The Best Water Softener Salts That Last 3x Longer

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

Introduction to Water Softeners

Hey there and welcome! Let's chat about getting the best water softener salts. If you’re tired of dealing with hard water, a water softener is your new best friend for smoother, more manageable H2O.

Why Water Softener Salts Matter

So, here’s the scoop: water softener salts do some heavy lifting in swapping out pesky calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium. This magic trick helps keep your pipes, fixtures, and those beloved appliances of yours from getting all crusty.

When it comes to keeping your softener running like a dream, the type of salt you choose is kinda a big deal. Water softener pellets? They’re awesome because they don’t bunch up like salt crystals, which can make everything grind to a halt. Meanwhile, evaporated salt? It’s super pure but a bit pricier, saving you from cleaning up after cheaper, low-grade salt gunk.

Consider this: small households might go through around two 40-pound bags every couple of months, while bigger clans might need four in the same timeframe. Keeping an eye on how much salt you need helps keep your system from acting up or grinding to a stop.

Household Size	Salt Usage (40 lbs)	How Often
Small	2 bags	Every couple of months
Large	4 bags	Every couple of months

Choosing the right water softener salt is your ticket to a system that delivers top-notch soft water. This not only makes life easier but also boosts your appliances’ lifespan. And if you're diving into options, don't forget to check out our other sections for a complete lowdown on picking the best water softener systems. Happy softening!

Types of Water Softener Salts

Choosing the right water softener salts for your home can make all the difference. We’re here to break down what you need to know about water softener pellets, crystals, and evaporated salts—each bringing their own flair to the game.

Water Softener Pellets vs. Salt Crystals

Pellets or crystals? Let's dig in and see what makes each tick. Spoiler: they might just be the answer you’re looking for.

Water Softener Pellets These little champs are usually the go-to. They disappear quicker than cookies at a bake sale and help keep things clean and hassle-free. Less mess means less stress! Morton Salt is a well-loved brand, kinda like that reliable old friend.

Why Pellets Rock
- Dissolve like sugar in coffee
- Keep maintenance worries at bay
- Less chance of going all "block party" in your system
- Purity you can count on

Salt Crystals Crystals are alright, but they tend to get stuck together like last night’s spaghetti—creating bridges instead of soft water magic.

The Crystal Conundrum
- Whoopsy, it's bridging time!
- Residue? Yep, that's a thing.
- More TLC required

Evaporated Salt for Water Softening

For the purists out there, evaporated salt is your ticket to clean town. Made by evaporating brine, it's as pure as a choirboy on Sunday. It keeps things running like a well-oiled machine, especially if your water is harder than high school math.

This type of salt will have your water softener feeling sprightly and your pipes sighing in relief. If juggling high mineral levels feels like a Herculean task, evaporated salt's got your back!

Before you start raising that water softener salt flag, take a good look at what your water needs. It's all about playing the game smarter, not harder. Need a nudge in the right direction? Our best water softener system guide is the place to be.

Don’t let those hard water gremlins take over! Investigate your options to find the best water softener salt and keep the water flowing smoothly in your home.

Considerations for Selecting Water Softener Salts

Picking out water softener salts ain't just about grabbing any old bag off the shelf. To get the best bang for your buck and keep that water softener ticking along nicely, there are a few things to think about. Let's talk about salt purity and matching the salt to how calcium-packed your water is.

Purity Levels and Efficiency

How pure your water softener salt is can really mess up or boost how well your water softener works. The cleaner the salt, the less gunky build-up you have to deal with. Here's what you get with purer salts:

• Salt that works harder and longer
• Less mess in your tanks
• Better deal for your dollars

Take water softener pellets, for instance—they're often pure as driven snow at 100%, and folks love them for their no-fuss upkeep (Carter's My Plumber). Evaporated salt leads the pack with top-notch purity, so while it might hit your wallet a bit harder, it saves you from future headaches of extra cleaning (Clear Water Arizona).

Type of Salt	Typical Purity Level	Perks
Pellets	100%	Long life, low fuss
Evaporated Salt	Sky high	Barely any junk, great for the hardest water
Rock Salt	Mid-range	Cheap, but a bit more elbow grease required
Solar Salt	Sweet spot	Lite on the wallet, good for sorta hard water

For those eyeing a smoother water game, stronger purity levels can mean your system stays tip-top longer. Want to save those hard-earned bucks? Check out our lowdown on the best water softener.

Choosing Salt Based on Water Hardness

Water hardness is a thing you don't wanna ignore if you're picking out water softener salts. This is all about the grains per gallon (GPG) of calcium carbonate or milligrams per liter (mg/L). When water's rock-solid hard, you need the right kind of salt for top-tier action:

• Evaporated Salt: Top dog for super hard water (61-120 mg/L or more), hitting up states like Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, and sunny southern California.
• Pellets and Solar Salt: Stand-up choices for medium to hard stuff, as they break down fast and don't gunk up the works.

Water Hardness	Right Salt	Where
Soft (0-60 mg/L)	Any type	N/A
Medium Hard (61-120 mg/L)	Pellets, Solar Salt	All over
Hard (121-180 mg/L)	Evaporated Salt, Pellets	All over
Super Hard (181+ mg/L)	Evaporated Salt	Southwest US

Getting the salt that matches your water's toughness means your softener can keep things silky smooth. For a deep dive into water filters, don't miss our piece on the best filter for hard water.

By sizing up these factors, you can nab water softener salts that do the job you need, keeping your system in top shape for the long haul. For more scoop on complete water setups, peep our guide on the best water softener system for home.

Best Water Softener Salts

Picking the right water softener salt is a bit like picking the right cheese for a sandwich—sounds simple, but it makes all the difference! Let’s check out some of the top picks and what they're bringing to the table.

Morton Salt vs. Windsor Salt

Morton and Windsor Salt are like the Coke and Pepsi of the water softening world. Each has its fans and each offers some pretty neat perks.

Brand	What's Special?	Happy Customers	Purity Check	Cool Extras
Morton Salt	Classic choice	High fives all around	High	Dependable and gets the job done
Windsor Salt	Clean and Protect magic pellets	High fives here too	99.99% pure as the driven snow	Tosses in a resin cleaner so you don’t have to

Folks still rave about Morton’s trusty pellets. On the flip side, Windsor's Clean and Protect Pellets boast that 99.99% purity along with a built-in resin cleaner, so you can kick back and relax while it handles all the messy stuff (Water eStore).

Solar Salt vs. Rock Salt vs. Potassium Chloride

Time to pit solar salt, rock salt, and potassium chloride against each other and see what happens!

Type	How It's Made	Earth-Lovin' Factor	Solubility	Uh-Oh Potential	Wallet Impact
Solar Salt	Sun-dried sea water	Pretty green	Super soluble	Could back up the pipes if water's extra hard	Mid-range
Rock Salt	Dug up from the ground	Not as green	Not so soluble	Loaded with calcium sulfate, might mean more upkeep	Cheap as chips
Potassium Chloride	From potassium digs	Planet-friendly	So-so	Pricey, so might need to tweak usage	Pricey

Solar salt is the eco-friend amongst these, made from sun-dried sea water. But watch out if your water is like bricks, it might leave a trace behind (Clear Water Concepts).

Rock salt is the budget pick here, but comes with a lot of calcium sulfate baggage, which could mean extra elbow grease for you (Clear Water Concepts).

And then there's potassium chloride. No sodium here, which is great if you’re counting those. But it costs more and means adjusting those salt settings (Clear Water Arizona).

Craving more info on getting soft water that flows like a dream? Check out our take on the best water softener system and the low-down on best water softener consumer reports.