A good water softener system can do wonders for the quality of your water supply.
Not only can it effectively remove the “hard” minerals from your water, but it can also make it safer for daily use.
Given these benefits, it is, therefore, not a wonder why many people go to lengths when it comes to making sure that their system is functioning properly.
While checking your system regularly is crucial in ensuring the efficacy of your water softener, having good, high-quality salt is also a must.
Luckily, we are here to help you and we’ll show you the Ways to Know If Your Water Softening System is Functioning Properly.
But before that, you should know first why salt is necessary for your water softener system.
SALT PURPOSES IN WATER SOFTENER SYSTEM
The salt’s ability to make sure that your system can soften your hard water properly.
Salt plays a major role in the ion-exchange process, which is used by most water softener systems to treat your water supply.
The next thing you need to know isthe ion-exchange process.
THE ION EXCHANGE PROCESS
An Ion-exchange water softening system usually has at least two tanks:
The first tank is where you can find the resin beads;
The second tank is where the salty brine solution can be found.
The resin beads are positively charged with a negatively charged sodium ion coating.
The water is “softened” once it passes through the resin beads as the mineral deposits (calcium or magnesium ions) are removed in the first tank and replaced by another safer ionic substance.
Water softening salts recharge the resin beads once in a while.
It is necessary so that your softening system can continuously remove the ions (calcium or magnesium ions) from the hard minerals.
A high-quality salt can ensure that your system performs properly.
Having access to high-quality salt can also help you reduce the cost of maintaining your system.
In this article, we are going to show you the six best salts for your water softener system.
We hope that we can help you decide which of them is perfect for your needs.
Before we go to the 6 best salts on the market today, let us first discuss the different types of salt for your system.
4 TYPES OF SALT FOR YOUR WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM
Evaporated Salt.
This is the most suitable type of water softener salt for your system of the four types available on the market.
People actually consider it to be the best type of salt to use when treating hard water.
This type powers up your water softener system, which makes it more effective in treating your water supply.
It rarely leaves a residue, compared to other types. If it does, the amount is so small that it is almost barely noticeable.
Block Salt.
It is that one type of salt that you should never use on your water softener system.
In fact, it does little for your system’s ability to do its job. Hence, they rarely use it for this purpose.
If you don’t have any choice and you have to use it, you will have to make sure that it is completely under the water in your resin tank.
Rock Salt.
It is one of the cheapest types of salt. Although it is not effective, the affordable price is the primary reason people choose to use it.
Rock salt tends to have residue since water cannot dissolve it completely.
It is also not as effective as evaporated salt, and it can sometimes mess with your system.
Solar Salt.
This is a pure type of salt, as it was made by drying up sea saltwater.
While it does not mess up your water softener system, it is not as effective as evaporated salt.
It can treat hard water, but it is not that effective in doing so. This is why many people suggest not using it when you have very hard water.
Which Type of Salt Is Best For Water Softening System?
Out of the four, the evaporated salt is the one that you should be buying for your system. That is if you want to maximize the potential of your system.
The 6 Best Water Softener Salts of 2022
MORTON SALT CLEAN AND PROTECT PLUS RUST DEFENSE
It is one of the highest-rated softener salts on both Walmart.com and Amazon.com.
It has over 500 reviews and a rating of 4.8 out of 5 at Walmart.
Morton Salt Clean and Protect Plus Rust Defense also has over 1,000 reviews and a rating of 4.5 out of 5 in Amazon.
This makes the product one of the best on the market and an absolute favorite among many who have bought it.
Reasons Why We Love It:
It can treat and remove iron from your water supply.
Since not all water softener salts can treat iron, finding an effective one is a blessing.
This is especially true if you are able to detect high iron content in your hard water.
It also helps that its usage offers many other benefits.
These benefits include the prevention of “hard” minerals from building up in our pipes.
Since it is very effective in softening our water, it can improve the taste of your water.
It can also prevent the development of rust stains on our laundry and dishes.
