...you can call SAWS and they will give you the water hardness level for your area.....Mine was 14-15ppm

[350gt]

Where do u live triggerman

[Triggerman]

I live in the NE part of town by Schertz....I double checked and my unit is set for 18 grain hardness and I have the fleck 5600 sxt digital controller 48,000.

[Bill S]

A 48,000 unit should be fine for most households. In the event you find it recharging too much, you can order more resin.

That's the beauty of these systems. When one thing fails/runs out, you replace just IT, not the whole thing like you do with Kenmore and HD.

[350gt]

Nice, thanks for the info.....

[MrSkumFrog]

I have some videos regarding my garage RODI system that I hooked up to my water heater lines. It's under the same username that I have here.

[texanjordan]

Not sure how to access your build, cant find it.