Installing a whole-home water softener and tankless water heater in Redwood City

Not every Bay Area neighborhood struggles with water quality, but Redwood City is one of them. The supply here is moderately hard. The minerals in it are safe to drink, but they leave spots on glassware, build scale inside pipes, and shorten the life of appliances. Add the chlorine that keeps drinking water safe, and it can taste off, too.

So we were not surprised to hear from a homeowner in the area who wanted a whole-home water softener. They also wanted to replace their water heater with a tankless unit. Pablo handled both requests, and installed a new GFCI outlet for the equipment, on the same service call.

A good water heater or water softener installation is about more than connecting the equipment to your lines. Here is what went into each piece of this job.

Pablo installed the Puronics water softener on the home’s main water line, so every tap, shower, and appliance receives treated water. He also installed a dedicated brine tank, which supplies the salt the unit needs during its cleaning and recharge cycle.

He pre-programmed the digital control valve for the home’s water conditions and usage. This matters because it stops the softener from regenerating more often than it needs to, which wastes salt.

Puronics whole-home systems also filter out chlorine taste and the familiar “city water” odor. Bacteria-resistant, high-flow resin pulls these out without a meaningful drop in water pressure.

The service ports and bypass valve on this unit make it easy to maintain. A technician can usually take care of future requests without cutting into pipes or, worse, into an exterior wall.

The customer’s top choice was the Navien NPE-240A2, a high-efficiency unit that heats water on demand without a bulky tank. Because it is not keeping a full tank hot around the clock, there is no standby heat loss. It costs less to run, lasts longer, and suits most residential homes.

Going tankless has another benefit: the code requirements for clearance under and around the unit are much smaller. If you do not have much room to work with, it is the best way to go.

Tankless heaters like this one can run without an expansion tank, but one is recommended in certain conditions. Pablo installed this one just to the right of the heater.

This is the step most homeowners never see. The system should always be flushed before a water filter or softener goes into service.

Most water filters and softeners arrive already packed with fresh carbon and other filtering media. There is nothing to add during the install, but the media can release dust or sediment on the first run. None of that should reach your home, so the first step after installation is always a backwash cycle.

The Puronics iGen system’s built-in bypass valve makes this easier. Pablo turned off the line running into the home, opened the bypass, and let the cycle run. Once the water ran clear, he took the system out of bypass and fitted the waterproof cover over the control head to shield the electronics from splash, condensation, and dust.

Pablo also installed a new ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet to power the system. Local code requires one anywhere electricity sits close to water. A GFCI protects your equipment and your home by shutting off the power the instant a fault is detected.

We secured the required permits before beginning any work. It reduces hassle for homeowners and gives the peace of mind that comes with a job done right.

Water softeners and tankless heaters need occasional attention after they go in. This schedule keeps both healthy.

Once the backwash finished and the system came out of bypass, everything went into service the same day. Here is the before and after.