People who are health and beauty-conscious are also going to love this product.
Since it’s so effective at softening hard water, you will be able to use the softened water to wash without any worries.
Hard water can leave our skin dry. With the use of this much salt, you no longer need to worry about dry skin.
In addition, the product’s packaging is excellent.
It is easy to open with its easy-tear opening and is convenient to carry because of its strong plastic handle.
What People May Not Like About It:
It is not the most affordable water softener salt in the market.
If you are someone who lives with many people in the house, you are going to have to refill your tank with two to four bags every other month.
This could be expensive in the long run.
Do We Recommend Buying It?
Absolutely! This is the best option for you if you have very hard water with iron content in it.
Also, given its proven efficacy, the cost of the product is a small price to pay.
DIAMOND CRYSTAL SOLAR NATURALS
This has over 1,300 reviews and a rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Lowes.com.
It’s no wonder why many people seem to consider this Cargill Salt’s product one of the best with it being all-natural and pure.
Why We Love It:
It is made using a natural process from pure and natural materials.
It does not have any synthetic additives. Despite this, the product is effective in treating hard water.
Because of its effectiveness, it can help your detergents clean your laundry better.
It can also prevent the buildup of hard minerals in your pipes and sinks.
It also prevents the premature destruction of your shower, pipes, and other appliances such as washing machines.
Also, it is affordable, and its packaging is made from 50% recycled materials. This means that if you buy this item, you are not only softening your water, you are also saving the environment.
Lastly, it is NSF-certified.
What People May Not Like About It:
Since it is a solar salt, it may not be as effective as evaporated salt when it comes to treating very hard water.
Do We Recommend Buying It?
Yes! This would be a better choice if your water is not very hard and does not have iron in it.
If your water is not very hard or does not have iron in it, then you may not need to buy strong salts for your water system.
Natural salt crystals like this can also be effective in producing soft water.
Just make sure that your water hardness is not on the extreme level because if it’s already on that level, you will need stronger types of salts.
This premium water quality softener salt is one of the most highly recommended products on the market.
It has over 1,100 reviews on Lowes.com with a rating of 4.8 out of 5. This makes the product one of the best water softener salts on the market.
Why We Love It:
It is 100% water-soluble, which means that it leaves no residue on your laundry and dishes.
It is also considered a premium-purity water softener salt, which makes it one of the most effective ones in the market.
Cargill Salt, the manufacturer of the product claim that its salt pellets are 99.8% pure salt. This means that it has little to no synthetic additives.
It is also designed and created to reduce mushing and prevent salt bridging in your water softener’s brine tank.
Bridging or the formation of a salt bridge happens when salt particles build up and connect with each other to form a layer of crust or bridge.
Below this “bridge” is an empty space with saltwater. The problems with your water softening system will arise if bridging occurs.
This is why it’s important to use premium water softening salts with no extenders or additives.
Salts of high quality are less likely to form this layer of crusts.
The product is also known to be effective in maintaining the proper functioning of water heaters and water filters.
It is also compatible with and okay to use with most high-quality water softeners.
Because it is effective in treating hardness minerals, it can help prevent the premature destruction of your faucets.
It can also reduce the build-up of minerals in your pipes.
In addition to that, it can also reduce the maintenance issues of your softening system.
Packaging-wise, it has a unique patented design that allows ease in carrying and transporting these bags of salt.
What People May Not Like About It:
It is not suitable for hard water minerals with high iron content.
This is why, if you can identify high iron content in your hard water, you will need to choose a different brand.
The manufacturers claim it can remove iron though we are not sure if it can completely remove all the irons if the content is too high.
Do We Recommend Buying It?
Yes! It is made from premium quality materials. It leaves no residue and is effective in treating hardness minerals.
It is also one of the best water softener pellets on the market.
CARGILL SALT DIAMOND CRYSTAL IRON FIGHTER PELLETS
It is one of the best water softeners on the market for hard water with high iron content.
