How Much Does it Cost to Install a Water Softener?

Why do you want your water softened? For one, you don’t enjoy staring at the chalky white build-up on your shower head when you’re trying to get clean. You also hate rewashing drinking glasses when they come out of the dishwasher full of spots. You’re also scared of what the bill is going to look like once minerals (scale) starts clogging your piping and fixtures.

You’ve tested your water hardness level and it’s as you suspected. It’s hard. You know you need a water softener but what’s it going to cost you? From the system itself, to labor and installation, you know it likely won’t be cheap. The larger your home, the more water-using appliances and fixtures you have, the larger the water softener you’ll need. In addition, the harder your water is, the more powerful of a system you’ll need to keep soft water flowing throughout your household. Still, it’s a lot less expensive than what can happen if you don’t fix the problem.

Cost To Install A Water Softener

Not all whole home water softeners are created equal, but when you think about how often you use the water inside a home, and how important it is for that water to be useful and dependable, it’s clear that a solid system is worth the investment.

The cost of an ion exchange softening system can range from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand, depending on size and features. When it comes to installing your system, having a professional do the job is a large part of the overall cost. Savvy DIY-ers may be able to tackle this project on their own, but more often, homeowners prefer to be hands-off, leaving it to an expert in the field.

On average, a professional water softener installation cost will run you between $800-$3,000 including labor and materials. Of course, the price varies greatly depending on the type of water softener, the size of your home, the grain capacity of the system, and the complexity of the installation. If your home is pre-plumbed for a water softener or has easy access to a water main, installing a softener is a much simpler task, significantly lowering the labor costs.

Newer homes with an easy-to-access plumbing loop will cost the least in labor. The price tag goes up when water mains are hard to reach, require cutting into the main line, and the soldering of pipes to appropriate lengths. For a pre-plumbed site, labor, on average, will add $200-$500 to the initial cost and usually includes basic installation, supplies, tools, equipment, and workplace cleanup. Removal and disposal of an old water softener may increase the price.

Ion exchange systems require a discharge pipe and a source for electricity. Your softener needs to be connected to the main water supply so that it can provide softened water to the entire home, protecting as much of the plumbing system as possible from hard water mineral clogs and build-up. In homes that aren’t pre-plumbed for a water softener, the installation becomes more complicated and time-consuming, and is reflected in the costs of labor. This can run you anywhere from $750 to $1,500 (in labor alone) depending on the complexity of the project.

Where To Purchase A Softener

Because you’ve already tested your water, you’re armed with the most helpful information in the pursuit of a perfect water treatment system for your home. Knowing your current water hardness levels gives you (or a hired professional) an idea of what grain capacity you’ll need. If you haven’t made a purchase and are still in the investigation stage, gathering estimates from several sources will give you a general cost of installation and any requirements you’ll need before proceeding with the installation.

While there are plenty of places to shop for a treatment system, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s beneficial to enlist the help of someone who specializes in water filtration rather than simply visiting a big box retail store. Otherwise, you may find yourself staring blankly at all the water filtration systems and feeling more confused than ever when trying to compare options.

Big box retailers offer competitive pricing; however, you’ll want to shop not only based on the lowest price, but also the type of service and expertise you’ll receive before and after the purchase is made. Few employees at big box stores will have the experience and know-how to give you the help you need to make the right choice. In addition, if something goes wrong after installation, it can be much harder to get the customer service you deserve.

When you call a water treatment specialist like the ones at  Discount Water Softeners, you get answers to all your filtration questions, and comfort in knowing that you’re purchasing exactly the right system for your home or business. Discount Water Softeners knows the ins and outs of water because they’ve spent over a quarter of a century helping their customers find the best possible solution for every type of water.