A typical residential system will use 6 - 12 lbs of salt per regeneration at least once a week. Very hard water ( over 30 grains ), or water high in iron ( over 1 ppm ), may require regenerating every 2 or 3 days.
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.
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.
The average water softener needs between one and one-and-a-half 40-pound bags of salt per month. This is assuming that the water softener has a small-to-medium capacity of around 32,000-40,000 grains and is serving a family of four.
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 This can be a result of an out of date hardness setting, or a metering hiccup.
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.
Don't Add Too Much Salt
This buildup can prevent your system from regenerating properly.
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.
Can a Water Softener Work Without Salt? Typical water softening systems need salt in order to regenerate and produce soft water. Without sodium, the softener can no longer effectively remove calcium and magnesium from your water, allowing hard water back into your pipes and home.
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.
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.
So How Often Should I Add Salt To My Water Softener? In general, we recommend adding a bag of salt every month.
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.
The water softener uses a pressurized system. It's advisable to avoid running water in the home during the regeneration cycle. If you do use water at this time, it can prevent water from going through the softener to complete the regeneration.
Many folks would tell you that letting your water softener run out of salt is okay and that you should add salt and not worry. But letting your water softener run out of salt will cause long-term damage to your water fixtures and might even make your salt tank overflow!
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.
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.
“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 softener crystals are better for two-part water softening systems, but it's still best to use pellets in homes with a high water (and therefore salt) usage, because they're less prone to clogging the brine tank.
Washing a dish or flushing a toilet are okay, but you'll want to stay away from bathing or washing laundry during this time to reduce the risk of hardness minerals sneaking into your plumbing or water heater. For more information, visit our Recharge Cycle article.
Typically, the regeneration should occur after every 12 to 14 days or it should occur after a predetermined gallons of water that you use. You can set the number of gallons used before it regenerates through the water softener's valve.
Simply put, you know something is wrong with your water softener when its regeneration schedule shifts. If your softener is running more or less often than every two to three days, it's a good idea to call a professional to come take a look at it.