Hi. I just purchased a house with well water, and we finally figured out the barrel with the salt in it is a softener. Now the salt is all gone, which suits me fine, the water was way too soft and now feels like normal water. Can/should we disconnect the softener? If we do nothing, will it hurt anything? I read the manual, but I need a "dummies" book before I can even understand that! We live in an area that was a big pink granite mining area, so I don't know why they thought the water was too hard to begin with.

There is also some manner of water filtration system on it and we don't have the paperwork so we don't know how to change the filter. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Above the softner should be 3 knobs, close the right and left and open the center one, this creates a bypass loop and the softner is now isolated. If you continue to like the water this way you can just leave these valves alone or remove the softner from the manifold. Now the filter, is it a big hard plastic jug like thing hanging down from a section of the main incoming water line?

Yes, that does seem to be the case, I am not sure if it's off the main water line, but there is a blue plastic bucket type thing that is about as big around as a gallon milk jug.

That milk jug is likely your filter, shut off the main supply and twist it counterclockwise slowyl, thsii allows the pressure to drain and there may be some spillage unless you can isolate the filter