If your home’s water contains at least 60mg of dissolved calcium and magnesium, it’s considered “hard.” Although hard water isn’t dangerous to consume, it can be problematic. Hard water causes a buildup of mineral deposits on your home’s fixtures and negates the effectiveness of soap and detergent. A simple fix for this problem is to have a plumber install a water softener. Once you have one installed, however, you need to know how to maintain it, including what water softener salt is best for your system.

The Importance of Water Softener Salts

Without the right type of salt in your system’s mineral tank, the water softener can’t do its job. That’s because the positively charged salt is bonded to negatively charged polystyrene beads, also known as resin or zeolite. As hard water runs through the water softener’s tank, the calcium and magnesium ions, which have positive charges that are even stronger, swap places with the sodium.

As a result, the minerals that make the water hard are now stuck to the beads, and the salt enters the water at very low levels instead, removing the hardness of the water. However, after several cycles, all the salt will have left your system, making the softener ineffective. For your water softener to continue doing its job, you have to replace the salt.

Best Salts for Your Water Softener

The higher the purity of the salt, the more effective it is going to be at removing impurities in the water. A purity level of 99.9% is more expensive, but it also has the lowest chance of leading to an insoluble buildup in your tank. Salt this pure typically comes in pellet form. Rock salt is bigger than pellet salt and costs less, but it does not dissolve as well and can lead to more frequent maintenance issues. Block salt, on the other hand, is only recommended for particular systems and must be fully submerged to be effective.

An alternative to salt is potassium chloride. This is a more expensive option, but it’s very effective and is also better for the environment and has slightly better health benefits.

 

 

If you notice mineral buildups in your kitchen plumbing or bathroom faucets, or on your dishes after running the dishwasher, have the professional plumbing contractors at A. Stevens Plumbing & Heating install a water softener in your home. These plumbing professionals in Orange County, NY have specialized in a variety of residential plumbing solutions since 1986. Schedule your appointment by calling (845) 496-5903, or learn more by visiting them online.