Taking care of your water softener means you’ll need to do routine maintenance on it, which includes checking the salt level from time to time. The amount of times that you’ll need to add salt depends on several factors. Some of the most influential include the size of the softener, how much water you use and the level of hardness in your home’s water supply.
Why Do Water Softeners Need Salt?
Salt is essential for water softeners because it cleans and recharges the resin beads that remove hard minerals from water. When these minerals aren’t removed, the water becomes hard. The regeneration process of a water softener involves dissolving salt in water to produce brine, a salty solution. This brine washes the resin beads and removes any minerals that have built up in order for your water to continue softening. If the softener is unable to do its job due to an insufficient amount of salt, hard water issues will resurface.
What Happens If a Water Softener Runs Out of Salt?
Running out of salt prevents the water softener from effectively regenerating the resin beads. Reduced water flow and possible system damage are only the beginning of the problems that might arise when your water softener’s performance declines. The hard water flowing through your taps can cause scaling on pipes, appliances and fixtures. To keep your water softener running well and prevent these issues, you’ll need to check the salt level periodically and add more if necessary.
How to Check the Salt Level?
You can normally see how much salt you have left in a water softener’s tank because the tank is either clear or semi-clear. If the water is murky, you might need to use a stick (or ruler) so you can see how deep the salt is. Some newer water softeners have a sensor so you know when the salt level gets too low. Our advice is to just check every month to be sure the salt level doesn’t run low.
How Long Will a 40-lb Bag of Salt Last?
A 40-pound bag of salt will last for varying lengths of time with your water softener, depending on the size of your water softener, how much water your household uses and the degree of hardness of your water. On average, you can get one to three months of use out of a 40-pound bag of salt. If your system is relatively large, or if you have very hard water, you may have to add it more often. If you check the level of salt periodically, you’ll get a good idea of how often you need to add it.
Is It Possible to Put Too Much Salt?
You want to make sure your water softener has enough salt, but you don’t want to put too much in it. One potential problem associated with too much salt passing through your water softener is salt bridging, where the salt in the tank forms a crust over the top of your softener basin. Because of this, your water softener may not regenerate as efficiently. To avoid salt bridging, never add more salt than the manufacturer recommends.
What Could Make a Softener Use So Much Salt?
There are a few reasons why a water softener might consume too much salt. If the water is extremely hard, the system will have to go into its regeneration mode more frequently, thus using more salt. If a household is large and uses a lot of water, the softener will require more salt. Other than the water usage, if the control valve is broken or is not set properly, the salt usage might increase. Routine checks are the best way to detect any problems that could lead to excessive salt usage.
Should You Use Salt Pellets or Crystals?
Many experts recommend salt pellets over other types of salt because they dissolve more quickly and tend to have fewer impurities, both of which are conducive to keeping your system working as it should. Salt crystals can be a little less expensive, but from time to time will leave more residue in your tank. If you want to keep your water softener running in top shape for as long as possible, be sure to use the type of salt recommended in your owner’s manual.
If you need help deciding how often to add salt to your water softener, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing!