The SoftPro Elite is one of the most efficient water softeners we've tested, using up to 50% less salt than a standard salt-based water softener.
Evaporated Salt. Many water softener manufacturers consider evaporated salt pellets to be the best choice. These are pellets that have been distilled down to as much as 99.99% pure salt. One of the methods for doing this involves forcing water into underground salt deposits.
While the average family will go through a 40 lb bag about once a month or so, your amount will vary. Another factor to consider is how often your water softener regenerates; if it's nightly, then the average family may go through a 40lb bag every 10 to 14 days.
Softener efficiency affects how much salt a softener uses and how often it regenerates. It refers to how much hardness is removed per pound of salt. Higher salt efficiencies are achieved at lower salt dosages. MMSD recommends a softener efficiency of at least 4000 grains per pound.
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.
Hardness 100 – 200 ppm (calcium carbonate)
In our experience, water over 100 to 150 ppm (which also can be expressed as approximately 8 – 10 grains/gallon) is hard enough to warrant water softening, so water softening is recommended for your water.
Don't Add Too Much Salt
This buildup can prevent your system from regenerating properly.
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.
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.
Different types of water softener salts have different purity percentages. But what exactly is water softener salt purity and why is it important? The purity of sodium chloride for water softeners is a measure of how much salt the product contains. The higher the purity, the higher the percentage of salt.
Solar salt is as effective at regenerating a water softener as pellets and is a lower price alternative. It is not as clean as pellets and does require more frequent cleanings of your day brine tank due to the sediment left behind.
Multiply the water hardness by the water usage in the home to determine what size water softener is needed.. For example, a home that uses 225 gallons of water per day with a water hardness of 10 grains per gallon requires a water softener with a capacity of 2,250 grains per day.
📌 Key Takeaways: California, Massachusetts, Texas, Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin all have bans or regulations on water softener use.
pellets, cubes, solar crystals, blocks, etc. In general, all types of loose water softening salt work well together and there is no particular harm caused by mixing different types.
In general, all types of salt will work in most softeners and there is no particular harm caused by mixing different types.
Use a ¼ cup of household bleach e.g. vinegar on 4-5 liters of clean water. Stir carefully and let the solution sit for 15 minutes. Pour it into the water softener and scrub once more with a brush.
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.
“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.
The latest systems also have low salt indicators or even a remote monitoring alert to let you know you are running low on salt and help make water softener maintenance easy. Overall, because newer models are more efficient with salt use, they typically only need to have salt added every 6-8 weeks.
In short, the answer is No. Your softener will perform best if it is programmed based on the true hardness and iron levels in your water supply.
Is my water too soft? After your water softener is installed, you may begin to notice your skin feeling a bit slippery after a bath or shower. It's a stark difference from the hard water shower experience, which causes a soapy film to remain after rinsing, resulting in dry skin and weighed-down hair.
Can I Drink Softened Water? While most softened water is perfectly safe to drink, the amount of sodium in the treated water will depend on the hardness of the original water. If the water hardness is below 400 ppm calcium before you soften it, then you can drink it with little concern.