Some people who have a large area will consider using salt and drain the water softener off to a specific area and make a rock garden where they can contain the salt in one specific area. Both types of softeners have the same function, only differing in what is left behind in the regenerated water. I'm pretty sure you don't want to have to worry! Water Spots And Ugly Stains. If you want to switch to potassium salts to avoid excessive sodium consumption, you should be aware that too much potassium can also have negative side effects, especially for people with pre-existing conditions. Consequently, there has been an increase in the use of potassium chloride softener salt in place of sodium chloride. That difference will cost you a few extra dollars. As a result, water treatment companies have started offering salt free water "softeners" or water conditioners that can treat hard water without using or discharging any salt.
Which One Should You Choose? That's about 15 times the cost you will incur compared to when you use a sodium chloride softener! If you have a family of four, as we saw above, you're probably going to spend almost $300 a year more than if you were just to use sodium chloride instead. A salt bridge occurs when a hard crust is formed in the brine tank. In addition to these basic types of water softener salts, there are also specialty water softener salts with specific purpose, including: The type of water softener salt that will work best for you and your family will depend on a variety of factors. Jerry Poe is technical director of North American Salt Company, Overland Park, KS, a full-line salt manufacturer for applications including agriculture, water softeners, consumer ice melters, industrial applications and food. Let's look at some of the differences between these products, why customers make the choices they do and how you can leverage this knowledge to improve profitability in the category. In order for block salt to be used, the water level in the brine tank must be raised to ensure the blocks are fully submerged. In fact, potassium is a product used in agriculture. How Does a Potassium Chloride Water Softener Work? Once free, the calcium and magnesium build up flush through the drain. Newer septic tanks have a fourth chamber just for the water softener. Persons with no health issues related to sodium are okay to use a sodium-based water softener.
Plus, potassium is even good for plants. In conclusion, both regenerants have their pros and cons. Is softened water safe for pets? Please Note: No harm will be done to the water softener should you accidentally mix salt and potassium chloride together. During the water softening process, water goes into the softener's tank and encounters thousands of tiny resin beads. If you are not a fan of water softener salt or potassium chloride, there is another route you can take.
Rock salt tends to be cheaper than other types of water softener salt. Potassium chloride is better for the environment. First of all, because they also use salt, and secondly because they use the exact same ion exchange technology. Regularly servicing and maintaining your water softener will keep it running efficiently and prolong its…. And they still pose the same environmental threats and challenges – something the Aquasure Harmony Series Whole House Water Softener prevents!
Can I water my plants using softened water? A much smaller percentage goes into septic tanks, cesspools and dry wells. The hard water minerals (ions) are exchanged with harmless chloride during regeneration which is washed out from the softener system. These cations are then replaced by sodium or potassium, depending on what softener salt you use. If you own any sort of plants, I'm sure you are aware that water containing sodium chloride has slightly negative effects on your plants. The American Heart Association has plenty of articles about the dangers of increased sodium intake. RainDance Water Systems well water softeners, city water softeners, and commercial water softeners can all use potassium salt pellets in place of sodium salt pellets as a sodium-free option to hard water removal.
Why Choose Aquasure Water Softeners? If you would prefer to have potassium rather than sodium in your water — especially if you have dietary restrictions or health concerns related to sodium intake — potassium chloride for water softeners may be an option. Add this to the fact that you need more of it and your quickly looking at an expense increase of up to fourfold. In any case, these salts are both equally effective at softening the water, but have some key differences. Moderately Hard Water: 4 - 7 grains per gallon (68-120ppm). During the rinse cycle, clean water washes over the beads. Based on cost efficiency, sodium chloride would be the more cost-effective option because it's easier and more affordable to attain. On the other hand, using a salt water softener adds a tiny amount of sodium to your tap water. If cost is a major determinant when you are looking for a water softener, skip potassium chloride as it can cost up to three times more than sodium chloride. This cost is added to the price of the water softener. That is why you end up using more potassium to the same job sodium does.
Take, for example, template-assisted crystallization water softeners. When the resin bed is full, the minerals proceed to be flushed out. They need help from water softening salts to treat our water supply. Additionally, customers have expressed concerns about draining salt water down their sewage system or septic tank but in a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it has stated that salt is not harmful towards septic systems.