Water Softener Drain

1013 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by seethesun, Apr 18, 2016

seethesun

Discussion Starter · Apr 17, 2016

Hi,

We bought a house a couple of years ago (in Florida) that's in the country. We have a water softener that sits outside. When we moved in, inspectors told us it wasn't working, and due other projects + life + laziness, until now I never got around to looking at it.

Turns out it does work. However, I noticed whoever installed it they just have the discharge hose lying on the ground. No air gap and there isn't a drain that I am aware of for it to discharge into. Obviously I can get it off the ground, but what about where it drains to? I mean, we do love in the country, but I assume just letting it run wild is not the way to go. Also, we have well water, probably about 30 feet from the softener.

I saw this as a possible solution on another forum. Thoughts?

Take a 4 inch corregated pipe that you can put a drain sock on ( looks kinda like panty hose) The corregated pipe has holes in it. We would cut about 5 foot of this and bury it in gravel with the drain sock on the pipe. Leave about a foot above ground with a cap on it. Drill a hole in the cap and drop the discharge hose in. That way water gets out put nothing gets in to stop the flow of water. All this is available at Lowe's or Home Depot. If you dig your hole deep enough you won't have any dead grass. Hope this helps.

Save

1 - 4 of 4 Posts

srloren

· #2 · Apr 17, 2016

seethesun said:
Hi,

We bought a house a couple of years ago (in Florida) that's in the country. We have a water softener that sits outside. When we moved in, inspectors told us it wasn't working, and due other projects + life + laziness, until now I never got around to looking at it.

Turns out it does work. However, I noticed whoever installed it they just have the discharge hose lying on the ground. No air gap and there isn't a drain that I am aware of for it to discharge into. Obviously I can get it off the ground, but what about where it drains to? I mean, we do love in the country, but I assume just letting it run wild is not the way to go. Also, we have well water, probably about 30 feet from the softener.

I saw this as a possible solution on another forum. Thoughts?

Take a 4 inch coragated pipe that you can put a drain sock on ( looks kinda like panty hose) The coragated pipe has holes in it. We would cut about 5 foot of this and bury it in gravel with the drain sock on the pipe. Leave about a foot above ground with a cap on it. Drill a hole in the cap and drop the discharge hose in. That way water gets out put nothing gets in to stop the flow of water. All this is available at Lowe's or Home Depot. If you dig your hole deep enough you won't have any dead grass. Hope this helps.

This will not solve the salt problem. I would consider running a pipe without holes at least 50 feet (if possible) from your well area then attach a 10' pipe with holes and a cap on the end and gravel as discussed above to preserve your drinking water from salt. Good luck

Save

joecaption

· #3 · Apr 18, 2016

One of mine just runs under ground in a PEX line to a pit I dug out 24" deep and 24" wide and back filled with stone and covered with top soil.
Grass has never been effected, and it's far less then 15' from the well with no ill effects.
Been that way for at least 10 years.

Save

seethesun

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 18, 2016

Thanks. I appreciate the responses.

Save

1 - 4 of 4 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month