Step 3 · Cut the Main Water Line

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

Identify the main cold water line you will be tapping into. Place a bucket underneath your work area to catch any residual water. Using a tubing cutter, make a clean, square cut to remove a section of the pipe where the softener's bypass valve will be installed. The length of the section to remove depends on the dimensions of your bypass valve and the fittings you'll use (typically two 90-degree elbows). After cutting, use a deburring tool to clean the inside and outside edges of the cut pipe ends to ensure a proper fit for the new fittings.