Installation

Water softeners are located to treat water at the point of entry to a household to feed the whole house. The garden tap can be left untreated although an extra garden tap can be plumbed from the treated feed for washing cars and windows.

Water softeners can be put in a garage, shed, utility room, boiler room, hotpress, sink press or weather-proof cabinets on an external wall or garden wall, inline to the mains. All water softeners require a nearby waste pipe or drain and an electric socket.

Older timer softeners guess water use, but meter softeners measure the water flow, save on wasted salt and provide a constant supply of soft water. Larger softeners allow higher capacity softening, a longer system life, less maintenance and less salt re-fills. Waste water from water softeners will have no adverse effect on sceptic tanks.

If bacteria or other problems are found in supplies sourced from group schemes, wells, rainwater tanks, rivers or lakes, we can provide solutions to correct all contaminants within EU directives. Well water requires lab analysis prior to the selection of equipment. We also provide a full electrical and groundwork service where required.

Drinking filters are supplied with filter taps and are fitted to sinks or worktops. Granite worktops need to be pre-bored for faucets or special triflow mixer taps can be supplied.

Check for one mains supply to the property. An extra feed may be plumbed for some mini filter systems.

Make sure the water softener location is close to a drain and 220 volt 3 pin wall socket.

Do not install on float switched pumped feeds, convert these to ballcock pressure feeds.

Do not install on well water without a full water test from an approved HSE laboratory.

Do not install on private wells with over 0.2 ppm of iron or 0.05 ppm of manganese unless of an approved type.

The water pressure should be within 25 psi to 65 psi, or it will need to be boosted or regulated.

Protect system from frost. (Use an outdoor housing or locate in a garage or shed.)

Water Pressure

Mains water pressure needs to be monitored after the installation ofany kind of water treatment system in order to test for any irregularities that may affect the operation of filtration equipment or other household plumbing or appliances.

Mostwater schemes operate in the normal water pressure range of 22 to 66 psi, although many schemes experience water pressure problems. A rare problem is low pressure, where water fails to fill attic storage tanks at an adequate rate causing periodic water shortages.

If you have paid a water scheme connection charges or other fees, you are covered by consumer rights legislation and are entitled to a range of minimum standards that water schemes are obliged to deliver,including for example: regulated water pressure, continuity of supply, sufficient notice given to interruption of supply due to work on pipes carried out.

Low Pressure

If mains supplied water is found to be too low, water softeners, filters, showers and washing machines may not work.

To guarantee an adequate supply from weak water mains pressure a water tank can collect mains water in reserve with a pump to boost the water back up to the normal pressure range. Pumps are usually set between 25 to 45 psi.

Before you decide to go to the expense of installing a water tank and pump, advise your water scheme of your consumer rights for the provision of water continuity above the minimum 22 p.s.i. pressure - preferably 3 bar (44 psi) at all times.

High Pressure

Dangerous pressures up to 100 psi or over, exist on many water schemes. High pressure spikes may occur unannounced in relatively low pressure schemes, which can cause leaks and problems with filter systems, so a reliable household mains pressure regulating valve - PRV - may be required.
To correct high pressure problems, high quality pressure reducing valves are available to guarantee correctly regulated water pressure and to maintain an optimum water supply pressure for full protection.
Water schemes are under an obligation to limit dangerous water pressures to households and may be liable to meet the expense of water pressure correction equipment.
See the consumer rights charter at: www.nfgws.ie

Mains water pressure needs to be tested prior to the installation of any kind of water treatment system in order to test for any irregularities in pressure that may affect the operation of filtration equipment or other household plumbing or appliances.

Most water schemes operate in the normal water pressure range of 20 to 70 psi, although many schemes experience water pressure problems. A rare problem is low pressure, where water fails to fill attic storage tanks at an adequate rate causing periodic water shortages.

If you have paid a water scheme connection charges or other fees, you are covered by consumer rights legislation and are entitled to a range of minimum standards that water schemes are obliged to deliver, including for example: regulated water pressure, continuity of supply, sufficient notice given to interruption of supply due to works carried out, etc.