Water contains numerous minerals and impurities which determines how hard or soft your water is. The intensity of these minerals is the sole factor in determining the quality of water. Water that is considered soft has essentially lower levels of calcium and magnesium. Whereas water that has a higher concentration of calcium and magnesium is considered hard. But, which one is better, and why?
Hard water can drastically affect your pipes, fixtures, and even your water-based appliances. One way to determine the hardness of your water is to look for how many grains it has per gallon. It can be done by a simple soap test kit. If your water’s grains of hardness is more than 7 grains per gallon, your water is considered hard.
Although it isn’t really necessary to soften your water, generally speaking, it is a great idea to save you from maintenance and replacement costs. Water with a hardness of more than 7 grains per gallon needs to be softened. This will not only improve the taste and smell of your water but will also improve the longevity of your appliances, pipes, and fixtures.
Here are 6 Best Salt for Water Softeners to ensure you get the most out of your water supply.
- Morton Salt 1501 Clean Protect System Water Softener – Best Overall , multi-purpose and can significantly improve the life of water heaters.
- Morton Salt Morton F124700000g Water Softener Pellets – Best for improving the aftertaste of water and preventing rust stains.
- Cargill Salt 7304 Water Softener Salt – Best value for money , featuring solar natural salts to ensure better efficiency and overall cleanliness
Contents
- Best Salts for Water Softeners
- Morton Salt 1501 Clean Protect System Water Softener
- Morton Salt Morton F124700000g Water Softener Pellets
- Cargill Salt 7304 Water Softener Salt
- Morton U26624S Pure And Natural Water Softening Crystals
- Morton Salt FBA 1470 40 lb Rust Remove Pellet
- Diamond Crystal 50 lb. Water Softener Salt, Bright & Soft Series, Pellets
- Should You Use Water Softener Salt Pellets or Crystals?
- Water Softener Salt Price Comparison
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Best Salts for Water Softeners
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Morton Salt 1501 Clean Protect System Water Softener
Morton Salt 1501 Clean Protec System Water Softener, as you can tell from the name, it does precisely what it states in the name. It is one of the most versatile salt for water softeners considering the fact that there are many sizes for you to choose from. Including 25, 40, 44 and 50 lbs.
Morton Salt 1501 Water Softener comes in the form of salt pellets and can easily be added to your water softener. It provides exceptional results when it comes to lowering the hardness of your water. Ultimately providing you with improved water quality and saving your appliances from any water-based damage that hard water might expose your appliances to, specifically water heaters.
It ships in an easy to use bag, with a hard handle that allows you to use it repeatedly without having to worry about spilling. Not only does it protect your appliances, but it also provides you with a softer feeling of hair and skin.
User Critics
Although it can be a bit on the pricey side, considering the volume of the bag (50 lbs), it is more than enough for your needs. Besides, some people even complained it is hard to carry, which backs the point stating “it is more than enough for your needs.”
Pros
- Ease of use
- Sufficient quantity (50 lbs)
- Improves the lifespan of your appliances, pipes, and fixtures
- Ideal for water heaters
- Improves your skin’s appearance and softens your hair
Cons
- Costly
- The bag might be a bit heavy but it is easy to use considering the hard handle
Verdict
If you’re looking for a quick fix for softening your water, Morton Salt 1501 Clean Protec System Water Softener is precisely what you need. It is our top pick for a reason, that is, it can provide you with quality results. It is ideal for water heaters.
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Morton Salt Morton F124700000g Water Softener Pellets
Morton has been one of the most popular brands in the market when it comes to providing you with solutions to soften your water with ease. Quite honestly, they seem to be dominating the list. It comes in a 40 lbs bag which would suffice your needs.
Morton Salt Morton F124700000g Clean & Protect/Rust Defense Water Softener features pellets that can be added to your water supply to ensure you get water that is not only great to drink but also safer for your appliances. These pellets are effectively designed to improve the aftertaste of your water.
Morton Salt comes with an additional benefit as well. It provides you with protection against rust and can allow you to effectively eliminate any rust spots in your bathroom and kitchen as well. It is also great for washing dishes and improves the life of your appliances to a great extent.
User Critics
Morton Salt Morton F124700000g Clean & Protect/Rust Defense Water Softener Pellets is a great solution when it comes to removing and protecting your pipes against rust. Although it might cost you a bit more than what you’ll find in your local store, getting it from Amazon will save you from moving the 40lbs bag around.
