HELP! Need information about RO/DI with a water softener

[tangman99]

I am getting a water softener installed in the next week or so and I am also planning on getting an RO/DI unit. For those of you who have both, does the RO/DI unit need to be inline before or after the water softener or does it even matter. If it needs to be in front, I need to tell the plumber to put something inline before the softener to connect my RO/DI unit.
Thanks,
Tangman
HELP! Need information about RO/DI with a water softener

 

[almarktool]

forget the reasons but i did research it a while ago and i came up wtih putting the ro/di unit before the softner and that is how mine is set up

 

[zafirablanca]

At my previous job, we has a large water softener and a LARGE deionizing system. The city water was plumbed straight to the deionizer (NOT softened first).
I asked about why they didn't soften the water and then deionize it and they said that it was worse for the deionizing beds and didn't help the water quality in that sense.
We used soft water for our steam boiler and tap water. We used the deionized water for microbial growth medias.
Apparently, a water softener is really only beneficial for your pipes, water heater, dishwasher, washing machine and soap usage. It does not make good drinking water or purify water. In fact unsoftened water is healthier because it has minerals. Minerals are just bad for equipment.
Hope that helps.
-Christine