How Much Salt should I put in my Water Softener?

Hard water generally occurs in areas where there is a lot of calcium and magnesium since the ions it contains from these minerals are the cause of the hardness. Hard water causes limescale to form, resulting in unsightly spots on washed crockery and glassware, soap, and detergents failing to create a satisfactory lather, limp hair, and unhealthy skin. More importantly, your pipes and appliances will become clogged with limescale, causing poor performance and ultimately failure.

A water softener employs an ion exchange process, using resin beads to remove the calcium and magnesium ions. To keep these resin beads working effectively, they are periodically backflushed with brine (a mixture of salt and water) to clear the magnesium and calcium ions, so the resin beads are refreshed. To keep the water softener working efficiently, therefore, it’s necessary to keep the brine tank topped up with salt.

The Amount of Salt to Use

A typical family of four with average water hardness will use around forty pounds of salt a month in their water softener. This amount will vary depending on the:

• hardness of your water,
• the volume of water used,
• age and efficiency of your water softener.

Many modern water softeners have a low salt indicator, but you should nevertheless check the level of salt in the brine tank about once a month. The tank should be at least 25% full of salt, which should be a few inches above the water and the gap to the top of the tank should not exceed 4-6 inches.

Before adding more salt to the tank, clear any that adheres to the sides. The salt may form a solid mass, known as a salt bridge, that will prevent the salt from dissolving in the water. You can break up these bridges by using a broom handle and pouring in hard water to dissolve the hard salt. Avoid salt bridges forming by using high-quality salt, not over-filling the tank, and locating the water softener in an area of low humidity.

Salt needs to be added if:

• the level in the tank is below halfway
• the water level is higher than the salt
• the existing salt seems either very wet or completely dry
• the water you are using is hard, which will be apparent if soap won’t lather properly and water spots appear on washed crockery.

If more salt is needed, add to the tank until it is about half full.

Getting the Most from Your Salt

A water softener will work best if you use the purest salt you can obtain. Never use regular table salt or rock salt but only fill with salt that’s specifically recommended for water softeners.

Evaporated salt is the purest type at 99.7-99.9% pure sodium chloride. Solar salt is obtained by evaporating seawater and is 99.6-99.8% pure. Pellets are the best form to use since these will reduce bridging and require less maintenance. Table salt and rock salt contain a relatively high level of impurities and insoluble minerals that will reduce efficiency and require the water softener to be cleaned frequently.

Peak efficiency and reduced salt use will be achieved by adhering to these guidelines. Newer water softener models are also more efficient, generally only regenerating when usage requires it rather than applying a fixed time schedule.

A failure to maintain correct salt levels will mean your system won’t soften water properly and you will suffer the consequences. So check every month, clear salt bridges, and top up to the recommended level.

At Aqua Pro Water Systems, we also offer hassle-free salt delivery service at a great price anytime you need it. So, when it's time for your next top-up and you're out of salt, contact us to get it delivered straight to your doors.