A water softener is not exactly the most attractive object, and because of the noise that it makes, and the space that it takes, many people in warmer climates prefer to have it installed outside of the home. If the temperature is high enough year-round, there are only a few things to consider when looking to install your water softener outside.
Can A Water Softener Be Installed Outside? Most water softeners have a fiberglass tank that can withstand the elements outside quite well with the exception of freezing. The mechanical moving parts of a water softeners control valve, however, should be protected from exposure to sun, wind, and rain to prevent premature parts failure.
You can certainly install a water softener outside of your home, just be sure to keep the following things in mind if you are planning on doing it.
Can a water softener freeze outside?
A water softeners resin tank is typically made of fiberglass which is not a very good insulator against cold temperatures. Even a neoprene cover offers little thermal insulation against external temperature changes.
Since well water is normally much colder than surface water, the water that is usually in your water softeners tank will freeze much quicker than other water around it.
A water softener that is exposed to freezing temperatures can freeze in a very short period of time especially if compounded by wind or freezing rain.
Exposed water softener drain lines should be graded down to prevent water from collecting in sages in the line which can freeze and cause the drain line to rupture.
Even if the drain line does not rupture, the blockage in the line can cause the water softener to not be able to regenerate and therefore not be able to soften your water.
A water softener needs to be able to discharge wastewater through the drain line in order to create a vacuum to draw the saltwater from its salt tank. Then it needs to discharge the brine along with the hardness that has built-up on the water softeners softening resin.
If the systems discharge line is obstructed, the system will not be able to use the brine solution and remove the existing hardness.
If there is any chance of the system freezing during certain times of the year, using some electric heat wrap tape can help to prevent freezing.
Can sunlight damage a water softener?
Sunlight as a whole should not damage a water softeners tank or its parts, but the ultraviolet rays from the sunlight can over time cause the structure of the fiberglass resin to deteriorate and weaken.
The same can happen to the plastic or other composite materials used in the water softeners’ control valve if they are exposed to sunlight over a period of time.
Do you have to bury a water softener if it is outside?
Burying a water softener a few feet in the ground helps to prevent it from freezing as it helps to insulate part of the tank using the ground itself. This is a very common practice when installing a water system outdoors and is believed to help it keep from freezing.
By burying the water softener in the ground, you are also protecting the water softener from theft as it would take some time, and make some noise to dig up and remove the system.
Although a water softener is usually only buried a few feet deep, it is important to bury it far from any trees or bushes.
A tree’s roots generally will not grow through the water softeners fiberglass tank, they can grow tightly around the tank, making it very difficult to replace or service the system when needed.
Using some landscaping fabric can help to protect the base of the water softener when you bury it, and packing the dirt tightly around it will help to prevent pockets where water could accumulate and possibly freeze.
Where are you going to store the water softener salt?
When deciding where you are going to install a water softener outside, think about where you will plan on storing the extra salt bags that you will need for the water softener. You don’t want to have to be lugging those bags from the other end of the property.
No matter what precautions you take when installing a water softener outside, it is always advisable to have it covered to protect it from the elements. A simple utility shed will help to protect the water softener and provide a close spot to store the water softener salt that the system will need.
Can I install a water softener in my attached garage? I live in northwest NJ (the folks hit by all the nor’easters and loose power every winter). It can get very cold here and the unit would be installed on a concrete floor (could be placed on a lift-surface and insulated) and would be at the location of water service. It would not be directly effected by the elements but could be exposed to 25-30 degrees on occasion.
My current softener is located in the ‘basement’ of my home (5′ ceiling height) and it is extremely cumbersome to drag 40-80 Lb bags of salt to it’s brine tank location and I’m not getting any younger.
Any advice would be welcome. Thanks!
Hello Lisa, and thank you for your question.
My first suggestion would be to see if there is a better location to put your brine tank. A brine tank does not have to be right next to your water softener. I have put brine tanks up to 20 feet away from the water softener, and they will work just fine in most cases. If you can put the existing brine tank right at the bottom of the stairs where you won’t have to crouch and save the old salt bags so you can split the bags into 2 25 pound bags to carry down the steps.
If this is not an option, you can wrap the water softener and pipes with an electric heat wrap tape to help keep it from freezing. A water softener and the plumbing connected to it can freeze and burst if the temperature gets too cold for a period of time, so you should not leave them exposed to any temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
I would also recommend putting the entire system into an encloser to protect against direct exposure to the elements.
Hope this was helpful!
Thanks again
Paul
I live in AZ & water softener is out side. In summer it’s HOT & the sun is on it in the morning how can I protect it & get cold water ? Can I wrap it in reflecting foil ?
Hello Marylou and thank you for the question.
You could wrap your water softener with a reflective wrap but you may get mold under the wrapping. If you choose to wrap it, you may want to wrap it loosely so that air can circulate underneath the wrapping. I recommend putting an enclosure around the water softener. I have one listed in my Recommended Products, but any simple enclosure would do fine.
I hope this was helpful.
Paul
I have a summer home upstate NY. No space for a softener/sulfer/iron tank indoors. can a tank be installed upside down to be able to drain it for the winter? Is there a tank that can do all three things i.e. softener/remove sulfer/remove iron?
Peter Snedeker
Hello Mr. Snedeker and thank you for the question.
You could get a tank with a drainage port at the bottom which would allow you to drain the tank but the tank should then be moved indoors for the winter because even a small amount of water left over could freeze and cause damage to the control valve (head).
There are systems that can soften water, remove iron and also help with low levels of sulfur but your water would have to be tested to determine how much hardness, iron, and sulfur you have in your water. In many cases, two separate systems are required, a water softener for the hardness and iron and a sulfur system just for the sulfur.
I hope this was helpful.
Paul