Pros
- Ships in a 40 lbs bag
- Ideal for protection against rust
- Prevents rust spots
- Protects your appliances against water-based damage
- Softer feeling skin and hair
Cons
- Costly
Verdict
It is hands down the Best salt for water softeners considering the fact that it is multipurpose and can provide you with better tasting, appliances safe, and rust-proof water.
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Cargill Salt 7304 Water Softener Salt
Cargill Salt 7304 Water Softener Salt features solar natural salt crystals rather than the traditional salt pellets. Similar to the previous product it ships in a 40 lbs bag. However, the bag is where it differs from the rest of the products on the list. It is essentially polybagged, meaning there are no gaps that would allow dirt or moisture to get in.
The polybag ultimately protects the salt against any moisture or dirt it might be exposed to and allows you to store it for more extended periods of time. It can effectively soften your water and provide you with better, and improved water that is not only safe for your appliances but also better tasting.
To top it off, Cargill salt 7304 Water Softener salt can be used in meat processing and making pickles and olives as well. In addition, it also works best to remove snow in the winters.
User Critics
Although it can be a bit costly, it is essentially the easiest way to get a 40 lb bag of salt for your water softener and get it shipped right at your doorstep. It can provide effective results and provide you with better, and improved water.
Pros
- Polybagged to prevent moisture and dirt from entering the bag
- Ships in a 40 lb bag
- Versatile and can be used for other purposes as well
- Effective results
- Solar natural – made naturally
Cons
- Costly
Verdict
Cargill salt 7304 Water Softener salt not only improves the quality of your water but also prolongs the life of your water appliances. It is an all-in-one salt and has been produced naturally, which is why it can be used for curing pickles and olives as well, and so much more.
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Morton U26624S Pure And Natural Water Softening Crystals
Morton U26624S Pure & Natural Water Softening Crystals is also a solar salt, similar to the previous product. Since people favor Morton more, we decided to include this product in our top 10+ best salts for water softeners list.
It is all natural in such a way that it has been sun-dried from saltwater or essentially seawater. The fact that it is all natural, it can provide better results compared to other types of salts and ultimately has a higher purity. It ships in a 40 lb bag which is more than enough for a single household.
Not only does it improve the overall taste of your water but it also prevents any mineral buildup in your pipes, fixtures, and most importantly your water-based appliances. In addition, it can also help make your skin and hair softer, along with your laundry, which is a great plus.
User Critics
Morton U26624S pure and natural water softening crystals is hands down one of the best water softener salt crystals that provide rapid results and prevent any mineral buildup in your pipes and appliances, thus ultimately prolonging their life and saving you maintenance costs.
Pros
- All-natural sea dried salt
- High purity
- Ships in a hand 40 lb bag
- Improves the taste and quality of your water
- Prolongs the lifespan of your water-based appliances
Cons
- Costly
- In rare cases, it may lead to a sulfur-like smell
Verdict
For all-natural water softener salt crystals, the Morton U26624s pure and natural water softening crystals are the go-to for everyone looking for rapid and effective results which is the primary reason why it has made it to our list of the best salts for water softeners.
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Morton Salt FBA 1470 40 lb Rust Remove Pellet
Morton Salt FBA 1470 40 lb Rust Remove Pellet is essentially salt for water softeners that removes up to a whopping 15x more iron compared to the other salt for water softeners. This ultimately removes any rust and mineral buildup in any of your water pipes, fixtures, and water-based appliances.
It ships in a hand 40 lb bag, which is more than sufficient for a single household. Apart from removing any rust and mineral build-up, it also improves the overall taste of water and makes it safer for different usages.
Morton Salt FBA 1470 40 lb Rust Remove also prevents any rust stains in your bathroom and kitchen, thus allowing your living spaces to look cleaner, and nicer. This is ideally suitable for water with a higher concentration of iron and can turn your water testing kits to a blue color instantly since you won’t find any more iron in your water after using these salt pellets.
User Critics
Overall, it has proven results and can be tested by water hardness testing kits right at your home. The results will not disappoint you and it does precisely what it says in its name.
Pros
- Removes up to 15x more iron
- Instant results
- Ships in a handy 40 lb bag
- Prevents rust stains
- Improves the overall quality and taste of your water
Cons
- Costly
Verdict
If you’re worried about your water having a higher concentration of iron, Morton Salt FBA 1470 40 lb Rust Remove Pellets are precisely what you need considering the fact that they provide you with almost instant results, ultimately providing you with cleaner, safer, and healthier water.
