Water Softener loop – What is it, how does it work, and do I need one?  

What is a water softener loop anyway? 

A water softener loop is the water line installed by the builder. If your home was not built with one, a water softener loop can be installed by your plumber. A water softener loop is necessary if you want to install a water treatment system. Now what if you do not have a water treatment system but want to install one. Your first step will be verifying that you have a loop. You might have a loop installed by the builder. In most cases it will look like a loop of copper water pipe. Most likely, it will be sticking out of the wall in your garage or maintenance closet.

It will also, usually be accompanied by a smaller copper pipe sticking out. It may be near the smaller copper pipe that may be capped off. If it was added by someone after the home was built than the options for appearance and how it is run is pretty extensive. It may require that you call a plumber.  A plumbing professional can verify whether or not you have one. If you do not then your plumber can go over your options for what it will take to install a loop. 

How does it work. 

A water softener loop is essentially a water line that re-routes water. The loop routes water from your main water line coming into the house (aka water service line), to a designated location for a water treatment system. Then it routes the water from the water treatment system, into your home (making a loop). There are exceptions as far as water lines to plumbing fixtures. It is very common for builders when building the home to run a line to the kitchen sink, ice maker, and rear hose bibb before the water treatment system. By doing this it eliminates these fixtures from the loop. We will discuss that a little later. 

Do I need one? 

This is a pretty basic question that requires an answer or two first. Do I want to install a water treatment system? If the answer is no then the answer to needing a loop is also no. There is no valid reason that I am aware of to justify the cost of installing a loop without a water treatment system. If you have no intentions of installing a water treatment system you do not need a water softener loop. But if the answer is “yes, I want to install a water treatment system” then you will have to make a decision.

Now you have to decide on what water treatment system you want to install. There are a lot of water treatment systems out there. There are a couple that do not require a loop (that is a completely different conversation for another blog). But most water treatment systems require a water softener loop. 

What else do I need to know? 

What you need to know if you already have a softener loop. Let’s get back to that statement about lines going to the kitchen sink, ice maker, and rear hose bibb that aren’t tied into your softener loop. In our experience here in the valley, if a builder is installing a loop when building a home then they will often run a separate line. The separate line is used to feed untreated cold water to those locations. The separate line prevents any potential health risks or property risks based on the system you may choose. One of the more common water softening options is the traditional salt softener. The problem, however, lies in how it works. If you would like more details on those issues you can find that here.

Let’s keep it simple for this conversation. The salt-based water treatment system adds sodium to the water. It is not recommended to drink that water or water your plants with it. That is a very quick way to kill your plants and is a concern to drink for some people due to health concerns. The builder will often, unless it is a custom home, err on the side of safety and will run the loop for a salt-water softener.Unfortunately, this could also be an issue depending on the system you choose. There can also be an issue if you would like your treated water to reach those locations. In most cases you can modify the waterline to send treated water to the fixtures you prefer.  

What you need to know if you don’t already have a softener loop.  If you do not have a water softener loop currently and would like to treat the water to your home you need to know the type of system you’d like to have installed. What would you like a water treatment system to do for you? Knowing what type of system you’d like to have installed will help your plumber know how to install your water softener loop.  For the same reasons as the home builder, if you choose a salt-based system you may want to run a separate line to any of your fixtures that you may be getting drinking water from or watering any plants with. If you are choosing a system that does not add sodium to your water than consult your salesman, plumber, or the manufacturer about any health or plant risks.  

Trust Robins Plumbing for your Water Heater Needs 

If you have any other questions, feel free to “Call a Robin” and we will do our best to help. If you live in the Phoenix Metropolitan area and are looking into a water treatment system, trust Robins Plumbing! With over 20 years of experience in the plumbing industry, you can trust our professionals to deliver. Call us for professional consultation to see what solution fits best for your home. We also offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services, including: drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, sewer camera inspection and locating, backflow prevention, commercial and residential jetting, water treatments, and more. Visit our reviews online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!