If you have a water softener in use, you’ll know that drainage is crucial. Improper drainage can lead to many environmental problems. However, if yours is installed in a garage with no drain, things can get puzzling.
You must be asking, how to get around water softener with no drain in the garage?
Even without a drain, you can drain the water softener in the garage. This can be done in 3 ways. Mainly trapped outlet with a dry well, a floor drain connection, or a laundry tray. All of these are reliable methods to drain the water softener in the garage.
We know this isn’t enough for you to understand the whole picture. That’s why we’d like you to continue reading. We’ve discussed all the necessary details for you below.
Let’s begin this journey!
How Can You Drain Softener Inside The Garage?
If there is no drain inside the garage, don’t worry. It’s not impossible to drain your water softener inside your garage.
But for this, there’s one major requirement. You will need access to some form of drainage mechanism. This can be indoor drainage or outdoor drainage of softener.
There are 3 methods to do this. To understand them at a glance, take a look at our table below:
| Method | Cost | Skill | Time |
| Laundry tray | Low | Low | Only a matter of 2 hours for installation |
| Trapped outlet with dry well | Mid to high | Medium | 1 to 2 days |
| Connecting to the floor drain | High | High as it requires a professional | Can take up to 3 to 4 days |
We know this isn’t enough for you to come to a conclusive decision. Let’s see more about these in detail.
The Laundry Tray
This is the simplest solution! You’ll only need something called a laundry tray or a utility sink.
Normally, laundry rooms are adjacent to the garage. If yours isn’t like that, installing a utility sink in the garage is really easy.
What you’ll do is connect the drain pipe for the water softener to the sink. Since there is no drain for this, the sink will drain it for you. If you want, you can store and use the discharge for specific tasks like killing weeds.
The main downside of the method is the regular cleanup. The high salt concentration in the softener will leave residue and stubborn white marks. To overcome this and prevent clogging, clean the tray at least once every month.
Cleanup is simple though. All you’ll need is some dish soap and warm water. Make a soapy solution using 2 teaspoons of dish soap in 2 liters of warm water.
Use a synthetic brush and the solution to scrub the tray clean. This will prevent any chances of clogging in the future.
Trapped Outlets And Dry Wells
This method uses two items. The first one is the trapped outlet. This is a specialized pipe that has a bend at the base. This bend prevents any of the discharge from flowing backward.
The other thing is a dry well. A dry well is commonly installed as a way to drain the water outside.
For this method, you need to build an outlet in your garage. This outlet has to connect to the dry well so that the water softener goes outside. Remember, for a sloped garage floor, you need to adjust the floor accordingly first.
While setting up the dry well remember to keep it at least 10 feet away from the garage. Make sure the capacity of the well is around 60 gallons. This will prevent any overflow as the water collects and disperses.
You might want to apply this simple method. But you aren’t sure about which dry well to buy. Relax! We have reliable options for you. Take a look at our picks below that will get the job done well!
| Product 1 | |
| Product 2 |
Once you’ve taken a look, we can proceed with the other options for drainage.
If trapped outlets and dry wells sound too much, you can opt for the floor drain.
Connect To Floor Drain
This method utilizes the pipes in the garage that take water to the sewage. You’ll connect the drain pipes with the water softener to the main disposal line with this option.
What this method does is directly discharge the water softener to the sewage. The reason it’s not applied is that it’s illegal in some states. Not to mention it’s incredibly tricky and needs a professional.
Only opt for this method if you’re certain that direct disposal of sewage is legal. Install a floor drain in your garage if you’re experienced enough. Or go for this option only when you have decided you want a professional to solve this issue.
That is because doing this yourself can be tricky and ineffective. Plus it can also create more problems for you.
If you want an easy solution, we suggest you go for the laundry tray. It’s also called a utility sink at times.
That wraps up almost everything about the methods of draining the water!
In case you are having trouble with your Autotrol 460i water softener. Don’t panic, you can get it fixed with some patience as well.
FAQs
Question: Will water softener freeze in the garage?
Answer: Water softener has a really high concentration of salts and as it has a low freezing point. This results in it being prone to freeze during winter. If you’re concerned about winter storage, invest in a space heater. Install it in the garage and it will keep the softener unfrozen.
Question: How to tell if water softener is clogged?
Answer: The most common sign is that the hardness of your water will change. You’ll find this in a form of white and chalky deposits. If this is the case, call an expert to get the problem solved.
Question: How often should you clean a water softener brine tank?
Answer: You can clean the water softener brine tank once a year. Keep in mind, it will need a thorough cleaning to eliminate all the residue inside. You can do this yourself or you can hire a professional to get the job done.
Conclusion
With all that covered, now you know how to tackle water softener with no drain in the garage. We hope our piece helps you decide on how you want the drainage to be.
Finally, good luck with your home improvement ventures!