We live in the stone oak area of San Antonio which has the hardest water I have ever seen. Our home is not pre-plumber for a softener. We have been quoted on getting one installed and the set up is as follows.

Intercept water coming in house and run line to garage where it will go to softener - then back out to main line at street and water whole house.

At the same time, the main line from the street will be split and two lines will be run that aren't softened for hose bibs.

While that sounds all fine and well - I am not that thrilled with that as an option.

My question - would it be possible to soften the water before it goes into the hot water heater and basically soften only the hot water side of our home?

Seems like this would accomplish a couple of things. One - softer water. Two - appliances - like our hot water heater - would last longer. Three - I don't have the myriad of PVC lines running from the main to my garage and back and to all of the new hose bibs (which just scream pipe burst in really cold weather to me).

Why would this not work? What am I missing?