How Much Does it Cost to Install a Water Softener?

The Benefits of DIY Home Improvements

Self-sufficiency certainly isn’t a new trend, but homeowners are DIYing more than ever before-- completing more projects, purchasing more products, and pushing their own limits of what they can do on their own. The motivation, in part, is due to a larger budget for higher quality purchases when labor costs are nil.

Taking on and completing a home improvement project without hiring a contractor offers a reward that goes beyond simply saving on labor. For some of us, DIY projects are a healthy escape from job-related or everyday stresses, tapping into skills we didn’t realize we possessed. 52% of Americans who completed a home improvement project in the past year did the work themselves. (Owen, 2022)

While in many situations, it’s helpful to get insight from a pro, the cost-effectiveness of the DIY approach in comparison to hiring a contractor is simply too enticing not to attempt on your own. And it appears the Do-It-Yourself market is just getting started.

Our Home, Our Water

There are plenty of ways we can improve the water inside our homes. Some are easy DIY, like under the sink or shower filters, others take a little more know-how and experience. It’s important to know what’s in your home’s water, as water quality can affect your family’s health. Unsafe chemicals and microbes in water can cause severe illness and in extreme cases, death.

The water we consume comes from a variety of sources including public water systems, private wells, or bottled water. Ensuring safe and healthy drinking water may be as simple as turning on the tap from an EPA-regulated public water system. Other water sources may need a water filter, softener, or an inspection (especially in the case of private well water) to ensure it hasn’t been contaminated. You should know where your water comes from, how it’s been treated, and if it’s safe to drink.

As nearly all of our body’s major systems depend on water to function and survive, it’s no wonder there’s a demand for improvement in taste, smell, and even appearance of our drinking water. One of the ways we meet a higher standard for the water inside our homes is by the installation of water treatment technology. When it comes to hard water, the addition of a water softener system is the best method of eliminating the hardness minerals that plague nearly 80% of America’s home water supplies.

Whether you’re looking to DIY a water softener installation to save money, or simply for the satisfaction of knowing you tackled a home renovation on your own, before you get started, you’ll need an idea of how long it will take and the skill level it requires.

DIY Water Treatment Solutions

You want to install a water softener, but what will it cost you, and what determines the cost of the installation? More and more, those who want to add a water softener to their home are purchasing water softening systems online, then installing it themselves, or hiring a local plumber to do the work. Homeowners are currently navigating significantly higher costs for products and materials compared to pre-pandemic prices. Similarly, the costs of labor are on an upward trend. One of the reasons DIY has become so popular is because it allows people to spend more on the material and tools they use since they aren’t paying for labor. This way, they can also invest in higher-quality products that will last for years to come.

The cost of buying and installing a softening system runs between $1,500-$4,500. Because water softeners themselves are so varied in price, it’s difficult to give a specific price range for buying and installing these systems. Small, under-sink drinking water units, like reverse osmosis units, are cheaper, but they’re not effective in tackling water hardness all around your home. You can reduce your overall spending by installing the system yourself.

A water softener installation, whether professional or DIY, requires access to the water line, drains, and an electrical outlet, and may take anywhere between 2-4 hours. There’s no denying that installing a water softener yourself will be much less expensive than hiring a professional. If you’re familiar with basic plumbing and DIY, you should be able to install a water softener in a few hours and only need to pay for the unit and some installation supplies.

Labor alone, for a professional water softener installation is, on average, between $300-$500 depending on several factors. The type of material used forthe plumbing in your home plays a role, as some is more difficult to work with than others. Also, whether you have an old water softener that will need to be removed and disposed of will affect the cost of labor.

To DIY or Not to DIY

The size and design of your new water softener system and the design of your home’s plumbing system determines the complexity of the installation process. All types of softening systems should be installed as close to your water’s point of entry to your home as possible. This ensures that your entire water supply is protected from hard water minerals. Some units are designed for easy installation, while others require help with the safety and guidance of someone who does it for a living.

Serious DIYers are usually comfortable accessing how-to knowledge online (YouTube how-to videos are a must-have). DIY installation of a water softener is not that complicated, especially if you have decent plumbing, and a plumbing loop already in place. (Plumbing loops separate the water for indoor activities from the outdoor activities and protect all your appliances and faucets from the damaging effects of hard water.) When it comes down to it, if you need to cut water lines and establish connections, it requires expertise and the right tools.

If you’ve never picked up a wrench before, you could use some advice from customer support staff to help you outline the basic steps before tackling this type of installation. Water treatment specialists know their jobs inside and out. They can help you determine your water quality, the most effective treatment option, and your smoothest installation method. If you get stuck during your DIY water installation, you can always reach out to an expert at Discount Water Softeners for a straightforward, trouble-free experience.