Licensed Plumber LICENSE #CO88900054
Call For a Licensed Plumber: (317) 859-9999

Our Advice: Choose Water Softener Pellets

At Carter’s My Plumber, we highly recommend choosing salt pellets. What happens when you use salt crystals is a “salt bridge” can form. A salt bridge is a hard crust that develops over the water in the brine tank, making it impossible for regeneration to occur. Salt pellets generally do not clump together and therefore, a bridge won’t form. For this reason, we think they make the best type of salt overall.

As for specific brands, most water softening pellets work reasonably well. If you want to select a tried-and-true product that has high levels of customer satisfaction, it’s tough to beat the Morton Salt brand. However, other brands can also work just fine if you have a hard time locating Morton Salt at your local plumbing supply store.

water softener salt
water softener

Water softeners can make a huge impact on your home plumbing system, and even lead to dramatic improvements to your quality of life. The right water softener can help you get rid of those mineral deposits that clog your pipes and leave residue in your sink. It may even help promote the health of your skin and hair. However, for any of this to happen, you need a water softener that’s functioning at an optimal level. And generally speaking, that means using the right salt.

The quality of your softener salt can play a huge role in the overall impact of your water softener system. However, actually choosing the right salt can be more difficult than you’d imagine. The sheer number of options is seemingly endless. For instance, water softener salts are available in a number of brands, and span such forms as evaporated pellets, rock salt, sea salt, salt crystals, and more.

Where are homeowners supposed to turn as they seek the best salt to ensure high water quality? One step you can take is to reach out to the plumbing company you hired to install your water softener system in the first place to provide you with ongoing water softener maintenance. (If you live in Indianapolis or the surrounding area, feel free to contact Carter’s My Plumber. We are proud to be a top water softener company in Indianapolis.)

In the meantime, we’re happy to tell you everything you need to know about choosing the best water softener salt.

What to Consider When Choosing Water Softener Salt

With that said, there are a number of factors to keep in mind as you seek the best performance for your home water softener. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the major shopping considerations.

water softener salt
water softener salt

The Type of Salt

As we’ve noted, there are multiple types of salts to choose from, and our overall recommendation is to choose pellets.

If you’d like to learn more about the individual types of water softener salt, here is a quick summary.

  • Salt crystals. Salt crystals are formed by expelling salt, brine, and water to the wind, which leads to some evaporation. The process usually results in roughly 99.6 percent sodium chloride. As we noted above, salt crystals are prone to bridging, which means they are usually a bad option. However, they can sometimes work out alright in homes that use a low amount of water, or in homes that have two-part water softening systems.
  • Solar sea salt. This type of salt is produced by evaporating sea salt, plain and simple. This tends to be a very soluble option, and you can get it in a 99.5 percent pure form. Solar sea salt can be an inexpensive option, but there is a catch: Solar sea salt comes with a high percentage of imperfections, which means it does not dissolve in hard water quite so easily. As such, we usually only recommend this in homes where the water softening needs are very minor, and where maintaining high salt levels isn’t quite as imperative.
  • Rock salt. This type of salt gets its name because it’s made up of irregularly shaped salt pieces, which often look quite a bit like rock. Again, this is a cheap option that doesn’t always perform as well, as the salt itself tends to have a higher percentage of calcium sulfate. It will usually leave a residue in the brine basin of your water softening system, which means you’ll need to clean the system more frequently. 
  • Potassium chloride. Some people actually shouldn’t use salt due to certain health problems, including high blood pressure. For these homeowners, potassium chloride makes a good salt substitute. Not only does potassium soften water, but it can actually help decrease your blood pressure!
  • Salt pellets. Salt pellets are made by refining salt crystals into pure sodium chloride. Pellets do not bridge, they dissolve easily, and they do not leave any residue. In most cases, they are the best option for keeping your water softener up and running.

Purity

Another factor to keep in mind when shopping for water softener salt is purity. Essentially, this just means the percentage of material other than salt that’s found in the product. If a salt is very pure, that means it has a low amount of insoluble materials, such as earth and rock.

