Most softener installs are finished in one visit, but the work still follows a sequence. Knowing the order helps you catch a skipped step while the crew is still there, which is the cheapest time to fix it.
Before the crew arrives
Clear a path from the entrance to the spot where the unit will sit, and clear the space around the water line and the drain route. Confirm the drain point and the outlet location with the installer ahead of time. Ask whether the main water will be off for the whole visit or only for the cuts, and ask how long the house will be without water.
Step one: shut off and drain
The crew should shut the main supply, open fixtures at the high and low points of the house to relieve pressure, and confirm the line is empty before cutting. If the home has a water heater or a pressure tank, ask how they will handle it. Watch the order of cuts and connections, and notice whether the work area stays dry.
Step two: set the unit and the bypass
The softener goes on the main line ahead of the water heater, with a bypass valve so the house can run untreated water while the unit is serviced. Check that the bypass is installed, that the handle positions are labeled, and that you know which position means treated water.
Step three: drain line, power, and salt
Confirm the drain line runs to an approved drain point with an air gap, that it is secured in place, and that it does not sit in a trap that could siphon. Check that the unit is on a grounded outlet that is not controlled by a wall switch. Ask how much water went into the brine tank before salt was added, and ask what brine level the installer set.
Step four: start up and watch the first cycle
Water should be turned back on slowly. Look at every joint for leaks while the lines refill. Ask the crew to let the unit run a regeneration while someone is home to observe it, and ask them to show you the display and where the bypass handle sits.
Final walkthrough
Before the crew leaves, ask for a written record of the settings they entered, including the hardness setting and the regeneration schedule. Confirm who to call if the unit shows an alarm, and get the paperwork in hand before the final payment. For a wider view of the steps from first contact to a working system, see the Missouri Water Softener Buyer's Guide.