Why We Love It:
It is one of the better options for removing iron in your hard water. This is especially true since it softens the water better than ordinary rock or table salt.
Specifically designed to treat hard water with high iron content, this product is 99.7% pure salt.
It is also 100% water-soluble. This means that it also leaves no residue on your pipes, laundry, and dishes.
Cargill Salt made this product in such a way that it can reduce mushing and minimize the possibility of bridging in your water softener brine tank.
It can also prevent the buildup of rust in your faucet, water softener brine tank, sink, and pipes.
One of the best things about this bag of salt is its ability to ensure the smooth functioning of your softening system for a long period of time.
This means that you will not need to buy newer models frequently, which is also true for many of your appliances and piping systems.
Since this bag of salt can effectively soften your water, the lifespan of your pipes and appliances can be indirectly prolonged.
Lastly, it is FDA-approved and can be used with many types of water softeners.
What People May Not Like About It:
Depending on a person’s budget, some people may consider it quite pricey.
Do We Recommend Buying It?
Yes. It is one of the best choices among water softeners when it comes to dealing with high iron content.
MORTON’S POTASSIUM CHLORIDE PELLETS
If you or any of your family members have existing health conditions that require you to reduce or limit your sodium intake, then it would be a good idea for you to try using salt-free systems.
Fortunately, there are salt-free water softeners and Morton Potassium Chloride is the best option that you can use to treat your hard water.
Why We Love It:
This is the perfect solution for the hard water treatment of people with health concerns such as high blood pressure.
For these people, any kind of salt for any purpose or consumption can be unacceptable.
They would benefit more from a sodium-free system of treating hard water.
Morton’s Potassium Chloride claims that the product is 99% sodium-free.
This makes it less dangerous for people who have health concerns.
Also, since it can add potassium to the water, the blood pressure of those who use it will not rise.
In some cases, it can actually help lower it.
Apart from its health benefits, this salt-free water softener is effective in treating hard water.
It can effectively soften water and prevent the hard minerals from building up in your pipes.
Also, since it is good at treating hard water, it can indirectly prolong the lifespan of your appliances.
Lastly, it can also reduce the maintenance cost of your water softening system.
What People May Not Like About It:
You need to add more bags to your system every other month. In the long run, it could be costly.
Do We Recommend Buying It?
Yes! Absolutely. It is one of the safer alternatives to treating hard water.
People who prefer a salt-free system will definitely love it.
MORTON U26624S WATER SOFTENING CRYSTALS
One of the best on the market, this pure sodium chloride product can soften your hard water effectively.
Why We Love It:
It is pure sodium chloride and has no extenders or additives. It is basically a different kind of salt.
With this type of material, people don’t need to worry about issues like salt crystallization.
It is also very compatible with many water softening systems.
In addition to that, this softening crystal can remove many hard minerals.
Because of its effectiveness, doing your laundry will be easier. You are also guaranteed that there will be no residue on it.
Once the water has been softened using this product, it will now be safer for you to wash with it.
Which is better to use: pellets or crystals for my water softening system?
Softening crystals can be quite pricey. Also, crystals have a tendency to build up and form salt bridges in the resin and brine tank.
This is why most experts prefer using pellets.
What are the best water softener pellets?
We would say Diamond Crystals bright and soft salt pellets; Cargill Salt Diamond Crystal Iron Fighter Pellets; and Morton Potassium Chloride Pellets.
Which is better for water softeners: potassium chloride or sodium chloride?
Sodium chloride is better. Using potassium chloride can be costlier because it is naturally pricier compared to the saltwater softener.
In addition to that, potassium chloride is also not as strong as sodium chloride when it comes to treating hard water.
This is evident from the fact that you will be using a greater amount of potassium chloride compared to the small amount of sodium chloride to treat the same hard water level.
We only included one potassium chloride in the list for those who are using salt-free water softening systems.
We hope this article helped you choose the best salt for your water softener.
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