What Water Softener Salt Should I Use?

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

Salt Types for Water Softeners

Okay, so picking the right salt for your water softener might feel like choosing a cereal in a sprawling grocery aisle. But fear not, we've got the scoop on what’s what in the salt world, without the boring science class vibe.

Evaporated Salt

This one’s like the superhero of salts, boasting sky-high purity. Evaporated salt works wonders in most water softener systems, thanks to its squeaky-clean credentials. It’s whipped up by evaporating water, leaving you with a salt that dissolves like a dream with hardly any clunky bits left behind. No more scrubbing the bottom of your tank endlessly.

What's Awesome?	How Good Is It?
Purity Rate	Top of the class
Water Solubility	Stellar
Cost	Mid-range

Rock Salt

Rock salt, the rough and ready option, comes straight from underground mines and won’t make your wallet cry. But it’s not quite as clean-cut as the others, with a lower purity level. It’s like that unkempt friend who sometimes brings more drama than you’d like, thanks to calcium sulfate build-up, which can lead to more clean-ups.

What's Awesome?	How Good Is It?
Purity Rate	Low
Water Solubility	Decent
Cost	Wallet-friendly

Block Salt

Block salt is like the reliable old dog of salts. It’s divvied up into handy blocks and rocks a mind-blowing 99.8% purity rate. Melts right down in your tank with barely a hiccup, so minimal clean-up is needed.

What's Awesome?	How Good Is It?
Purity Rate	Sky-high
Water Solubility	Fantastic
Cost	Pricier

Potassium Chloride

Potassium Chloride is the hip alternative in the salt scene, nearly free of sodium. If salty woes and health-conscious choices are your jam, this is your guy. Yeah, it’s a bit more on the pricey side, but it gets the job done just as well as the salty competition.

What's Awesome?	How Good Is It?
Purity Rate	High
Water Solubility	High
Cost	A bit steep

So when it’s time to grab salt for your softener, keep an eye on what matters most to you, like how pure, how easily dissolved, and how much you’re ready to dish out. Your water softener won't be spilling the beans, but it'll definitely thank you by running smoothly.

Snagging the Right Water Softener Salt

Picking the right salt for your water softener can make all the difference in how well your system works and how long it lasts. Let's break down the perks and what to watch for with three types of water softener salts: evaporated salt, rock salt, and block salt.

Why Evaporated Salt Rocks

Evaporated salt is the all-star of the water softening world. It’s super pure, meaning your tank stays cleaner with less gunk left behind. Less buildup equals a happier tank and less time you spend scrubbing it out (Clear Water Arizona).

What Makes It Great:

• Super Clean: It leaves behind almost no residue.
• Keeps Things Running Smooth: Less gunk means your system's running more efficiently.
• Low Hassle: You won’t be cleaning as much as with other types.

Feature	Evaporated Salt
Typical Purity	99.9%
Solubility	High
Residue Left	Very Low
Maintenance Required	Minimal

Rock Salt: A Friendly Budget Buddy

Rock salt is easier on the wallet but brings its own quirks. It's not as pure, with more calcium sulfate, which means more gunk piling up and possibly more cleaning on your end (Clear Water Concepts). It’s best to use rock salt only if your system guide says it’s okay.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Penny Saver: Cheaper than the other choices.
• Not So Pure: More impurities could mean more frequent cleaning.
• Upkeep: Be ready for regular maintenance.

Feature	Rock Salt
Typical Purity	Lower
Solubility	Moderate
Residue Left	Moderate to High
Maintenance Required	Frequent

The Block Salt Basics

Block salt comes close to 100% purity and effortlessly dissolves in water. It avoids tank problems like bridging (where salt clumps up) and mushing (Clear Water Concepts). But check your water softener's manual to see if it’s all good to use it.

Why It's Worth Considering:

• Clean Machine: Almost pure with little to no junk.
• Sturdy: Doesn’t clog up your tank with salt clumps.
• Water-Friendly: Softens without leaving a mess.

Feature	Block Salt
Typical Purity	99.8%
Solubility	Very High
Residue Left	Very Low
Maintenance Required	Minimal

Choosing the right salt isn’t just a small detail; it’s crucial for keeping your water softener running smoothly and lasting longer. Always check your system's guide to make sure you're picking the best fit.

