Water softner and ro system

mousehole · 01-19-2005, 07:50 PM

I just installed a watersoftner on the house and was wondering if my RO system should go before of after the softner. I don't quite get how the whole thing works, but i know it removes iron and whatever leaves dots on the glass. Is it cleaner water, therefore less wear on ro, or is there more in the water (salt) therfore greater wear on ro. Just wondering if anybody here might know offhand. TIA

WAVESHAUN · 01-19-2005, 08:19 PM

Place the RO after the H2O softener. You'll rid the RO of many minerals that would otherwise cause you to regularly change out filter cartridges/membranes.

It'll make your RO work a lot less....

xwoodsx · 01-19-2005, 08:19 PM

i would recommend installing RO downstream(after) the water softener. as it will increase the lifespan of the RO. im assuming youre on a well,right.?In all my years as a liscensed plumber i have never installed any filters upstream of any water softener.Basically your softener removes all/most metals in your water. i believe it also raises the alkalinity. low alk=hard water; high alk= soft water.

mousehole · 01-19-2005, 08:31 PM

actually im in the couve, so i have the crapy hard water. I just wanted to make sure the salt won't prematurely clog the filters, also just read somewhere having to do with plant's that it strips the calcium and magnesium replacing them with sodium. Wouldn't this be bad?

xwoodsx · 01-19-2005, 08:39 PM

well, it would be cheap and easy to put is a particle filter between the softener and the RO. HD has them for about $15.oo

LittleFishBoy · 01-19-2005, 11:59 PM

You know speaking of water softeners, when I lived in Florida, I had one, and it was the best thing in the world. It was when I first started saltwater and I always used water out of my tap. That water seemed great as I never ever had a casualty due to water conditions. At that point in time, I didnt even know what an RO/DI was. When (if) I move into a house, im definatley investing in one of those again.