Installed water softener, now reduced water pressure

[im1dermike]

I had posted a message a few weeks ago about a water softener installation I was planning. I successfully installed the water softener, but I have since noticed a slight reduction in water pressure throughout the house. The hot water supply in a lesser-used tub is a bit more noticeably reduced. And when multiple faucets are in use, there is an even more noticeable reduction in water pressure. Before the softener install, there were no water pressure issues at all.

Given the configuration of my house (split-level), I had to tap into the water line and run approximately 20' (of 1/2" PEX) from it into my softener and then another 20' back to the water line to supply the house. Given the response(s) to my softener installation message in this forum as well as a question directed to GE's tech support, it didn't seem like water pressure being affected would be a concern at all.

Any thoughts as to why I'm noticing this?

 

[Jeff Handy]

You will always get a flow rate reduction with a softener.

You are pushing the water through a big tank of tiny plastic beads, which of course has more resistance than plain pipe.

Also, there is a little inlet strainer screen inside the softener control valve, and that can get clogged up with sediment.

I think there might also be a small orifice in that filter screen, maybe you can change to a bigger orifice, I am rusty on this aspect of it.

Check your manual to see how to clean out the screen.

And you should probably have run 3/4 pex, because with the fittings you actually have less than 1/2 inch inside diameter.

Wider pipe gives faster flow rate.

 

[Jeff Handy]

And in your original post, you were advised that 1/2 inch copper was not adequate for good flow rate for house plumbing.

Now you have installed 40 feet of even tighter pipe, tight pipe fittings, and also added a softener.

So no big surprise that your flow rate has gotten worse.

 

[im1dermike]

@Jeff Handy Thanks for your feedback.

Regarding 3/4" PEX, the water coming out of the city's meter (in my house) is 1/2" which is what is run throughout my house. Are you saying I should have run 3/4" from the city's meter (which currently has 5/8" coming out of it and I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to touch it) to my softener and then back to the main pipe (which is currently 1/2")?

 

[Valveman]

Most water softeners are on water wells? If so, all you have to do is turn your pressure switch up from 30/50 to 40/60. Adding a Cycle Stop Valve will give you a constant 50 PSI, which will be even stronger pressure than when the pump is cycling on and off between 40 and 60 all the time.

 

[im1dermike]

We are on city water.

 

[SHEPLMBR]

I can't believe you have 1/2" feeding your house from the meter. You should have 3/4" minimum. May I ask, who piped the softener? Was it a plumber?

 

[im1dermike]

I piped the softener. I'm not a plumber.

I was just continuing the 1/2" pipe from the meter throughout the house which I assume was done when the house was built in 1958.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

I can't believe you have 1/2" feeding your house from the meter. You should have 3/4" minimum. May I ask, who piped the softener? Was it a plumber?

Hey, in Michigan I had 1" copper feed from the city main to the meter and out of the meter. My daughter's home in Philadelphia had ½" copper. My home here in NC has ⅝" PEX, but the pressure much higher; they have a pressure reducer which I've never had in other locations. (the water for the hose bibs outside is pulled off the ⅝" BEFORE the pressure reducer...) Another home in Michigan had 1" galvanized.

I suppose anything is possible, anywhere.

 

[Jeff Handy]

The inside diameter of 1/2 inch pex is skinnier than both common copper tubing 1/2 inch types.

And if you used crimp fittings, you narrowed the new pex pipe even more at those locations.

Plus you added 40 more feet of pipe, pipe friction reduces flow rate.

And your softener is essentially a big water filter, with lots of flow restriction, friction, and tight spots.

So all this adds up to your current problem.

You might be able to quickly get some improvement by locating and removing the little flow restrictors that are installed in all modern faucets and shower heads.

You can find the locations and how to remove from a Google search.

You would likely also get improvement by changing to 3/4 pex starting right at the house side of the meter, all the way to the softener.
And maybe a little less restriction if you use pex expansion fittings instead of crimps.

Any other exposed 1/2 inch copper piping in the house that you can get to, change it to 3/4 pex.

And if possible, re-locate the softener somewhere that does not require a 40 foot pipe run to hook it up to the house plumbing.

EDIT Pros on here might have additions or corrections to my observations on this.

 

[Jeff Handy]

PS you usually want to keep the outside hose bibbs branched off the main line before the softener. To avoid wasting soft water on the lawn etc.

Some folks do like to run a cold soft water line for car washing, and sometimes even an outdoor hot/cold faucet for that.