How to Choose the Best Water Softener Salt

Dec 6, 2021

 

If you’ve already made the decision to purchase a home water softener, congratulations! You know all about the benefits of soft water and why you want hard water out of your home for good.

 

Now, it’s time to take care of the water softener you’ve just purchased or installed. You’ll find that just like any other appliance, soft water systems need regular maintenance in order to function as intended and last as long as possible. And, part of water softener maintenance is using the best water softener salt.

 

Why is it important to use the best water softener salt?

 

If you’re trying to keep an eye on your household budget and expenses, you may wonder why using the best salt is so important. Wouldn’t using good salt, which could be less expensive, be good enough?

 

If you’re not planning on living in your current home for very long, the answer to this question could be “yes.” You can still get the benefits of soft water with good salt.

 

However, for most homeowners, using the best salt is preferred because they want their softener to last as long as possible. Using high-quality salt can help prevent grime buildup within your water softener’s brine tank. It also helps prevent salt bridges, a buildup of solid salt layers that can make it difficult to check your brine tank’s levels.

 

Benefits of using high-quality water softener salt

 

In addition to the advantages listed above, using the best water softener salt can provide other perks.

 

  • It ensures your softener is most effective in treating hard water.
  • Using high-quality salt can reduce maintenance costs.
  • You can increase your water softener’s usable life.
  • Some salts may help prevent rust in your appliances or even remove rust that’s already there.
  • Even though it’s not a drinking water system, using the best water softener salt may have a positive effect on your water’s taste.

 

So, even though you typically pay more upfront for top-quality salt, you could actually save money in the long run with reduced maintenance costs, improved system performance, and a water softener that lasts a long time.

 

Types of water softener salt

 

Types of water softener salt

 

There are two main salt categories: sodium chloride and potassium chloride. Sodium chloride also comes in various forms, including:

 

  • Rock Salt: You may be familiar with this type of salt if you spend the winter months in a colder climate as it’s often used for treating icy walks and driveways. It’s a cheaper form of salt so many people like to use it in an effort to save money. It doesn’t dissolve well in water, however, and may leave behind a residue that can interfere with your water softener’s performance.
  • Evaporated Salt: This is generally seen as the best water softener salt because it’s the purest. As such, it leaves behind very little residue, contributes to your water softener’s efficiency, and comes with a higher upfront price.
  • Solar Salt: Formed from the evaporation of seawater, solar salt is pure by nature. However, it’s not as efficient at reducing hard water minerals and overall water hardness. So, if you live in an area with extreme hardness levels, you’ll typically see better results from your water softener if you use a different type of salt.
  • Block Salt: True to its name, block salt is literally a large chunk of salt. It’s not generally recommended for use in water softeners. In the rare case that it is used, it must be fully submerged below the water level in the softener’s resin tank.

 

The other type of salt, potassium chloride, is just as effective at softening water as sodium chloride. However, it’s not always readily available and it comes with a higher price tag. For some consumers, however, it is worth the extra cost because potassium chloride is generally more eco-friendly than sodium chloride.

 

Environmentally-friendly soft water options

 

In recent years, some communities have regulated the use of salt-based water softeners due to environmental concerns. If you live in such an area, it’s important to realize that you do still have a way to get soft water in your home.

 

In this case, we recommend a Portable Exchange Tank soft water delivery service. Soft water is delivered right to your home in portable tanks. The tanks are exchanged at a predetermined schedule which is based on your household’s specific water usage and requirements. Since no drain is needed, there is no discharge of salt into septic tanks or municipal sewer lines. This allows homeowners living in areas with water softener restrictions to still enjoy all the benefits of soft water.

 

Need help finding the best water softener salt?

 

At RWI Water Systems, we’ve been helping the residents of North County get top-quality water for their homes and businesses for over 50 years. For some, that means installing a drinking water system so they can enjoy an endless supply of safe, great tasting water straight from the tap.

 

For others, that means choosing one of our soft water systems so they can say goodbye to the hassles of hard water for good. Whether it’s helping you find the best water softener salt or choosing which water filter is best for your home, we’re here to help. Simply contact us today and one of our water treatment experts will be happy to talk to you about your water treatment needs.

Ready to talk to one of our experts about improving YOUR water?

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