Rheem RHS42 Water Softener Install + Sharkbite Connector Battle 

As a pro plumber , I did find it hard not to smile on occassion during watching this. On the plus side , I DO admire that are brave and honest enough to show the times where you struggled a bit or had an issue. Most people post videos where everything goes perfectly ( on screen ) yet you can see they changed their clothes , notice that the sun has gone down OR the seasons have changed by the time they're done with their "10 minute" job !?!?! Good work to seeing it thru to success.

I am a 59 year old housewife and thanks to you, I was able to install my new Raheem Water softener. Thanks for having trouble with the shark bites. I did too and you gave me confidence to pursue. All done and works great!!!! Thank you again. Great video

Scott, this video was very helpful. I purchased this water softener yesterday and finished putting it in with your help.

I just bought the same model to replace a 20 year old unit so this will be handy! (I figured out the height was different beforehand and picked up the flex-hoses when I got the softener. 😎) Great video, thanks.

Applause for diligence and persistence. Good job!

The shark bite part of the install was painful to watch But you stuck with it and never gave up👍🏻 thanks bro for the video!!

Like the softener itself, lubing your o-rings in the shark bite fittings will work wonders!

I really appreciate your video, the only thing I would do different, I don't like sharkbites; I will just use the hose with threads on both sides. Thanks

My new Rheem matched up perfectly with my old shut off valve on my old GE

Thank you for making this!!

Thanks -- especially for pointing out the O-ring on the inside of the female end of the Sharkbite hose. I'm about to make a second attempt to install almost exactly this same water softener, and I've been worried about how (if) the metal-to-plastic threaded connection would seal. During my first attempt I tried to use PVC all the way to the softener and that was a mistake.

A little silicone lube and rotation when possible will really help installing fittings with o-rings. Nice job on the video, considering Rheem softener myself for installation at a family members new house.

Just bought one, it’s going in my new home.

i work for a plumbing/soft water company abs personally i’ll only use a shark bite in dire straits however i feel this is a great place to use a shark bite. you saved a lot of money probably over a grand tackling this yourself. nice job

Hey, thanks for the video, it helped. But my water in/out pipes are coming out of my wall horizontally and they are like a more clear plastic type of PVC (?). How can I mod them so they will go vertically into the bypass valve? Thanks.

Good job

Nice tank light.

Spit on it, use a black marker and mark 1" , i like it good job , i would also replace the filter section, i like the clear ones that way you can see if it needs changing.

Just did one on sunday, all the same issues. Now i want to pull my sharkbites off and check there depth.

That plastic insert you took out of the SB fitting is only for pex piping because pex can flex a little bit and cause a leak. The insert will add rigidity to it hence it is there. For copper and cpvc pipes you don't need that insert. Also, when dealing with push fittings, avoid sanding or grinding or anything that will deform the outside surface of the pipe that goes into the fitting and comes in contact with the o-ring. If the o-ring sits on a not so perfect round surface, you will surely get a leak. Just make sure that part of the pipe that goes in is free from any dirt, dents/dimple, cuts, and the end/edge is rounded. If the end of the pipe is sharp, there is a chance that it would cut into the o-ring and makes the fitting fail and not usable.

With shark bite fittings you don't wanna sand the pipe. I normally just take a rag and clean it as well as I can. If they ever get jammed up then normally it's because of the round plastic insert in the center of the fitting. It'll be crooked and not lined up in the center of the copper pipe. If there are and burs inside of the pipe then it'll grab that plastic center insert.

How can you schedule to recharge it daily or can you stop recharge like 2 days but still have soft water?

that tank light whew can’t

I will be replacing this exact same Rheem unit in my relatively new house. The gorilla that installed the Rheem used "made in China" Sharkbite fittings and he cranked the 1" outlets so tight that the unit eventually started leaking within a year and a half. When I disassembled it, the gasket was chewed up and this is what failed. I went to one of those depot stores and noticed they had the china stuff in the Sharkbite boxes. Beware! I'm now searching for the real thing prior to install. As a side note, the good plumbers are hard to get in Arizona .... they are all very busy.

Thanks for the video, very informative. I'm probably gonna get this for my home although I also have a pH neutralizer. Not sure if I should install this from the well water source after the neutralizer or before?

You need to use a dab of silicone grease (only) when assembling any O Ring assemblies including those push on type flex-able lines. That may be the reason you had a hard time. Using a water filter before it goes into the unit would also be a good idea to extend the life of everything. Thanks for posting this video.

My current drain line is about 4 foot above the floor. When this water softener drains is it gravity drainage or does the softener pump the water out?

Really surprised the 1" NPT didn't leak through the gasket being hand-tight. I guess that proves teflon tape would be totally unnecessary.

Thank you.......65 years old

Plumbers lube! It helps lube the o-ring and slide in further

Can you tell me specific type of bleach you used? Thanks

You have a lot of iron in your water.Rheem sells a liquid iron remover you use 4 times a year

I got this installed but the bypass valve thing doesn't pull back no matter how hard I pull. What am I missing?

Can you please let me know where you buy the 1" SS. Hose to connection . Thank you very much !

What size are those steel braided hoses? Awesome video thank you!

In the overflow pipe that you installed to the back of the grommet, is that just an extra one? I know one is installed on top of the Softner. I just replaced mine to a rheem and my old whirlpool didn’t have installed on the grommet. It’s also installed in the backyard on side of the house

What's that you're pouring at the last? Is that required?

Do you have to manually have it recharge each time or does it recharge based off usage?

Thank you so much for this! I just bought it from Home Depot and the reviews of recent are TERRIBLE. I'm hooking mine up tomorrow and I hope I do not have crazy issues like what is on their website. I read you had a 'Main Connector' leak and it was quick service to fix it. What was the fix, a new gasket?

Hi Scott I see that you laid the water softener on its side has it had any problems since you did that?

Nice video. I know it's been a few years and I'm looking at this exact model from home Depot. Would you buy it again?

Hi Scott! The copper pipe in the beginning of your video where you hacksaw the bypass valve, is it a cold line? Great video!

What is that other filter you have after the softener? Is that required?

How do you know what to put the setting at?

Thank you for the great review. How do you like it after using the product for a while ? I see lot of negative reviews on Home Depot website for this product. Most of them complain about leaks. So I’m a little confused if I should buy it or not.

Was there something stopping you from putting the softner on a platform to raise it to 4 inches you needed

Can I use Clorox to do the recharge?

I just installed this unit and still not getting soften water :(

how has this water softener held up for you?

Perhaps plumbers grease will help ???

Everyone poop poo's on box store water softners. How is your holding up?

Hi can you drink water after ? Thanks

As a plumber watching him so this gave me anxiety lol good video for people trying diy

I think you could have avoided the whole Sharkbite fiasco by just buying 3/4" NPT MALE to 3/4" NPT FEMALE flexible pipe and just left the fittings on the copper pipe, yeah ?

good video but never sand the pipes when using sharkbite fittings. Debur yes sand no.

2 moths later still connecting shark bites connector obviously isn't a easy task complete 🤣

Dude left the old one plugged in for the uninstall...........ffs, Oh don't worry, just fn water and electricity. And no teflon tape on fittings, good luck man.

I would have not POST this VIDEO...embarrassing. Looks like you need to READ the Installation Manual/Vid ?