A water softener does not require its own circuit. An example of a link to an article about this can be found here.
Water softeners do not generally need to be GFCI-protected as they are grounded and insulated. There is some debate as to whether water softeners need to be GFCI-protected but it would likely depend on the installation of the equipment and its location.
A water softener is a device that removes calcium and magnesium from the water supply in order to leave the water feeling softer on human skin. A water softener does not have a regular current cost, but when it is being used, it pulls from the home’s electrical supply.
Plugging a water softener into an extension cord can lead to serious damage to the device. The appliance must be connected to a dedicated, grounded circuit that is less than 25 feet from the property line and there should not be any other devices plugged in on the same circuit.
A water softener does not use electricity. Electricity can be used to power the water softener, but it is not needed to operate the water softener. The only time electricity would be used is if there was a power outage and backup battery that stored enough energy to operate the water softener for up to 24 hours had not been installed.
Water softeners suffer from two main drawbacks. The first issue is the high levels of electricity they use, which can be an inconvenience. The second issue is the salt that they require to function properly. These factors coupled with the higher level of maintenance that they demand can make water softeners a costly investment for most homeowners.
The brine tank can be a maximum of 10 feet from the reverse osmosis unit. There needs to be a pump to circulate the brine fluid from the tank to the RO unit, and a way for water to be drawn back in without disturbing the equilibrium of salt and acid in the brine tank.
A backflushing system is activated when the water softener is hooked up backwards. Wastewater, or water that has already gone through the softening process, flows through the resin beds to scrub them of excess minerals. The front-accessed port on the water softener can be accessed so that you know which way it should be hooked up.
