When installing a Phyn Plus in a home with a water softener, it’s important to place the device correctly within your plumbing system to ensure accurate monitoring and reliable performance.
Recommended Installation Placement
Phyn Plus should be installed on the main water supply line:
After the main shutoff valve
After the PRV (if present)
Before the plumbing branches to the home
From there, placement relative to the water softener determines what water usage is monitored.
Installation Options for Water Softeners
Option 1: Install Phyn Plus After the Water Softener (Upstream)
The water softener is not monitored by Phyn
Regeneration cycles will not trigger alerts or events
Provides cleaner data and fewer alerts
Best for:
Homes where minimizing alerts and simplifying setup is the priority, or where you are comfortable with the water softener not being monitored.
Option 2: Install Phyn Plus Before the Water Softener (Downstream)
Phyn will detect and monitor water usage from the water softener
Regeneration cycles may appear as unusual or continuous water activity
The system may require a learning period to recognize these events
What this means:
Phyn will monitor water softener usage
Leaks related to the softener system can be detected
Auto Shutoff may stop water flow if a major issue is detected
You may receive unusual water alerts during the learning period and occasionally thereafter
What to expect:
The system will need time to learn your softener’s regeneration cycle
You may need to respond to alerts in the app during early cycles
Schedule or setting changes to the softener may temporarily increase alerts
Best for:
Homes where visibility and leak detection of the water softener is the priority, and where you are comfortable with occasional alerts during regeneration cycles.
Important Considerations
Regeneration cycles:
Water softeners periodically flush and recharge, often overnight (commonly around 2:00 AM). If Phyn Plus is installed before the water softener, it will detect this as continuous water usage. During the initial learning period, this may trigger alerts. Over time, the system will learn this pattern and reduce notifications.Monitoring scope:
Phyn only monitors plumbing downstream of the device. Anything installed before it will not be tracked.Other backwashing systems:
Homes with carbon filters, iron filters, or other backwashing filtration systems may experience similar behavior, including extended water flow during backwash cycles. If Phyn Plus is installed before these systems, it will detect this activity and may trigger alerts, especially during the learning period.
How to Decide
There is no universal right answer.
If your priority is leak detection and monitoring of the water softener, install the Phyn device before the water softener (downstream)
If your priority is uninterrupted water usage with fewer alerts, or you are comfortable with the water softener not being monitored, install the Phyn device after the water softener (upstream)
General Best Practices
If Phyn Plus is installed before the water softener, once the device is paired and online, consider running a manual regeneration cycle (immediate or scheduled). This helps the system learn the softener’s water usage pattern more quickly and can reduce early alerts.