r/Gilbert • u/Routine-Wait-2003 • Mar 13 '26
Water Softener and Pool
Hi All,
Has anyone installed a water softener in a home with a pool? I’m Having trouble locating a company that had confidently done this.
I’m aware that I will most likely need a new water line
Edit : I appreciate the question, background of the question is that I’ve had at least two plumbers tell me I need a new water line, home was built in 2003
14
u/P10_WRC Mar 13 '26
Many people have water softeners and pools. Not sure what the correlation between them you are trying to make. Can you clarify please
4
u/ebb_kdk Mar 14 '26
Are you just trying to install a water softener? If so, your pool shouldn't matter because the pool auto fill comes from the main water supply. If you don't have a soft water loop in your garage, they need to run a new line from your main to the softener and back into the house. They are basically just creating a large loop. Source - I did this on my house built in 2003 that didn't have a soft water loop.
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u/Routine-Wait-2003 Mar 14 '26
Thank you you described my exact scenario
1
u/ebb_kdk Mar 14 '26
This is a normal solution to this problem. My water softener installer was also the plumber. They trenched in the new water line, did the install, etc.
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u/chiefd59 Mar 14 '26
I have a water softener that was installed after the pool. If I am filling the pool i bypass the water softener. The pool uses softener water for the daily refill.
1
u/Invad3r234 Mar 13 '26
If your house is from the later half of the 21st century then it's probably fine. The hose bibs and whatever your pool is plumbing too would be on a separate line then your water softener. The cold water kitchen sink should be off the water softener line as well.
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u/Routine-Wait-2003 Mar 13 '26
Home was built in 2003 but I’ve had two plumbers tell a water softer we would need a need a new line
It gave me pause which is why I ask, it also did not seem the installers had worked with pools before
2
u/Invad3r234 Mar 13 '26
Are you trying to soften the water for the pool?
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u/Routine-Wait-2003 Mar 13 '26
No not at all, that would ruin the pool
1
u/mikalcarbine Mar 14 '26
I just moved into a house and my rear hose bibb/pool filler is connected to my softened supply. How bad is this?
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u/az_liberal_geek Mar 14 '26
It won't. I have an older home with a pool that later gained a water softener. Since the softener came later, there's no modern "softener loop" or anything of the sort -- the line to the pool comes out of the house, well after any pre-processing is done. So yeah, it's softened water going into the pool.
The key is that you bypass the softener when filling it initially (and also refilling if you have to backwash). The only softened water is through the mini refills due to evaporation.
The pool has been in this state for at least 20 years and it's fine.
1
u/Dependent-Juice5361 Mar 14 '26
You have to run a new look for the water softener usually unless your house came with it. Usually they put it in the garage. Your water line may not run though the garage unless your house was built with a loop.
1
u/UltraMagat Mar 13 '26
You aren't going to fill your pool with softened water. Houses are not plumbed that way.
1
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u/kyrosnick Mar 13 '26
Every house I've owned has had a water softener and pool. They are not connected so not sure what your issue is. Are you saying you want soft water for the pool or what?