Water Softener Installation

Most of the areas we serve have hard water. Burbank and Beverly Hills run around 16 to 17 grains per gallon, parts of Glendale reach about 20, and the Valley sits around 6 to 8. That's what leaves white spots on shower glass, crust on faucets and scale inside your water heater. A water softener takes those minerals out before they reach your plumbing.

SureFix Plumbers Inc. · Licensed plumbing contractor, CSLB #1134329 · Licensed & insured

What a water softener fixes

• Spots and film on glass shower doors, dishes and fixtures
• Crusty faucets, shower heads and aerators
• Scale building up inside tank and tankless water heaters
• Soap and shampoo that won't lather
• White buildup on stone counters, tile and sinks

How a softener works

A softener is a tank of resin beads that grabs calcium and magnesium as water passes through. Every so often it rinses itself with salt water from a brine tank to recharge the resin, and that rinse water goes to a drain. You add bags of salt to the brine tank as needed, usually every month or two depending on your household.

Sized for your water and your household

We test the hardness at your home, then size the softener for that number and how much water your household uses. Too small and it can't keep up between cycles. Too big and you're paying for more than you need.

Where it goes

Usually on the main line near where water enters the house, often in the garage or along an outside wall. It needs a drain for the rinse water and an outlet nearby. Most homes pair a softener with a sediment prefilter and a whole-house carbon filter, and we install a bypass valve so the system can be serviced without shutting off water to the house. Yard hose bibs are usually left on unsoftened water.

Salt-free conditioners and local rules

Salt-based softeners aren't allowed in the Santa Clarita Valley, and some Ventura County cities restrict them. In those areas we install a salt-free conditioner instead. It keeps hardness minerals from sticking as scale inside pipes and water heaters, but it doesn't remove them, so you may still see some spotting on glass. We'll tell you which option is allowed at your address and what to expect from each.

Protecting your water heater

Hard water scale is one of the main reasons tank water heaters lose efficiency and tankless units need frequent descaling. If you're replacing a water heater or going tankless, it's a good time to look at softening too.

Common questions

Does softened water taste salty?

Not at normal hardness levels. A softener adds a small amount of sodium in exchange for the minerals it removes. If you'd rather avoid that in your drinking water, a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink removes most of it.

Will a softener help my tankless water heater?

Yes. Scale is one of the most common causes of tankless problems in hard-water areas. Softened water keeps the heat exchanger from scaling up, so you need fewer descaling flushes.

How much upkeep is there?

Adding salt every month or two and an occasional check of the settings. We also offer annual service plans.

Can I have a softener in Santa Clarita?

Salt-based softeners aren't allowed in the Santa Clarita Valley. A salt-free conditioner, carbon filtration and an RO drinking water system are all allowed there.

How much does a water softener cost?

It depends on your water hardness, the size of your home and whether you add filtration. Our water checker shows typical installed ranges for your area, and we confirm your price after a free water test.

Other water treatment options

Serving the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Glendale, the Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas and Santa Clarita. See service areas.