DO’s & DON’T’s of a Salt-Based Water Softener

Water Softeners play an essential role in removing hardness minerals from water. These hard minerals can cause health issues such Ecema (itchy, red and inflamed skin); and Psoriasis (skin flaking from the hair on your head and face); as well as plumbing and appliance issues such as scale buildup in your water pipes which can eventually block and clog the pipes, reduce your home’s water pressure and shorten the lifespan of appliances that use water; scale buildup on the outside of your home’s faucets; spots on your dishware and silverware after being washed; and soap scum buildup.

Salt (sodium) is a crucial component in the water softening process, and it is essential to use the right type and maintain the appropriate level of salt to ensure that the system works efficiently. Here, we will discuss the do’s and don’ts of using salt in your water softener, as well as other tips for maintaining your water softening system to ensuring its optimal performance.

What is Water Softening?

Water softening is the process of removing the dissolved calcium and magnesium salts that cause hardness in water. Hard water can cause damage to plumbing systems, leave limescale buildup on appliances and glass shower enclosures, as well as make surfaces and appliances more difficult to clean.

Water softeners use a process called ion exchange where hard water passes through a bed of resin containing sodium ions that exchange with the minerals in the water. The sodium ions are “soft” and replace the existing “hard” ions in the calcium and magnesium, thereby “softening” the water.

Other approaches include precipitation methods and sequestration by the addition of chelating agents. Distillation and reverse osmosis are the most widely used two non-chemical methods of water softening.

How Does the Water Softening Process Work?

The water softening process works by removing dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium from the water. Salt-based water softeners use an ion exchange process where hard water passes through a resin bed containing sodium ions.

Ion exchange is accomplished by passing the water through columns of a natural or synthetic resin that trades sodium ions for calcium and magnesium ions. After the column has been in use for some time, calcium and magnesium begin to appear in the water leaving the column. At that point, the column must be regenerated by reverse-passing a concentrated solution of common salt water (brine) slowly through the column; the excess sodium ions displace the ions that produce the hardness so that, after flushing with water, the bed of exchanger is recharged and ready to be used again. Home water softeners usually work similarly and consist of zeolite or another ion-exchange resin in a tank connected directly into the water system.

The DO’s When Using Salt in Your Water Softener

• Do use the right type of salt for your water softener (usually sodium pellets – available at any home improvement store such as Home Depo or Lowes and even on Amazon).
• Do check the salt level in the brine tank regularly. You should fill the basin no more than half way to the top and refill it once the salt level is lower than one-fourth of the basin.
• Do consult the owner’s manual or a professional if you are unsure of how to add salt or perform maintenance on your water softener.
• Nevada Clean Water offers free sodium refilling services – all you pay is the cost of the sodium.
• Do clean your water softener with a resin cleaner every 12 months to maintain its performance.
• Nevada Water Services offers free annual maintenance of water softeners.

The DON’T’s When Using Salt in Your Water Softener

• Don’t use table salt or rock salt in your water softener.
• Don’t allow the salt level in the brine tank to go below the minimum level (one-fourth of the basin).
• Don’t overfill the salt tank with too much salt (more than half way to the top of the basin).
• Don’t use too much resin cleaner, as it can damage the resin beads in the resin tank.
• Don’t forget to turn off the bypass valve before adding salt or performing maintenance on your water softener.

Nevada Clean Water Will Provide You with the Best Water Softener Experience

If you are looking for a reliable and effective water softener system, call Nevada Clean Water. Our top-of-the-line water softeners use advanced technology that will provide you with clean, “softened” water for all your household needs.

We also offer high-quality salt and maintenance products, as well as free annual salt refills and system inspections, to keep your system running efficiently. Don’t let hard water cause problems in your home – call Nevada Clean Water for all your water-softening needs.

For more information about our whole home water filtration systems, contact us at (702) 321-6475 today!

Authored by Bob Vitelli, Nevada Clean Water, January 15, 2023