Water Softener Drain Line Size

Once the water leaves the softener it should branch into two lines.

Water softener drain line size.

The industry standard is a polypropylene drain line that is rigid yet flexible. A cold line that runs to interior fixtures and faucets and a line that feeds the water heater. Drain 34700 4 2 out of 5 stars 8 22 50 22. On water softener service calls in minnesota we find a wide variety of drain line material being used.

This is to prevent non potable water from flowing backwards possibly mixing and contaminating potable drinking water. By code water softeners must be emptied into a laundry sink floor drain sump hole or properly trapped special outlet preserving an air gap of at. The drain shouldn t be more than 30 feet away from the softener. The drain line shouldn t be elevated more than 8 feet above the floor.

According to most plumbing codes a water softener drain line must not be connected directly to the household waste system. A softener drain line must not be connected directly to the waste system but must be emptied into a laundry tray floor drain or properly trapped special outlet preserving an air gap of at least two times the diameter of the drain line but in no case less than 1 1 2 above the top of the receptacle used. The outgoing line from the water heater then runs to interior fixtures and faucets that dispense hot water. To determine the appropriate water softener size for your home multiply the number of people in your home by the gallons of water they use each day 80 gallons per person is the average.

Many of the home improvement stores sell big box water softeners and installation kits to get them connected.