As mentioned above, the usage will vary depending on your family's needs and the hardness of your water. If your softener is sized and programmed correctly, you will probably use between 40-50 pounds of salt per month. Make sure you check your salt levels at least once every month.
For a properly sized water softener system, the industry standard for an average family of four, (with a water hardness level of 7-10 grains per gallon) will use approximately 10lbs of salt each week or one 40lbs bag of salt each month.
How long does a 40 lb bag of water softener salt last? We hear questions like this often, and the answer is that it really just depends on your system and your household water needs. While the average family will go through a 40 lb bag about once a month or so, your amount will vary.
We've shared what you need to know in this guide. Water softener salt usually lasts 2-3 months, but the best practice is to top up the salt tank with one 40-pound bag every month.
An average softener with 1 cu. ft. of resins (30,000 grain, 10 " x 44 " tank) should use about 6-8 lbs. per regeneration to achieve an economical 24,000 grain capacity (hardness in grains divided into grains of capacity results in the gallons of water that can be treated before resins is exhausted).
Water softeners today work off gallons going through the system. A house with one person with a 30,000-grain unit will go through a 50Lb bag of salt every five to six weeks. A house with four people if softener is sized correctly a 45,000 or 60,000 grain unit a little more than a 50Lb. bag a month.
Determine your salt level by lifting the cover of the brine tank and taking a peek inside. If the salt looks dry and the tank is less than half full, refill until it's just over half full. Also, if the salt looks wet or the water level is above the salt, it's time to fill the tank about half full.
Don't Add Too Much Salt
This buildup can prevent your system from regenerating properly.
To put it another way, you should never let your water softener run out of salt. This mistake is likely to cause permanent damage to the system components and your fixtures and appliances as well.
If your softener is using an excessive amount of salt, it is recharging much more than it should. This can be a result of an out of date hardness setting, or a metering hiccup.
No brine tank should ever be FULL of water! Newer water softeners, especially those with digital valves, only have water in the brine tank two hours before the softener goes through a cycle. These “dry” tanks should not have water in them between cycles.
The salt helps to soften the water and gives it a cleaner taste. Even though your water supply will be soft within less than two hours, it will take longer to see the build-up in your plumbing start to diminish. It could take a few weeks before you can see the difference.
As a good rule of thumb, you should start by setting your water hardness level on your water softener to match the GPG of your water supply. For example, if your report shows you that your water hardness level is 10 GPG, then you need to set your water softener to 10 GPG as well.
Keep your brine tank at least one quarter full of salt at all times. Don't fill your salt up past 4 to 6 inches below the top of your brine tank. Make sure that your salt level always stays a few inches above the water level in your brine tank.
During normal operation of a water softening system regeneration cycle, water fills the brine tank ¼ to half of the way, then the brine is drawn back into the softener tank to clean the resin.
This is a common problem. clogged eductors or jets in the control valve can cause a water softener to not draw in salt. A malfunctioning brine or float valve can be the culprit. A brine line that has a hole in it can also cause a water softener to not use salt.
Softened Water Taste
Softened water has a smooth, unique, almost salty taste that is completely different from the taste of hard water. You will have noticed the difference in your water's taste immediately after installing your water softener. This taste tells you that your water softener is working properly.
If there is a layer of sludge, you'll need to completely clean out your brine tank and refill it with salt and water. Note: Salt clogs in small valves and other assembly pieces can prevent your water from being softened. We suggest having a professional find and remove the clogs as this may require disassembly.
“Soft water can actually make your hair greasy and flat,” Lee says. “The soft water will make your hair hold on to your products which can also cause buildup.” This can be particularly difficult for people with fine or oil-prone hair.
Water softening systems need salt for ion exchange – removing hardness minerals and exchanging them with sodium. On average, a water softener needs between 1 and 1.5 40-pound bags of salt per month. Make sure the brine tank is never less than one-quarter full of salt.
The higher the number, the harder your water is, and the problems it causes will be more extensive. A single grain per gallon (gpg) is equal to 17.14 parts per million (ppm).
Salt Dose
After the cycle is complete, measure the hardness of the water — if the water is still too hard, try increasing the salt dosage. If your water contains exceptionally high amounts of minerals, it might require a higher-than-normal salt dose to soften the water.