It can also impact the amount of sodium that gets into your softened water, the cost of salt changes, and how often your brink tank needs to be cleaned. Salt pellets, crystals and block salt are the three different forms of sodium chloride. Apart from being readily available in a variety of forms, sodium chloride is widely used because of its lower cost and effectiveness.
Potassium chloride is a great alternative to salt sodium chloride , especially since it is While this makes it perfect for those who are looking to reduce their sodium intake, the potassium is not healthy for people with hypertension or a history of this condition in their family. Also, potassium chloride pellets are usually more expensive and are not as accessible as salt pellets. So, they must be maintained properly. Good maintenance involves refilling the brine tank with the right type of salt.
Water softeners work well with sodium chloride or potassium chloride, but depending on your situation, you can use this guide to determine the type that is best for you.
Salt blocks are not ideal due to very little surface area of salt exposed to water resulting in weak brine concentrations. If necessary, salt blocks should only be considered in water softeners that are post-fill or can be modified to operate as post-fill refills the salt tank with water at the end of the regeneration cycle and always keeping water in the salt tank.
This will allow for adequate time to dissolve salt. Salt is what keeps the water softener removing undesirable mineral from water, much like how gas is what keeps a car running. Some water supplies may be rich in iron and manganese which can foul water softener resin. Salt can clean iron and manganese from the softener resin during regeneration, but using additives to assist in this process is indefinitely beneficial.
These are brand names for the chemical sodium bi-sulfate which is an iron reducing agent and commonly found at department or hardware stores. This is one of the most effective products at restoring iron fouled resin, used continuously to prevent iron fouling of resin and removing iron staining from clothing or fixtures.
The biggest downside to powdered sodium bi-sulfate is it is irritating to lungs and eyes and should not be breathed. Read the instructions carefully prior to usage. These are the most common brand names for diluted phosphoric acid which is also a great resin cleaner. The listed brands utilize a blue dye, which will show up in toilets, glasses, tubs if the softener were to malfunction and not all of the acid was rinsed out during the regeneration process.
Because this product is a liquid, it is easier to apply to the water softener with less irritation than a powdered cleaner. These products are most effective when a drip feeder is used allowing the cleaner to continuously clean the softening resin. These products are not commonly found in stores, but any reputable water conditioning professional will carry this.
Nowhere near as powerful as sodium bi-sulfate or phosphoric acid for iron removal, however, citric acid can be used safely without handling precautions. Citric acid is best suited for usage in water softeners where iron is not present, but extra preventative maintenance is desired.
Citric acid can help maximize water softener efficiencies and give a boost to softened water for those desiring "silky soft" water.
Should odors appear in a brine tank, or a water softener need to be sanitized, unscented and non splash-less liquid household bleach can be used to sanitize a water softener, generally in dosages of oz per cubic foot. Proproducts SaniSystem is a very effective and non bleach alternative to sanitizing water softeners, coolers and drinking water filtration systems. The water softening process is called Ion-Exchange. It removes the unwanted hard water minerals in exchange for sodium. For water with a hardness of 16 grains, you could expect somewhere around 28 mg of sodium in an 8oz glass.
If you wish to avoid the sodium, it is common to leave the kitchen cold water off of the water softener or use a reverse osmosis drinking water purifier to remove the sodium. If neither of these are feasible and you still wish to avoid the sodium, you can use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. However, there are some things to consider. Rust Out functions as an additive to existing water softener salt and can be mixed into the system, either by creating a solution and adding it to the brine well or by layering a half cup of it in the well between two pound bags of softener salt.
Once added, Rust Out takes a few weeks to work into the water softener before it starts working. The result is clear water, as well as tubs, faucets, and sinks that no longer have to be scrubbed with rust removal cleaners. Rust Out comes in ounce bottles, which is enough for five treatments. While water softening needs and systems can vary among households, the Morton Clean and Protect II Water Softening Pellets is one of the best water softener salts for most home needs.
For those who try to limit sodium intake, the Morton Potassium Chloride Pellets is an excellent alternative that uses potassium chloride to soften water. These recommendations for the best water softener salts include a variety of options to suit the various needs of most typical users. As softening salts come in a range of types, including evaporated salt pellets, sea salt, rock salt, crystals, and even saltless softeners that use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride, we focused our research on easy-to-carry options that are best suited for residential settings.
We also evaluated the water softener salts based on the purity of formula, water hardness, and maintenance requirements. Our favorite options range from 25 to 40 pounds, and each must be added every month or two to a household water softening system for optimal results. All of the products that made our list can work in a saltwater softener, and some are able to perform additional household tasks, making those products even more useful.
The type of salt you use in your water softener does make a difference. While all salts will soften hard water, pellet salts will do so more efficiently because they are purer. Salts that include rock and earth leave residue inside a water softener, requiring the user to clean it more often.
Most softener salt is made from hydrogen chloride, which is very similar to table salt. Salt-free water softeners are made from potassium chloride. Softening salt can also be effective for other purposes. This depends on the size of a household. A water softener serving a four-person family requires three bags of salt every 2 months, whereas a water softener for a household will go through about two bags every 2 months.
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