Tony Carrick | posted on April 28, 2021 at 10:57 AM

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A water softener can do wonders for well water by clearing rusty water, removing sulfur odors, and removing minerals that clog pipes and damage electrical appliances-but only if it is filled with the correct softener salt.

The quality of the softener salt plays a vital role in the softener's ability to soften water. Softener salts come in many forms, including evaporated salt, sea salt, rock salt, crystals, and even salt-free softeners that use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride.

With so many options, choosing the right product for a household water softener can be a challenge. This article delves into the world of water softeners and lists the key factors to consider when buying the best water softener salts.

In order to buy the right water softener salt, you first need to test the hardness of the water to understand what you are dealing with. You can measure the hardness of water by purchasing a soap test kit. This simple kit includes a bottle and a bottle of liquid soap with a dropper. To test the water, fill to the line, add a few drops of soap, and then shake the bottle until the water foams. The more soap drops needed, the harder the water.

Although the type of salt largely determines its effectiveness in softening water, there are other factors to consider, including purity and water hardness. Read on to learn more about these and other important properties of soft water salts.

When choosing the type of salt for the water softener, there are many options to consider, including sea salt, rock salt, crystal salt, granular salt, and potassium chloride.

Purity refers to the percentage of substances other than salt in the product. The purer the salt, the less insoluble matter (such as rocks and soil) it contains. Pure softener salt lasts longer than salt with impurities and will not leave a residue in the salt water basin of the softener. Pure salt is also easy to dissolve in the softener, reducing the risk of bridging or clogging and making the entire system more efficient. Most softeners contain at least 99.5% sodium chloride. The highest quality soft water salt, that is, evaporated salt particles, is 100% pure.

The type and amount of salt required by a household depends on the size of the household and the hardness of the water. A small family of two people uses about two 40-pound bags of salt in the water softener every 2 months. A family of four uses about three 40-pound bags every two months, while a large family may use four bags every two months.

Households with high levels of minerals (such as magnesium and calcium) in the water need more salt. If the water at home is particularly hard, the water softener of a four-person household that usually needs three bags of salt every 2 months may require four or more bags of salt every 2 months. Households with hard water should use evaporated salt grains to make the most of each kind of salt.

The type of salt also has a major impact on the maintenance of the water softener. The impurities in the salt will leave a deposit in the water softener. As these deposits accumulate, the softener must be flushed to remove them. Eventually, these deposits will wear down the internal components of the softener and shorten its service life. Water softener salts with a low percentage of impurities, such as evaporated particles, leave less deposits, thus extending the maintenance interval of the water softener.

The type of water softener salt also affects bridging. Bridging occurs when the salt in the softener forms a hard shell in the brine tank. This "shell" prevents the salt from falling into the softener. Because bridging usually occurs below the top layer of salt that is visible in the tank, this problem usually goes undetected until the water quality is affected.

Bridging requires the user to manually break up the salt to keep the salt flowing into the water softener. Compared with pure salt, salt with higher impurity content is more likely to cause bridging in the brine tank.

The following list includes water softening salts that can soften hard water without leaving harmful residues in the brine tank. Any of the following products can be used in the salt water softener.

This pure water softener salt from Morton consists of evaporated particles, which is the purest form of salt. They are easily soluble in water and prevent bridging that may affect performance. Since the salt does not contain impurities such as rocks or soil, the product does not leave residues in the water softener, which shortens its service life and requires more frequent maintenance.

Morton Clean and Protect II is also effective in softening very hard water, preventing pipe scaling, removing rust on faucets and toilets, and improving the performance of dishwashers and washing machines. Morton Clean and Protect II comes in a 40-pound bag. For best results, add two to four bags per month in the brine basin of the softener, depending on the size of the family.

This water softener salt from Cargill is made by using wind and sunlight to dehydrate seawater. This product contains no additives. It is a good choice for those looking for all-natural products for water softeners. .