Maintaining Water Softener Systems

Keeping our water softener systems in top shape is key for a couple of things: making sure they last long and work like a charm. Let's look at some solid tips to keep 'em in good working order, so our homes stay free from pesky hard water problems.

Regular Maintenance Tips

Doing a little regular maintenance here and there helps avoid breakdowns and keeps our water softener running smoothly for longer. Here's the scoop:

1. Clean the Brine Tank: Give that brine tank a good scrub now and then to break up any salt chunks or clumps that might mess with the system. This way, the salt dissolves like it should and gets that resin bed recharged without a hitch.

2. Backwash the Resin Bed: Backwashing is basically giving the resin bed a power shower—swooshing away the dirt and energizing the resin beads. Skipping this could mean your softener won't do its job as well as it should (UNL Extension Publications).

3. Monitor Regeneration Cycles: Keep an eye on those regeneration cycles to make sure they're lined up with how we use water. Getting the timing right can keep hard water from sneaking into our pipes and appliances.

Importance of Proper Cleaning

Cleaning our water softener system isn't just a nice thing to do—it's vital for it running tip-top:

• Salt Bridges and Mounds: Scraping these out makes sure the salt can dissolve properly and do its job of making brine—the magic ingredient to keep the softening going strong.
• Iron and Manganese Removal: It's a good call to check for things like iron and manganese, which can mess up the resin bed's mojo (UNL Extension Publications).

Testing Water Quality

Giving our water a check-up every now and then is a good way to see if the softener's pulling its weight:

• Hardness Levels: Give the water a once-over for hardness before and after it hits the system to be sure it's working as it should.
• Contaminant Check: Don't forget to peek for other troublemakers like iron, manganese, or chlorine that might throw a wrench in the works.

Testing Parameter	Desired Levels
Water Hardness (mg/L)	Less than 120
Iron (mg/L)	Less than 0.3
Manganese (mg/L)	Less than 0.05

Keeping tabs on these levels helps us make tweaks when needed, so the softener can fight off hard water woes like a champ (Ultra Soft UK).

By sticking to these maintenance pointers, we'll ensure our water softener stays slick, providing us all with the joy of soft water and keeping our plumbing and appliances safe from the nasty effects of hard water.

Water Softener Systems Comparison

Salt-Based vs. Salt-Free Systems

When it comes to picking water softener salt, it's helpful to know the scoop on salt-based and salt-free systems.

• Salt-Based Systems: These sprinkle a bit of sodium into the water to kick out those pesky minerals causing hardness. Despite the sodium addition being tiny and generally harmless, folks on watchful low-sodium diets might want to look elsewhere.

• Salt-Free Systems: Instead of sodium, these systems use potassium chloride for water softening. It's a win for anyone keeping tabs on their sodium intake. But, they might not pack a punch in places with really hard water.

System Type	Additives	Best For
Salt-Based	Sodium	Everyday Needs
Salt-Free	Potassium	Low Sodium Diets

Electric vs. Non-Electric Systems

Knowing how electric and non-electric systems measure up can steer us in picking the right water softener.

• Electric Systems: These are the techy ones with fancy automated controls doing the heavy lifting for us. Not much babysitting needed, and they keep things flowing smoothly (Ultra Soft UK).

• Non-Electric Systems: Operating on good old mechanical parts, they might need a bit more attention. While slightly less efficient, they don't need power, which can be a real lifesaver during frequent blackouts.

System Type	Mechanism	Maintenance Required
Electric	Automated	Low
Non-Electric	Manual	Higher

Traditional vs. Modern Water Softeners

Taking a peek at the past and present water softeners highlights efficiency and water saving—crucial for deciding which water softener salt might be the best for us.

• Traditional Water Softeners: These are the old-school pioneers, but not exactly the greenest. They can gulp a lot of water during cleaning.

• Modern Water Softeners: Equipped with snazzy technology, these systems are champs at being efficient and saving water, plus they're adept at fine-tuning themselves (Ultra Soft UK).

Type	Efficiency	Water Wastage
Traditional	Medium	Higher
Modern	High	Lower

Grasping these differences helps us zero in on the ideal water softener salt by matching it to our unique needs and wants. This guide is a handy pal when we're on the hunt for the perfect water softening system for our home.