I have to replace one of the O-Rings in a leaky faucet, and would have to shut off the water valve to said faucet. However, the faucets in my place don't have individual shut off valves, and there is only one main valve. I am hesitant in shutting off the main valve, because it has been known to leak in the past upon re-opening. I have a water softener installed that is fed from the pipe from the main valve, the water softener then feeds the hot water tank and breaks off to feed the rest of the cold water in the house. If I was to shut off the water softener(unplug it) without changing it in bypass mode, would this turn off the cold water supply to the rest of my house?


The power to the softener is only used to run the backwash and recharge cycle. It will continue to operate without power, and will even continue to soften water for a while (though it does eventually need to be recharged, depending on the hardness of your water and how much you use).

Certain types of bypasses can be used as shut-off valves.

A custom-built one with 3 valves is easy: just close all valves.

custom bypass

There's a type with two valves that can also be used: close one (so the valves are in opposite directions).

Two-valve bypass Two-valve bypass

Other types that only have one valve/control handle don't shut off the water flowing through them.

Handle bypass Push bypass Turn bypass

Separately, you should have a main-shutoff that is reliable. If you have a leak in your house it will likely cost much more than a valve will. Install a ball (quarter turn) valve, rather than a globe or gate valve -- very reliable, and will easily last at least a couple decades.


No, the water softener electrical portion just determines when and the frequency of regeneration but it has no effect on whether water will or not pass through the unit


No, even without power, water will still flow through the water softener. You have to shut off the flow of water via a valve.

  • On the other hand, turning the water off at the softener's valves might be a workable alternative to turning off the main valve, if all the water for the house flows through the softener. (I keep thinking I ought to have a new quarter-turn cut-off valve put in, next time I have a plumber in the house, so I'm not completely reliant upon the existing cut-off.) – keshlam Dec 24 '14 at 4:41

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