Which Salt For Water Softener Should I Use?

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

Understanding Water Softener Salt

Ever puzzled over those bags of salt stacked in the aisle? You're not alone.

When it’s about taming hard water, choosing the right salt for your water softener is a game-changer. So let's dive into why this salty stuff matters and what options you’ve got.

Why Water Softener Salt Matters

Salt in your water softener isn't just about keeping things salty; it’s the backbone of your whole water-softening operation. Here's why it’s a superstar:

✓ Recharge Power: Salt's like the caffeine for resin beads, revamping them to snatch away the calcium and magnesium from your water and swap it with sodium.

✓ Upkeep: No one’s got time for a system that's out of whack. Pure salt keeps things running smooth, sparing you the hassle of frequent fixes.

✓ Efficiency: The purer the salt, the better it revives those beads, keeping your water softener in tip-top shape for the long haul.

Grabbing the right salt can mean the difference between a burly system and one that’s slackin’ off on the job.

Types of Water Softener Salt

There’s a trio of salt contenders vying for your water softener: evaporated salt, solar salt, and rock salt. Each brings its own flavor to the water softening party.

Type	Purity	Cost	Cool Features
Evaporated Salt	Tops the chart	Higher Price	Pure, low buildup
Solar Salt	Middling purity	Middling price	Nature-made, some grit
Rock Salt	Bottom rung	Budget-friendly	Gritty and needy

Evaporated Salt

Evaporated salt is like the filet mignon of softener salts, scoring purity in the high 90s.

✓ Pure Stuff: Minimal water nasties, so your tank stays cleaner.

✓ Lifespan: Keeps those resin beads marching on without fuss.

✓ Less Hassle: Fewer cleanup missions means less out-of-pocket for you.

Evaporated salt’s creation involves dissolving salt in water, then zapping it away with heat 'til all that’s left are pristine crystals. While it might make your wallet cry at first, the long-term care savings are worth a happy dance.

Solar Salt

Solar salt, or sea salt, is what you get when the sun does all the heavy lifting by naturally evaporating seawater.

✓ Good Enough: You get moderate purity, but expect to deal with some bits and bobs.

✓ Wallet-Friendly: It’s easier on your budget than the pricy evaporated version.

✓ Grit Alert: Those impurities might invite extra scrubbing sessions in the tank.

It’s a winner for eco-buffs who want to keep Mother Nature happy.

Rock Salt

Rock salt is basically table salt in its rugged form, coming in as the underdog of softener salts.

✓ Purity Laggard: A ragtag mix of stuff, with low purity and lots of extras like grit.

✓ Cost Saver: Grab it if you’re counting coins.

✓ Frequent TLC: Expect to elbow grease your way through frequent cleanings.

We steer folks away from rock salt if you're not into annoying system quirks caused by all those extras.

Getting to grips with the crucial roles and flavors of water softener salt means we’re armed and ready to handle our systems like pros, keeping everything shipshape with the right salt in the tank.

When picking out the perfect salt for your water softener, we're talking about finding the one that gives you the smoothest ride - minimizing hiccups like clogs or constant cleaning. Let's dive into three crowd favorites: evaporated salt, solar salt, and rock salt.

Evaporated Salt

Evaporated salt is like the gold star of water softener salts. It's made by dissolving fresh water in salt deposits, turning it into a concentrated brine, then evaporating to leave behind super pure crystals.

These pristine crystals dissolve like magic in water and keep those pesky salt bridges from causing trouble in the water tank.

Residents of spots known for their seriously hard water like Texas or Arizona will particularly appreciate evaporated salt's merits. It might pinch your wallet at the start, but its purity means less gunk in the system and fewer repair calls down the road.

Criteria	Evaporated Salt
Purity	Top-notch
Cost	Slightly steeper
Solubility	Aces
Maintenance	Minimal

Solar Salt

Solar salt loves the planet as much as it loves softening your water. It relies on the sun to evaporate seawater, leaving you with lovely crystalline salt. While it's mighty soluble, hard water might still lead to gunky buildup and salt bridges.

For those with a green thumb - or heart - solar salt is great. But watch out, if your water's tough, you might find yourself cleaning more, which can mess with how well your system runs.

Criteria	Solar Salt
Purity	Middle of the road
Cost	Middling
Solubility	High
Maintenance	Could be a bit much

Rock Salt

Rock salt's your wallet-friendly friend, but it does come with strings attached. Packed with calcium sulfate, it's not as pure as its evaporated or solar pals. It leaves behind impurities that have no business in your brine tank, meaning more elbow grease for you to keep things tidy.

Though rock salt might give your budget a break initially, the extra cleaning and potential system hiccups might cost more than you bargained for.

