Measured the water hardness with a Hach 5B kit I received last week. Came in at 14 the first test, and 12-13 for subsequent tests. My wife also complains (which is nothing new really) about calcium build up in our sinks and that her shampoo lathers nicely everywhere she showers except for our house. Tomorrow I will be replacing an indirect water heater that sprung a tiny mystery leak, I'm assuming relating to the hard water.
There are no floor drains, the lowest waste drain is where the washer hooks up, and the top of the pipe is 44" off the ground (pic #3 below). The actual top of the pipe from where the washer discharges is about 55". Where the water comes in to the house (pic 1), it is an 18' run to that drain, and where I can actually place the softener is another 8' or so from that. So a few of my questions for now are:
Or am I completely over thinking this and can run solid PVC under the electrical panel and behind the boiler all the way around? (Although I'm not sure how I would go about supporting the PVC.. Pics below (they always help) so hopefully it makes a little bit of sense with what I'm talking about.
There are no floor drains, the lowest waste drain is where the washer hooks up, and the top of the pipe is 44" off the ground (pic #3 below). The actual top of the pipe from where the washer discharges is about 55". Where the water comes in to the house (pic 1), it is an 18' run to that drain, and where I can actually place the softener is another 8' or so from that. So a few of my questions for now are:
- I was looking at this Fleck meter system. Reading the install instructions regarding the drain line connection to the drain, it says "... and ideally be below the top of the head of your softener." I was also looking at this GE unit, and it says not to install the drain higher than 8' above the floor. Would I be able use the GE but not the Fleck? Or do the push out the same pressure? Does raising the drain line in elevation cause substantial premature wear?
- What is the difference between the single tank and the double tank designs? I forgot what brand I was looking at and they were touting their single tank design as more efficient.
- Would it be a bad idea to run 3/4" copper to the left side of the oil tank (pic 2) to get it closer to the drain? I would have to run it back, as the water heater is about 7' to the right of the vertical copper pipe where the main water supply is.
Or am I completely over thinking this and can run solid PVC under the electrical panel and behind the boiler all the way around? (Although I'm not sure how I would go about supporting the PVC.. Pics below (they always help) so hopefully it makes a little bit of sense with what I'm talking about.