A water softener loop is a specific pre-plumbed piping arrangement that makes it easy to connect a water softener to the main water line of a house.
It’s called a loop because a part of the piping comes out of the wall, makes a visible loop, and goes back inside. There’s also an exposed drain tube and a power outlet near this loop. It’s usually placed near the water heater.
The loop is often added during the building construction since it provides an established space for the installation of the water softener unit and easy access for plumbers.
However, despite making installation and de-installation much easier, it’s not a must, and you can still install a water-softening unit in your house without a loop.
Benefits of a Water Softener Loop
So a water softener loop provides easy access to the piping system of your house, making it easier and cheaper to install a softening device.
If there’s no water softener loop inside your house, you'll need a full-line installation. This requires assessing where the softener should go and subsequently drilling holes in the walls and adding a couple of new pipes. Labor expenses for a full line installation (without a water softener loop) can add up to $50-$1300. depending on the system type and installation difficulty.
With a softener loop, there’s no need for such considerations. It’s already determined where the unit should go, and all the necessary pipes are in the open, so there’s less need for workmanship which means you can expect to pay less for the necessary labor. This also makes it easier to deinstall the system once it’s time to move houses or upgrade to a better water softener.
You can also have professionals install a water loop in your house, along with a water softening unit. The costs of installing a water loop and a softener unit together may vary between $600-$2,000.
Do You Need a Water Softener Loop?
While a water softener loop isn’t a must, it does make the installation of a water softener easier and quicker. It might be useful to have one if you’re trying out different softener systems.
That said, most of the recently built houses in the United States already feature a loop. It’s just a matter of recognizing it.
The loop is often placed near the water heater, inside the garage, or a utility closet, where the softening device won’t get in anyone’s way. When you move into a new house, inspect such spaces for a U-shaped pipe coming out of the walls.
Can You Install a Water Softener Loop by Yourself?
If you have professional plumbing experience, you can install a looping pipe into your plumbing system yourself. Otherwise, we don’t recommend it.
Installing a piping loop requires breaking a part of the wall, cutting down the main pipe that runs inside that wall, attaching new pipes to it, and repairing the broken wall. If you’re not experienced, your installation might have leaky attachment points, and you might damage the wall irreparably.
So, it’s better to contact a professional. The expenses of having a loop installed vary depending on the type of wall and the type and length of the piping. The best way to learn the costs is to call and get quotes from plumbers in your area.
Quick Recap
A water softener loop is a specific type of piping that comes out of a garage or closet wall, makes a “U” shape, and reenters the wall. It provides a predetermined space for water-softening units and eases their installation and de-installation. Despite its merits, however, it’s not a must for installing a water softener.
Nowadays, most houses already feature a water softener loop. However, it can easily be installed if you don’t have one, but expect to pay anywhere from $600-$2,000.