There are a number of reasons why it’s best to choose water softener salts with higher purity levels. For one thing, these salts tend to last a lot longer, which means better bang for your buck. Additionally, impure water softener salts usually leave a residue in basins, which means clean-up. Water softener salts that are more pure are less likely to leave residues behind.

Most softeners hit the 99.5 sodium chloride level. Water softener pellets hit a full 100 percent purity. Again, this is part of the reason why we think pellets are the superior option, and why we recommend them to the overwhelming majority of the homeowners we work with.

Home Water Hardness and Usage

As you shop for water softener salts, you should think about more than just the products themselves. It’s also important to reflect on your own home water hardness, as well as your water usage.

If you have a smaller household with just a couple of people in it, you’ll probably need two 40-pound bags of salt added every couple of months. Larger families may go through as many as four bags of salt in the same period of time.

Additionally, if you have a home where the water is quite hard, with excessive amounts of mineral content, you’ll need more salt. As such, it makes sense to have your water hardness level tested before you start looking for salt, so that you’ll have a good sense of what you need. Your plumbing company can help you with this.

For households that are larger or have harder water, pellets can be especially helpful, as they will help you get more use out of each load of salt.

Maintenance Expectations

Something else for homeowners to keep in mind is that the type of salt you choose for your water softener can have a huge impact on the level of maintenance you have to perform. Remember that if you have a salt that has a lot of irregularities in it (that is, a salt that is less pure), it will leave residues and deposits behind. To remove these residues and deposits, the water softener will need to be flushed and cleaned, which is a pretty big job.

Choosing a more pure water softener can minimize maintenance needs for your water softener. Once again, pellets are clearly the standout option.

What are the Benefits to Choosing the Right Water Softener Salt?

As you consider the need for Morton Salt, Diamond Crystal, and other brands of salt pellets, it may be worth stepping back to remember all the benefits that come from having a well-functioning water softener or water conditioner.

Some of these benefits include:

  • Healthier hair and skin. Hard water is full of mineral content, which can ultimately damage the health of your hair and skin. Removing these water minerals and other impurities can help you minimize symptoms such as dry skin and brittle hair.
  • Better-tasting water. Another reason to eliminate mineral buildup from your water? It can actually improve the taste of your household drinking water. Indeed, the correct salt usage can purge the bad taste created by fluoride, iron, etc.
  • Improved hot water heater performance. Still another benefit to using a great evaporated salt pellet brand, like Morton salt, is that it prevents buildup of minerals in your hot water heater. This improves the performance of your system and helps prevent clogs.
  • Extended appliance lifespan. One final benefit to choosing the correct salt for water softeners? Doing so will increase your quality of water so much that it minimizes undue wear and tear on your dishwasher, laundry machines, and more.

Tips on Using Morton Salt or Diamond Crystal Correctly

We mentioned our preference for salt-based water softeners, and especially for the Morton brand, Diamond Crystal, and similar pellet-based salts. While choosing the correct type of salt is essential, it’s equally important to use that salt correctly. At Carter’s My Plumber, we often hear from homeowners who have questions about how much salt they really need in their salt-based softeners in order to ensure the highest level of water quality.

Our advice: It’s important to not overload your water softener tank. Too much salt can prevent the tank from regenerating properly. Two bags at a time is a good measure, but no more than half full. And again, the purest grade should be used – make sure there aren’t any fillers or additives. 

Water Softener Experts at Work
Water Softener Experts at Work

More Questions? Ask a Water Softener Expert

Whether you have questions about choosing the right form of pellets, adding enough salt per gallon of water, or water softener installation cost, we invite you to schedule an appointment with a water softener expert. Reach out to Carter’s My Plumber whenever you’re ready to schedule a water softener maintenance appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Soft Water

Still have some questions about selecting the right type of salt, or maintaining the correct salt levels? Here are a few quick answers to some commonly-asked questions.

