Determining where to place your water softener becomes the next move toward soft water if you have recently bought (or are about to buy) a new water softener.
You can install a water softener at any point in your water supply, including your garage. Make sure you have the essentials close by for a water softener available in your garage including the water supply piping, a drain, and an electrical receptacle.
Before we discuss whether it’s a good idea to install a water softener in the garage, let’s go through the essentials needed to install a water softener at any location.
Read my ultimate guide to water softeners.
Table of Contents
Essentials for Installing a Water Softener
A few essentials must be available close to your water softener to ensure good performance.
1 – Electricity supply
To operate the unit, you must have a nearby 120V electrical outlet.
2 – Drain piping
To dispose of regenerated drainage water, your water softener should be next to a laundry tub, floor drain, sump, or drain pipe. Make sure you always abide by local regulations regarding water softener drain standards.
Remember that water softener waste will damage the grass in outdoor installations and is often against the law.
3 – Close to water appliances
Ideally, you should place the softener between the water heater and any other water treatment systems (like a sediment or iron filter system). By implementing an “order of operation,” you can ensure that the water flowing throughout your house is top-standard.
Your sediment or filtering system should typically treat the water first, then pass it through the water softener, and finally, let it reach the water heater. Your appliances will be protected and operate more efficiently in this manner.
4 – Other requirements
The area needs to be dry, flat, and close to an outlet so that it can be plugged in. Furthermore, the distance separating your water heater and water softener should be a minimum of 10 feet.
This separation will stop hot water from possibly moving back into the softener while it is going through its regeneration cycle. Some of the piping within your softener may get damaged if hot water seeps in.
Read my article on how to install a water softener.
Can I Install a Water Softener in the Garage?
The garage is an excellent location for installing a water softener. A garage usually has enough room to install a water softener system. It is more practical than installing it in a basement.
For garage setups, it may be necessary to carry out some extra plumbing work. You should also ensure the space has temperature control so that the temperature stays within the recommended range for your softener to work as intended.
Some water main lines enter the house through the garage, while others do so through the non-garage side.
If your home’s garage side is where the water comes from, you should be able to install a water softener close to the water line entry point within the garage. On the other hand, if your main water supply line enters from the opposite side of the house, you have two options. You can either extend water pipes from the front lawn to the garage or install the water softening system outside.
It is okay to install a water softener outside. Doing so has no impact on the system’s functionality or warranty.
Check out this video to learn more about the best outdoor water softeners:
Read my related article: Can a Water Softener Be Installed in the Attic?
What if There is No Drainage Inside the Garage?
Draining your water softener in your garage is not difficult. However, there is one essential prerequisite for this. You must have access to a drainage system of some kind.
There are three ways to drain the softener from within your garage. The sections below go over each choice, so you can decide which one works best for you.
1 – The laundry tray
Adding a laundry tray is the most straightforward solution to the lack of drainage. All you will need is a utility sink or a laundry tray. Laundry rooms typically sit next to garages. If yours does not, it’s simple to set up a utility sink in the garage.
The water softener’s drain pipe will be connected to the sink. The sink will empty the waste for you. You can also save the waste and use it later for numerous things, like weed control.
2 – Dry well and trapped outlet
This process calls for two things, the first being a trapped outlet. This is a unique pipe with a bend at the bottom. None of the discharge can flow backward, thanks to this bend.
The second item is a dry well. A dry well is typically installed to drain the water outside.
You will need to construct an outlet in your garage for this procedure. This outlet needs to be connected to the dry well for the water softener to flow outdoors. Remember that you must alter the floor to accommodate a slanted garage floor.
Place the dry well approximately 10 feet away from the garage when installing it. Make sure the well has a storage capacity of almost 60 gallons. As the water accumulates, this will stop any overflow.
3 – Floor drain
The pipes in the garage that transport water to the sewer are used in this technique. With this approach, the water softener is simply discharged into the sewer. Because removing waste directly into the drain is prohibited in some states, this method is not used as commonly.
Not to mention that it requires expertise and is difficult to set up.
Only use this technique if you’re positive that sewage can be dumped directly without breaking the law. If you have the skills necessary, install a floor drain in your garage.
You can also choose this course of action after deciding you want a specialist to handle the problem. That’s because attempting to do this alone can be difficult and make matters worse for you.
Conclusion
It is possible to set up your water softener inside the garage. You simply have to make sure you have the essentials, such as a drainage system and a power outlet close by.