Your water softener requires a healthy supply of salt to continue doing its important job. The salt enables the water softener to remove minerals from the water. By doing so, it supports better-tasting tap water, reduces mineral buildup, keeps your dishes cleaner, and more. Our customers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing often ask how frequently salt needs to be added to their water softener.
Factors That Affect the Salt Supply
Unfortunately, there is not a clear-cut answer to this question that applies to all situations. The amount of salt used by your water softener depends on how much water you use. In addition, the hardness level of the water plays a role. The water softener itself also impacts salt consumption. For example, the brine tank’s size, the equipment’s age, and the type of water softener that you own.
When to Add Salt to Your Water Softener
As a general rule of thumb, the typical water softener needs a bag of salt added monthly. However, with many factors impacting this, you should check the brine tank before adding more salt. The salt level in the tank should be above the water level. This means that you should see dry salt when you look in the brine tank. If the salt level is below the water level, it is time to add more salt.
How to Check the Brine Tank
To check the salt level in the brine tank, simply pull the lid open. While the salt usually only needs to be added monthly, you should check the tank more frequently. Get in the habit of peeking in the brine tank every two weeks. This allows you to add salt at an optimal time before the salt level is too low. Once the salt level is too low, the quality of your water is impaired.
The Right Salt for Your System
The best salt to use for a water softener is pure salt. Typically, salt pellets are preferred because they are pure salt. Pure salt will completely dissolve in the water, and it will not create bridges. Bridging is a common water softener problem that can result in a clogged system, and it is caused by using less pure salt. Rock and solar salts are commonly associated with bridging.
Learn More at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
If your water softener is using more salt than it once did or if it is showing other concerning signs, it may be time to replace it. For an inspection and consultation, contact us today.