Not all salt is created equal, especially regarding the salt you use for your water softener. From evaporated salt to potassium chloride, each type has its own benefits, costs, and ideal uses. Choosing the right salt can improve your system’s efficiency, reduce maintenance, and even support your health and the environment. Let’s break down the 4 most common options to help you find the best fit for your home or business.
What is Water Softener Salt?
Water softener salt is a key ingredient in salt-based water softening systems. It removes hard minerals like calcium and magnesium from the water supply through an ion exchange process, where the salt helps recharge the system’s resin beads to continue softening the water effectively.
To keep your system running efficiently, it’s essential to maintain your water softener regularly, starting with monitoring your salt levels. Using a simple water softener maintenance checklist can help you stay on top of salt refills, cleanings, and routine inspections, preventing costly issues down the line.
4 Types of Salt For Water Softeners: Pros & Cons
The type of salt you use can make a big difference in performance, maintenance, and cost when it comes to water softeners. Below, we’ll explore the 4 main types of water softener salt and their pros and cons to help you make an informed choice:
1. Evaporated Salt
At 99.9% sodium chloride, evaporated salt is the purest option for water softeners. Although it is the most expensive type of salt, it often pays for itself due to its superior quality, enhanced flavor, and lower usage requirement. You need less to achieve the same taste impact. Evaporated salt comes in pellets or cubes, ideal for maximum efficiency. Since evaporated salt is the purest form available, you won’t have to worry about contaminants ruining your water softener or causing ongoing maintenance problems.
Pros:
- High Purity (Typically 99.9% Sodium Chloride): Evaporated salt is one of the purest forms available, meaning it dissolves cleanly in the brine tank with minimal residue.
- Efficient Softening Performance: Its high purity ensures more effective ion exchange, allowing the water softener to work more efficiently and regenerate properly.
- Minimal Maintenance: Because it leaves behind very little insoluble matter, there’s less chance of buildup or bridging in the brine tank, reducing cleaning frequency.
Cons:
- Higher Cost: It’s usually the most expensive option compared to solar or rock salt, which can be a downside for budget-conscious households.
- May Be Overkill for Some Systems: In areas with moderately hard water or for older systems, the high purity of evaporated salt may not offer noticeable benefits over less expensive types.
- Still Contains Sodium: Like all sodium chloride-based options, it contributes sodium to softened water, which may not suit people on low-sodium diets.
Ideal For: High-efficiency or commercial water softeners, which often recommend or require evaporated salt for optimal performance.
2. Solar Salt
Another popular salt choice for water softeners is solar salt. Solar salt is obtained from seawater that naturally evaporates under the sun. It reduces bridging in the brine tank, which is essential for households that don’t consume much water. Solar salt is highly pure at 99.6% and dissolves more easily than other types of water softener salts.
Pros:
- Higher Purity Than Rock Salt: Generally 85–99% pure sodium chloride, making it cleaner than rock salt and more efficient in softeners.
- Widely Available and Cost-Effective: Solar salt is typically less expensive than evaporated salt and easier to find in many regions.
- Less Residue: It dissolves more effectively and leaves behind fewer insoluble materials than rock salt, reducing buildup in the brine tank.
Cons:
- Less Pure Than Evaporated Salt: Though relatively clean, it may still leave some residue or cause bridging in high-efficiency systems.
- Not Ideal for Very Hard Water: In areas with extremely hard water, solar salt may not be as effective long-term and may require more frequent regeneration.
- Vulnerable to Caking: Solar salt can clump in humid environments, leading to inconsistent brine formation.
Ideal For: Standard residential water softeners in areas with moderately hard water. It offers a good balance of purity and cost, making it a practical choice for most households.
3. Rock Salt
Rock salt, which appears to be large crystals, is mined from underground salt deposits. While it is a low-cost option, rock salt isn’t recommended for water softeners. Compared to the other types of salt for water softeners, it contains high levels of insoluble minerals, and over time, it can muddy the inside of your brine tank. Rock salt is better for icy sidewalks, but it can decrease your water treatment equipment’s softening ability, resulting in impurities lingering in your water.
Pros:
- Most Affordable Option: Rock salt is typically the cheapest form, making it attractive for households on a budget.
- Effective for Basic Softening: It still works in older or less sensitive water softening systems, especially in areas with mild to moderate water hardness.
- Readily Available: Rock salt is easy to find in most hardware and home improvement stores.
Cons:
- Low Purity (60–80% Sodium Chloride): Rock salt contains more insoluble minerals, which can lead to frequent tank cleaning and more maintenance.
