What Are Some Tips to Prevent Your Water Softener Unit From Freezing this Winter?

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Martin Orefice

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Each season brings forth different concerns for our homes. With harsh winters, we face the risk of frozen pipes and water softener units, which can be a nightmare. The more you know ahead of time, the better prepared you can be to avoid such a situation. Keep reading for some helpful tips on preventing your water softener unit from freezing.

Martin Orefice

Martin Orefice

Founder of Rent To Own Lab.

Insulate it and Feed Warm Water Directly Into the Water Softener

One of the simplest ways to keep your water softener from freezing in the winter is to insulate it. Wrapping it in foam or fiberglass insulation will usually be enough to keep the water inside liquid during relatively mild winters.

Another useful approach here is to feed warm water directly into the water softener. This plus the insulation will do quite a lot, especially if you also insulate the space where your softener is set up. Adding foam insulation to your garage or crawlspace isn’t just going to keep your water softener from freezing; it’s also going to help reduce your energy bills.

Mark Brunke

General Manager at Environmental Plumbing.

Insulate it; Keep the Space Warm; Drain the System Before Leaving

Some tips to prevent your water softener from freezing would be to insulate the unit with insulation blankets or foam, and with heat tape around the pipes.

If your water softener is in a cooler area like a basement or garage, try to keep the space warmer with a space heater as well. Be careful to avoid a fire hazard, however.

Lastly, if you’re going away for a while and it won’t be in use, drain the system before leaving. This will prevent the freezing and expansion of water inside, which would damage the unit.

Zhelyazko Yanchev

Plumbing Specialist at Fantastic Services.

6 Tips for Avoiding a Frozen Water Softener Unit in the Winter

1. Leave the water running
Winterising your water softener is essential to prevent it from being harmed by the cold because a frozen water softener won’t function. When water is flowing, connections on water softeners are less likely to freeze. If you plan to be gone from your house for a few days, consider leaving the kitchen tap slightly dripping. By using this method, you can avoid having to deal with burst water softener pipes.

2. Use protective insulation
You can buy or make an insulating box to save energy and protect the resin tank. You can make your own insulating box with insulated sheets of plumbing insulation. Insulating tank jackets are sold by certain manufacturers that spare you the trouble of building an insulating box from scratch.

3. Close your garage doors
Many people have their water softener installations in their garages. Maintaining your equipment at a temperature above 0 degrees Celsius is essential. You cannot use space heaters effectively if the garage door is left open. For reliable system operation, close it as soon as you leave the house.

4. Drain and disconnect your water softener
If you don’t plan to use your water softener during the winter months or you’re going to be away for a long period of time, you might want to completely drain and disconnect it. While using outdoor water softeners, this is best practice. You can empty your water softener’s tank and by doing this, you can prevent the freezing of your drain hose and water softener tank.

5. Get help from a professional
Getting your water softener inspected by a qualified professional is a good idea, particularly if you plan to drain and disconnect it for the winter. A technician should typically evaluate common wear and tear components like pistons, screens, and seals throughout your system during this time of year. It’s also advised to replace pre- and system filters before reconnecting your device in the spring.

6. Wintering a water softener that you’ll keep using
With the right supplies, you can quickly get your water softener system ready for freezing temperatures. Visit your local hardware store to buy pipe insulating wrap that will fit around the connectors on your water softener. Heat-safe tapes, cables, or zip ties can be used to secure the materials surrounding pipes. To examine the procedure more closely, adhere to the five steps listed below:

– Proceed to your softening unit;
– Cut the insulation wrap so that it securely encircles the pipes;
– Wrap one pipe with the insulation wrap. Both sides should be covered by the wrapping;
– Using your favorite tape or cable, firmly attach the materials to the surface;
– For every pipe that leads to and from the water softener, repeat the procedure.

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