At the end of the day, the brand doesn’t really matter; Morton is our go-to, but the most important thing is selecting pellet-based salt over solar salt and other forms. Additionally, it matters very much that you choose the highest grade of purity, meaning minimal imperfections or impurities in the salt.

Truthfully, the brand doesn’t matter nearly as much as the type of salt. Salt is salt, and if you find a brand of pellets that has a high grade of purity for an affordable price, that’s probably just fine. Just be careful that what you’re buying doesn’t have a lot of added preservatives. 

Again, the type of salt matters more than the brand, and pellets are our recommendation.

Pellets generally provide the lowest level of impurities, which means pellet salt tends to dissolve pretty completely. This means no bridging, no residue in basin beds, and less maintenance overall. It also means that each bag of salt goes a little bit further.

It all depends on a number of factors, including your water usage as well as the size of your household. In a larger household, you will need to add more salt more often. With that said, a good rule of thumb is to check your salt levels every couple of months, adding new salt if necessary. You can always set up an appointment with a trusted plumber to go over important maintenance steps, such as pounds of salt required, etc.

For well water, we would again recommend pellets, from brands such as Morton Salt or Diamond Crystal. 

While it depends on the capacity of the unit and the frequency of regeneration, a 40lb bag will usually last around 10 to 14 days.

Often, investing in a salt-based water softener is the best way to protect sensitive skin from harmful minerals. With that said, you may also want to consider other types of water softener, or consider potassium chloride over salt. Finally, note that many brands of water softening salt offer sensitive skin versions.

To find the best, most affordable prices, it certainly doesn’t hurt to shop around. Often, you can find smaller bags of salt for a starting price of under $10. Look at any home improvement store, on Amazon, or even at a big box store like Target.

There are plenty of salts that work well for minimizing rust, including Morton Clean and Protect with Rust Defense. Just check the packaging before you buy so that you are selecting something that’s designated as being good for rust.

Generally speaking, evaporated salt pellets from any brand should work well for promoting hair health, specifically by eradicating harmful mineral content from your household water supply.

Morton Clean and Protect with Rust Defense is a good one, though again, most salt pellets with a higher purity level are going to work well for minimizing iron content in your water.

As you shop for different types of salt, you may notice that different brands come in different colored bags. Don’t worry too much about this. The important thing is to keep that brine tank full, and to select evaporated salt pellets over rock salt, solar salt, etc.

This is a perfectly fine brand, and our only word of guidance is to look for the pellet with the highest purity grade.

Definitely not. Solar salt does not dissolve quite as fully as pellets, which can lead to a number of problems. Specifically, solar salt will put you at a higher risk for bridging, for buildups in your resin tank, and more. Solar salt leads to more maintenance and decreased performance. To ensure the best water softening process, choose pellets instead of solar salt.

Different types of salt tend to work well together, and there is no real danger in mixing them. With that said, just sticking with pellets is the best best, whenever possible.

We recommend pellets over rock salt and other types of water softening salt.

Using table salt is not recommended, because the salt particles are quite a bit smaller and are thus much more likely to get “mushed up” within the system. Avoid regular salt in favor of products specifically made for water softening systems.

Kelson Carter

Article reviewed by:

Kelson Carter, aka, The Prince of Plumbing

Kelson is a 3rd generation Plumbing Contractor. His family business is located in Greenwood, Indiana, and provides Residential Plumbing Service to the Indianapolis Metro market.

Kelson grew up watching his grandfather and father do plumbing. After graduating high school, Kelson went to Trade School and became a Licensed Master Plumber and Licensed Plumbing Contractor. He is also Certified in Backflow Prevention. He currently owns and operates Carter's My Plumber with his parents.


Instagram

Schedule Your Appointment Now

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY

WE'RE HIRING! πŸ‘‘

Whether you're new to the trade and you're looking for somewhere to start or you've got years of experience and you're eager for opportunity, we'd love to chat with you about our available positions. Hear from some of our team members on why they chose & choose to stay Team Carter. 