- Brine Tank Buildup: The impurities in rock salt can cause sludge, bridging, or blockages over time, especially in high-use systems.
- Less Efficient: Due to its lower purity, more rock salt may be required to achieve the same level of water softening, reducing efficiency.
Ideal For: Melting ice; not recommended for water softeners due to its low purity and high mineral content, which can cause buildup and maintenance issues.
4. Potassium Chloride
Potassium chloride is a common alternative to the traditional salt chosen for water softeners, especially for those seeking low-sodium options. It is a naturally occurring mineral and nutrient found in fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and meat that can also be used for your water softening system. When using potassium chloride crystals in a water softening system, they filter out magnesium and calcium, replacing them with potassium to make the water soft. Traditional salt-based water softeners leave residual sodium in the treated water, whereas potassium chloride serves as a sodium-free alternative.
Pros:
- Sodium-Free Alternative: It’s ideal for people on low-sodium diets or those looking to reduce sodium in their household water.
- Environmentally Friendly: Potassium is a plant nutrient, making it safer for the environment, especially when discharged into septic systems or used for irrigation.
- Works with Standard Softeners: Potassium chloride can be used in most water softeners without modifications; it simply replaces sodium chloride in the brine tank.
Cons:
- More Expensive: It typically costs 2–4 times more than sodium chloride, making it a pricier long-term investment.
- Less Efficient at Softening: Potassium chloride isn’t quite as effective in ion exchange, which may require more frequent regeneration cycles and higher quantities.
- May Cause Bridging: It is more prone to clumping or “bridging” in the brine tank, especially in humid environments, which can disrupt system performance.
Ideal For: Households looking to reduce sodium intake or minimize environmental impact. It’s an excellent alternative for people with health concerns or those using softened water for plants or irrigation.
How to Choose the Best Salt For Your Water Softener: 4 Things to Consider
Choosing the right salt for your water softener depends on more than just price. Here are a few key factors to guide your decision:
- Water Hardness: The harder your water, the more efficient and pure your salt needs to be. Evaporated salt or potassium chloride may perform better in areas with very hard water.
- Health Concerns: If you’re watching your sodium intake, consider potassium chloride a sodium-free alternative.
- System Type and Maintenance: High-efficiency systems typically benefit from cleaner salts like evaporated or solar salt, while rock salt can lead to more frequent cleanings due to impurities.
- Budget and Availability: Rock salt is the cheapest but has maintenance trade-offs. Solar salt is a mid-range option, while evaporated salt and potassium chloride offer premium performance at a higher cost.
3 FAQs About Salt For Water Softeners
Here are a few common questions about salt for water softeners:
1. How much salt does my water softener need?
The amount of salt your water softener needs depends on your area’s water hardness level, your household’s or business’s usage, and the size of your softener. For a family of 4 with average water hardness levels, you’ll need about one 40-pound bag of salt per month.
- Read our blog about how much salt your water softener needs to learn more.
2. Is it better to use coarse salt or pellets in my water softener?
For many water softener systems, coarse salt (sometimes called solar salt) is a better option than pellets. Coarse salt is naturally evaporated and tends to have fewer additives, which can be beneficial for the longevity of your system. Compared to pellets, coarse salt typically dissolves more evenly and is less likely to cause buildup or bridging in the brine tank. Additionally, coarse salt can reduce maintenance needs and work efficiently in most residential softener systems.
3. Can you switch from salt crystals to pellets?
Yes, you can switch from salt crystals to pellets. However, it’s best to check your water softener’s manual or manufacturer before doing so. Some systems have specific recommendations or limitations when switching from crystals to pellets.
Salt Delivery For Your Water Softener System
Choosing the best salt for your water softener isn’t just about picking what’s cheapest—it’s about finding the right balance between efficiency, maintenance, and your unique needs. Whether you prefer the high purity of evaporated salt, the eco-friendliness of potassium chloride, or the cost-effectiveness of solar salt, the right choice can improve your water quality and extend the life of your system.
Do you need help keeping your softener running smoothly? Having salt delivered to your door could be the solution you’re looking for. Step Saver offers reliable commercial salt delivery straight to your business, so you never have to lug heavy bags again. We offer bagless automatic mini-bulk salt delivery if you’re tired of checking your brine tanks and topping off salt levels. Our team will pump metered, clean, NSF-certified salt directly into your brine tanks as needed using our patented, state-of-the-art equipment. At Step Saver, we also specialize in commercial water softener installation and repair, ensuring your system performs at its best, no matter the size of your operation. Contact us to have purified water for your business year-round.