Criteria	Rock Salt
Purity	Low
Cost	Easy on the pocket
Solubility	Meh
Maintenance	A whole lot

Picking the right salt for your softener is all about keeping things running smooth with minimal fuss. Evaporated salt shines bright for those dealing with hardcore hard water.

Solar salt supports Mother Earth but needs more attention if your water's not soft. Rock salt might be cheap, but the legwork can add up.

Factors to Think About When Picking Salt

Picking the right salt for your water softener is key to making sure everything runs smooth, like butter on a hot pancake. So, we should be keeping a few things in mind: purity and efficiency, how it treats Mother Earth, and if it's a good match for your water.

Purity & Efficiency

Getting your hands on some super pure salt is a no-brainer for keeping your system rockin'. That 99.5% pure stuff? It's like having a water-softening superstar.

This purity level ensures the ion exchange resin that does all the heavy lifting gets a full workout, keeping everything neat and tidy. If we go for the good stuff, we're dodging blockages in those resin beads, so no more surprise hiccups in our water softening party!

Purity Level	Perks You'll Love
99.5% Pure	Works like a champ, no clogs, no stress

Using high-grade salt also means we’re doing less maintenance and getting a longer life out of our water softener. That's a win-win in anybody's book.

Keeping It Green

Let’s not forget about staying on team planet. Some salts have a lighter touch on the environment than others. Take evaporated salt; it’s pure as the driven snow, but boy, it uses up quite a bit of energy during production.

Meanwhile, solar salt gives Mother Nature a big warm hug by just letting the sun do its thing with seawater.

Salt Style	Nature's Report Card
Evaporated Salt	Energy guzzler
Solar Salt	Sunshine and good vibes
Rock Salt	Not fancy, but low impact

Knowing how our salt choice shakes out on the green scale helps us sleep better at night, knowing we’re doing our bit for the planet.

Matching It With Your Water

Turns out, every water setup has its own personality, and picking the right salt to match can make your softener work like a dream. Got water so hard it could moonlight as a rock?

Then maybe reach for some evaporated salt—it's efficient at freshening up those resin beads. For water that's only kind a tough, solar salt might just do the trick without emptying the wallet.

Water Mood	Salt Pal
Super Hard Water	Evaporated Salt
Just Hard	Solar Salt
Lots of Iron	Rock Salt

Picking the right salt for your water keeps things working smoothly, cuts down on maintenance issues, and keeps your water fresh n’ clean!

So, there it is! When figuring out the best salt for your softening sidekick, it's all about aiming for purity and efficiency, looking out for the environment, and matching the salt to your water’s character.

Do all that, and you’re well on your way to a happy, efficient water softener and a planet with a few more smiles.

Maintenance Tips for Water Softener Salt

Taking care of your water softener isn't rocket science, but it does require some TLC to keep things shipshape. Here’s how you can keep your gizmo ticking like a charm.

Inspection & Monitoring

Let's keep it simple: eyeball your water softener every month. Make sure that salt is always lounging above the water in the brine tank – kinda like it's on a permanent floatie. This way, you dodge pesky 'salt bridging' from raining on your parade.

When	What's the Plan?
Monthly	Peek in and top off that salt
Every 4-6 Months	Give the brine tank a spa day to clear out any gunk

Preventing Salt Bridging

Imagine a stubborn crust blocking your way – that's salt bridging in a nutshell, and it can mess up the whole show. Here's a game plan to deal with it:

✓ Regular Salt Scouting: Keep the right amount of salt in there so it doesn't turn into a hard, determined block.

✓ Pick the VIP Salt: High-quality salt means fewer temper tantrums.

✓ Disrupt the Crust: If you spot that pesky crust, poke it with a broom handle or anything handy to set it straight again.

Problem?	Fix-It Strategy
Salt Bridge Sneakiness	Stay vigilant and break up any crusts that crop up
Mushing Mayhem	Choose the right salt and keep an eye out for overstuffing the tank

Avoiding System Inefficiencies

You want your water softener running like a well-oiled machine. Skipping regular check-ups or ignoring salt bridge removal could lead to a grumpy system.

✓ Regular Check-Ups: Keep an eye on things and give the brine tank a good clean. It'll keep your setup happy longer and save you from repair headaches.

✓ Watch for Hard Water Clues: If your water starts acting up and leaving residue, it’s time for a check-up.

Task	Why Bother?
Monthly Salt Survey	Saves you from the bridging disaster and keeps things shipshape
Brine Tank Spa	Gives your system a longer life and keeps it efficient
Water Softness Watch	Catch early issues before they become a big deal

Keep up with these easy tips, and your water softener will repay you with soft, silky water, day in and day out. No worries, just softer water, and longer-lasting gear.