We want YOU to join the FAMILY. Visit us online & fill out our employment form! 
https://www.cartersmyplumber.com/employment/
Happy 2 Year Work Anniversary to one of our apprentice technicians, Keith! πŸ’ͺπŸ’¦πŸ‘‘

Keith is eager to learn, always expanding his skillset in the trades, and makes sure the customer is taken care of! We are so grateful he's on our team and can't wait to see the growth that is to come! 

If Keith is in your home this week, give him a pat on the back! CONGRATS KEITH ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
317-859-9999
Three Generations. Lifelong Trade. Company that CARES. 

Call Carter's My Plumber and know you're in good hands, we've got a customer base of YEARS to vouch for us! 317-859-9999
Happy Veteran's Day to all Veterans, and especially to the three in the picture below. Thank you will never be enough πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Have a big job that you want completed, without the BIG MESS? We know just the crew- CARTERS! Take a look at one of our recent, trenchless sewer jobs. Then give us a call for a completey FREE estimate. 317-859-9999
Happy Tuesday! πŸ’¦πŸ’ͺπŸ› 

Meet Tim, one of our service managers. He's here to make sure our technicians and our customers are taken care of. The really cool part? He ran his own truck for YEARS and knows the ins and outs of the trades. 

We're grateful for a crew that values leadership and team work! Call Carter's My Plumber and make a family owned, local business YOUR contact of choice in the trades. 317-859-9999
Hey, Boo! Happy Halloween! πŸ‘»

Get on the schedule today so you can enjoy that sugar with your kids tonight! 317-859-9999
Everyone give our newest LICENSED PLUMBER, Joe, a BIG congrats on passing his certification test! He's got the skills and the OFFICIAL title to match. We're proud he's on our team! πŸ’¦πŸ› πŸ’ͺ

Call 317-859-9999 and ask for Joe, you'll be in the best hands!
HAPPY MONDAY! πŸ‘‘

Trucks are rolling & the water is HOT! 317-859-9999
Happy 1 Year Work Anniversary to one of our service plumbers, Kyle! This guy is knowledgable, hard working, and a skilled TRADESMAN! He takes pride in his work and always makes sure our customers are getting the BEST service! πŸ’¦πŸ› β­

Thanks for all you do, Kyle! If he's in your home this week, give him a big CONGRATS! 317-859-9999
JOEDY IN ACTION! Another one of our sales advisors lending a hand & keeping their plumbing skills handy. πŸ› πŸ’ͺπŸ’¦

Grateful for a TEAM and a trade that will always be in your back pocket!
Did you know we offer FREE estimates on your plumbing projects? It's an absolutely free, in person estimate to discuss concerns and pricing. That way there are NO surprises. 

Call us at 317-859-9999 to get on the schedule and meet one of our amazing plumbing sales advisors! πŸ‘‘πŸ’¦πŸ› 
It's Friday. The sun is out. It's officially fall weather. If you want to really knock the weekend out of the park, you'll call Carters to get Hot Water Today! πŸ’¦

www.cartersmyplumber.com
317-859-9999
Profound & Underground! πŸ’ͺ Shoutout to our dig division for getting the job done, and getting it done RIGHT! 

317-859-9999
We're celebrating one of our apprentice plumber, Jarred's, 4 Year Work Anniversaries tomorrow! πŸ‘‘πŸ› πŸ’¦

This guy is hard working, eager to learn, dependable, and ALWAYS on time. He's skilled in his trade and continually working to be even better. He's an all around good guy, at work & outside of it and we're beyond grateful he's on our team. 

If Jarred is in your home in the upcoming days, give him a pat on the back and a CONGRATS! He deserves it and more! 317-859-9999
Got a drain that needs clearing, but like with some extra OOMPH? We know just the guy & the truck for the job. 
317-859-9999 πŸ’¦
Beautiful day to see one of these bad boys in your drive! Hot Water Today or Its You We Pay! 317-859-9999