Change Kitchen to Softened on PEX

[Dvid]

New construction. Plumber put kitchen sink and icemaker on unsoftened. We'd like the softened just as a matter of preference. He wants $60 to change them to the softened lines on the PEX block.

Is this something I can do myself by just shutting off the water to those lines, using a wrench to unscrew the connections and re-screwing them to the softened block and opening up those lines? I have enough slack in the two lines.

Thanks!

 

[CountryBumkin]

Yes, it's that easy.
I suppose Plumber just wants to cover his travel time/costs.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Dvid]

Yes, it's that easy.
I suppose Plumber just wants to cover his travel time/costs.

Thanks Mike, He was already coming back to fix something he left broken. I'll give it a shot.

 

[Dvid]

Yes, it's that easy.
I suppose Plumber just wants to cover his travel time/costs.

By the way, do I need to shorten the white tubes for those two lines if I move them up or just loop them higher and leave the slack in them for flexibility if they ever have to move back to unsoftened?

 

[CountryBumkin]

I'm not sure what is used on the end of that PEX line. Is it a compression fitting with a ferrule , or a crimped on connector, etc.? It may require a special tool to cut the line and reattach the end. So, IMO, unless someone else knows, I would just keep the line as is and just move it to the top manifold.

 

[FullySprinklered]

Would someone please explain softened and unsoftened to me? Reach 4 where are you?

 

[Reach4]

Would someone please explain softened and unsoftened to me? Reach 4 where are you?

Ice cubes? I don't know what the effect would be. Maybe they would be clearer. I know that ice cubes made with RO water are clearer. Making coffee etc with softened water will keep the unit from liming up.

 

[FullySprinklered]

Thanks, Reach. I thought they were talking about the Pex. He didn't say softened WATER. If we're softening the pipe now, I really need to know.

 

[Reach4]

Thanks, Reach. I thought they were talking about the Pex. He didn't say softened WATER. If we're softening the pipe now, I really need to know.

You do soften poly pipe with heat when fitting that onto a barb.

 

[Dvid]

OK, I'll give this a try and if it doesn't work I'll have the plumber fix. Seems straight forward.