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Diamond Crystal 50 lb. Water Softener Salt, Bright & Soft Series, Pellets
Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt Pellets ship in a 50 lb bag, which is more than enough. However, it can be quite heavy which is why getting it on Amazon is far more suitable than getting it from the local store since you do not have to deal with moving it around in a cart and then getting it home.
It features a dual-handled bag which allows it to be held from either side or even by two people for better transportation. It can effectively soften your water by removing mineral build-up in your pipes and water-based appliances.
Diamond Crystal water softener salt pellets are sodium chloride-based and have a purity of a whopping 99.8% which is by far the most favorite for improving the quality of water up to a great extent.
User Critics
In short, it does the job. With a purity of 99.8%, it will not leave you stranded or disappointed in any way. It can effectively protect your water-based appliances, pipes, and fixtures against hard minerals, thus saving you money on repair costs due to the presence of hard minerals in your water.
Pros
- Ships in a whopping 50 lb bag
- Dual-handled bag, making it easier for transportation
- The purity of 99.8%
- Ideal for removing hard minerals
- Prolongs the life of your water-based appliances
- Improves the taste of your water
Cons
- Costly, but absolutely worth it
Verdict
Worried about your appliances getting damaged from constant use with hardened water? Or about the damage that hard water can cause your pipes and fixtures due to the presence of hard minerals, ultimately costing you much more on repair cost? If yes, Diamond Crystal water softener salt pellets are what you can call, a savior.
Should You Use Water Softener Salt Pellets or Crystals?
These two essentially perform the same task, which is to remove hard minerals from your water, thus ultimately making it soft. Softened water is ideal for pipes, fixtures, water-based appliances and has a significantly improved taste as well.
You might be wondering what are salt pellets and crystals, and should you use water softener salt pellets or crystals? Allow me to provide you with an insight into both of these and help you decide which one to get.
Water Softener Crystals are essentially solar produced salt. It is made from salt-water or seawater using the process of solar evaporation. Seawater or salt-water is also referred to as brine, which is primarily the solution of water and salt. When it is exposed to the sun, the water is removed and salt is left as a remainder. The salt leftover from solar evaporation is in the form of white crystals, which you will find in the products list aforementioned.
Water Softener Crystals are ideal for households with lower water consumption. When used in a higher water usage household, it can result in bridging, which fails to process the water and water remains hardened.
On the contrary, Water Softener Pellets are essentially used to eliminate bridging and are essentially used in households with much higher consumption of water.
Water Softener Salt Price Comparison
Water softeners salt eliminates the presence of hard minerals by cutting through them. This ultimately results in the breakdown of these minerals and in return, results in softened water. It does not only improve the overall taste of your water but it also protects your water-based appliances, pipes, and other fixtures.
When it comes to water softener salt price comparison it can get quite costly considering the frequency of water usage. Instead of getting a 20 lb bag, consider getting a 40 lb or 50 lb, or even a bundle of 40 or 50 lb bag since it will greatly save you money on shipping costs and provide you with better value for money.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What type of salt should I use in my water softener?
When looking for salt for water softeners, you will come across many options. Sodium chloride is ideally recommended for water softeners, specifically one with the highest purity. You should avoid using dicing or table salt in your water softener and should only use sodium chloride (salt) specifically intended to be used in a water softener only. It can either be in the form of crystals or pellets and should be used based on the amount of water consumption.
If you have a higher water consumption compared to average households, use water softener pellets. On the contrary, for lower water consumption, you should use water softener crystals.
Although, salt (sodium chloride) is recommended for your water softener, however, if you intend on lowering your sodium chloride intake, you can choose a salt alternative as well. This includes potassium chloride and is 99.9% free from any sodium. However, potassium chloride pellets are relatively more expensive compared to sodium chloride based salts for water softeners.
Can pool salt be used in a water softener?
You can find pool salt by the same brands that sell salt for water softeners. These include Morton and other brands. Although it might look the same, however, pool salt is not suggested for usage in water softener considering the fact that pool salt has a rather fine grain. It can lead to bridging and will slow the process of softening hard water by removing hard minerals. Due to this, pool water is strongly not recommended for use in water softeners.
