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No. You should never directly drain a water softener into a sewer cleanout. This practice is illegal in many areas because it could allow raw sewage to get into your drinking water and make you seriously ill. Many places have codes requiring a specific seal, pipe, and a large air gap between a water softener and a sewage cleanout. Check out Florida's Plumbing Building Code as an example of what these restrictions might look like.

No, a water descaler won't descale pipes. The charged water running through the pipes may very slowly dissolve mineral deposits and hold them inside the water, but it's a very gradual process. If your pipes do need descaling, it's much better to get a local plumber to descale your pipes.

The most effective way to fix hard water in your shower is by installing a whole-home water softening system. This system treats water as it enters your home, removing the minerals that cause hardness before they can reach your shower or any other fixtures. While this is the most comprehensive solution, other methods are often temporary fixes. For a more affordable and shower-specific option, you can install a water-softening showerhead or a shower filter. However, these filters are generally less effective and may not remove all the contaminants that lead to limescale and hard water stains. By implementing a water softening solution, you can expect a reduction in mineral deposits and enjoy the benefits of cleaner-feeling hair and skin.

A tankless water heater should be at least 10 feet away from a water softener, although the pros you hire for water softener installation can help you determine the correct distance. These two units need to have some distance between them to prevent hot water from the tankless water heater from flowing backward into the water softener when it runs a regeneration cycle.