Like other salts, this product can soften water, help prevent scaling in water pipes and the formation of films in sinks and bathtubs. It also helps extend the life and performance of water-consuming equipment such as washing machines and dishwashers. The purity of this salt is 99.6%, which prevents bridging and gelatinization. It is also safe for other applications, such as pickling kimchi and other foods or keeping sidewalks from freezing. Cargill Diamond Crystal comes in a 40-pound bag.

Lifting a 40-pound bag of salt into a 3- or 4-foot-high brine tank once or twice a month is not an easy task. With a lighter weight of 25 pounds, these water softening particles are a good choice for those who struggle with heavier bags. In addition to its light weight, the top of each bag also includes a large built-in handle for easy grasping for carrying and dumping.

Morton Salt is composed of evaporated particles. These particles are 100% pure salt with almost no residue to clean up. With less impurities, this salt can soften very hard water and help remove stains from faucets and sinks. It can also improve the performance of the water heater by removing impurities (such as calcium nitrate) that make the water more difficult to heat.

For those suffering from high blood pressure or other health conditions that require a salt-reducing diet, traditional soft water salt is not an option. Morton's potassium chloride granules provide a good choice. The product is 99% sodium-free, ensuring that it will not affect the daily salt intake of the residents at home, and adding blood pressure-lowering potassium to the water.

Like salt-based softeners, Morton Potassium Chloride can soften hard water and help prevent scaling inside pipes or appliances, while making household soaps and detergents more foamy and more effective. Morton Potassium Chloride comes in a 40-pound bag with a built-in handle for easy carrying and dumping. When in use, add a bag of potassium chloride granules to the brine basin every month.

Rust Out soft water cleaner is specially formulated to combat high iron content in water and eliminate the orange stains it may cause on faucets, bathtubs, toilets and even clothes. Rust Out can be used as an additive to existing water softener salts and can be mixed into the system by creating a solution and adding it to the brine well, or by layering half a cup of the solution between two 40-pound softener bags. Salt in the well.

Once added, it will take several weeks for Rust Out to process the water softener before it starts working. The result is clear water, as well as bathtubs, faucets and sinks that no longer need to be scrubbed with rust-removing cleaners. Rust Out comes in a 22-ounce bottle, which is enough for five treatments.

Although water softening needs and systems vary from family to family, Morton Clean and Protect II water softening granules are one of the best water softening salts that meet the needs of most families. For those trying to limit sodium intake, Morton potassium chloride granules are an excellent alternative to using potassium chloride to soften water.

These recommendations for the best water softener salt include a variety of options to meet the various needs of most typical users. Since there are many types of softening salt, including evaporated salt grains, sea salt, rock salt, crystals, and even salt-free softeners that use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride, we focus our research on the best choice for easy portability suitable for residential buildings environment. We also evaluated the water softener salt based on formula purity, water hardness, and maintenance requirements.

Our favorite options range from 25 to 40 pounds, each of which must be added to the household water softening system every two months for best results. All products on our list can be used in salt water softeners, and some products can also perform other housework to make these products more useful.

The benefits of combining water softener salts with water softeners are many.

If you want to know the ingredients in soft water salt or how to use it for other purposes, please continue reading the answers to some of the most common questions about soft water salt.

The type of salt you use in your water softener does vary. Although all salts will soften hard water, granular salts are more effective because they are purer. Salt, including rocks and soil, will leave residues in the water softener, requiring users to clean it more frequently.

Most softening salt is made of hydrogen chloride, which is very similar to table salt. The salt-free water softener is made of potassium chloride.

Softening salts can also be used effectively for other purposes. It can be used to melt snow and ice during walking, kill weeds in the garden, preserve food or make ice cream, but it is best to ensure that the product is food safe before using it around food.

It depends on the size of the family. A water softener for a family of four requires three bags of salt every two months, while a water softener for a family requires two bags every two months.

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