Lemme start off by saying what a great idea that is (before I start picking it apart
). Congrat's! You'll love it. I have a thread around here somewhere in which I describe my trip down this path. (Credit to Matt,
@JoyfulNoise, for all is help when I built my system.) Though I just used my house's softener. Among other things, Matt helped me figure out that my one softener could service both the house and the pool. It does. Certainly nothing wrong with having a dedicated one, though.
My calcium level is very stable, and so is my salt level (in fact, I have to add salt once in a while). So, so far, no water exchanges are in my future, which was the goal. As pointed out, your softener won't affect your pool's salt level.
Is that a pressure regulator tucked in there? Or some sort of filter? I use a whole-house water filter before my softener, and there is a whole-house regulator in front of that. Both rated for full-time, full-pressure use. I'm not sure I'd trust a plastic version of either for full-time use (and certainly not exposed to sunlight like that). In fact, I finally got around to replacing the plastic one I had in front of my irrigation system with a better one, all brass. I also found a small, full-pressure-rated filter for the irrigation system. I'm much more confident in them. If the part on your circuit is what I think it is, its intended use is for
after an irrigation valve, such that it is never really under full pressure, and then only when the valve is open, not full time. Your backflow preventer looks to be of good quality, and pressure rated, so that OK. Here is what I used, if you ever think you might want to change that out:
For pressure reduction:
Zurn Wilkins 3/4" NR3XL Pressure Reducing Valve with double union FNPT connection
For backflow prevention:
Zurn 34-720A Wilkins Pressure Vacuum Breaker 3/4-Inch Assembly
For filtering:
SimPure 40 Micron Spin Down Sediment Filter, Plus Extra 200μm Element, Reusable Whole House Sediment Water Filter, Pre-Filtration System for Cit
And I threw in one of these so I could keep an eye on the pressure (not for my softener circuit, for my drip irrigation):
Measureman 2" Well Pump Pressure Gauge, 0-60psi/bar, 1/4"NPT Male with 1/2"NPT Adaptor, +/-3-2-3% Accuracy
I'm very confident with the first two. They're time-tested, and from a reliable brand. I haven't yet put the filter through its paces, but I like that it is intended for full-time pressure, and that it has a viewable catch all that can be cleaned out with the turn of a knob.
Like you, I have an irrigation box to pretty things up, but I put
everything in the box, and as mentioned, I covered what little exposed pipe was left with insulation and tape.
Sorry, got a little carried away there, but maybe you can use some bit of all that. And no, you haven't lost your mind. Of course, that's coming from someone that has clearly lost his mind!
