Shower Softener Instructions

First-Time Setup Instructions: Connecting an On The Go Portable Water Softener to a Shower 

**If you purchase the shower softeners directly from us, they will come with the 1/2-inch adapters pre-installed.**

1. Preparation & Required Parts

Before beginning, gather the following components:

  • On The Go Portable Water Softener On The Go Softener (Note: The adapters included with the softener will NOT work directly with shower connections.)
  • Handheld shower head Shower Head (Required so you can use a flexible shower hose for the softener connection.)
  • Shower hoses (1/2" connections) Shower Hose (An additional hose is typically needed.)
  • Adapters 3/4" NPT Male x 1/2" NPT
    • 3/4" NPT Male × 1/2" NPT adapters (Required to replace the black fittings in the softener’s gray head.)
  • Thread sealant Thread sealant (Teflon tape or pipe dope for sealing leak-free connections.)
  • Adjustable wrench or pliers (Use gently—most connections should be hand-tight.)
  • Turn off the water supply to the shower before starting.

2. Installation Steps

Step 1: Prepare the Shower Arm

(Skip this step if you already have a handheld shower head with a hose.)

  1. Remove the existing shower head.
  2. Clean the threads on the shower arm.
  3. Apply thread sealant.
  4. Install the handheld shower head according to its instructions.

Step 2: Install Adapters & Connect the Softener Inlet

  1. Remove the black adapters from the softener’s gray head.
    • Turn LEFT (counterclockwise) to remove. (lefty loosey, righty tighty).
    • Turning right will over-tighten them and can snap them off inside the gray head.
  2. Apply thread sealant to the 3/4" NPT Male × 1/2" NPT adapters.
  3. Thread the adapters into the gray head until snug.
    • Do NOT torque them down, over tightening tapered pipe threads will crack the gray head.
  4. Connect a shower hose:
    • One end to the shower arm
    • The other end to the INLET of the softener
    • Apply thread sealant on all threaded connections.

Alternative Setup: If using a pre-filter, connect the filter to the shower arm, then run a hose from the filter’s outlet to the softener’s inlet.

Step 3: Position the Softener

  • Place the softener upright inside the shower.
  • The base is adjustable to help level the unit on uneven flooring.

Step 4: Flush the System (Crucial First-Use Step)

  1. Leave the shower wand disconnected for now.
  2. Turn the water on very slowly.
  3. Let water run out of the OUTLET into a drain.
  4. Flush until resin dust is cleared (time varies by model).
  5. Turn the water off after flushing.

Step 5: Connect the Softener Outlet

  • Apply thread sealant and connect the softener’s OUTLET to the shower wand hose.
  • Make sure the top cap is tight. 

Step 6: Test for Leaks

  1. Slowly turn the water supply back on.
  2. Check every connection.
  3. If a leak appears:
    • Turn off the water
    • Dry the connection
    • Slightly tighten the fitting or add more sealant
    • Re-test

Your water softener is now ready for use!

⚠️ Important Notes About Tapered Threads & Overtightening

Why Overtightening Causes Failures

Tapered pipe threads seal by wedging together. Too much force causes:

  • Excessive internal pressure
  • Material stress on fittings and the softener head
  • Failures such as:
    • Cracked female fittings (common with plastic)
    • Stripped or deformed threads
    • Broken pipes or broken adapters inside the softener head

This is the most common cause of damage to the gray head fittings.

How Thread Sealant Prevents Problems

Use Teflon tape or pipe dope because it:

  • Lubricates the threads during tightening
  • Prevents galling or seizing
  • Fills microscopic gaps to create a watertight seal

    NOTE: 

    Why It Takes Longer for Hot Water to Reach the Shower When Using a Softener 

    When you connect a portable water softener to your home shower, the water must travel through the softener first before reaching your showerhead. This extra step slightly increases the distance, and therefore the time, it takes for hot water from your water heater to arrive.

    Inside the softener, water flows through the resin tank, moves around the resin beads, and then continues through the connecting hoses and adapters before entering the shower line. Because of this added pathway, the incoming hot water needs more time to push out the cooler water already sitting inside the softener and hoses.

    In short:
    • The softener holds water inside it.
    • That water must be pushed out before the new hot water reaches the shower.
    • The more water volume the system contains, the longer it takes for hot water to appear. This delay is completely normal and expected. Once the hot water reaches the softener and moves through the system, your shower will heat up and operate normally.
    The same process happens whenever you change the temperature, the adjustment must travel through the softener and hoses, so it may take a little extra time before you feel the temperature change at the showerhead. This delay is completely normal and expected

    Max Temp: 100 degrees Fahrenheit