Potassium chloride and sodium chloride both soften water through the same ion exchange process. The result in your pipes is identical. What changes is the ion added to your water, the price you pay for salt, and how efficiently each one regenerates the resin. For most households, the higher cost of potassium chloride buys nothing … Read more
The main forms of water softener salt sold at hardware stores are pellets, solar crystals, rock salt, and blocks. For a standard two-tank residential softener, evaporated pellets are the right choice in almost every situation. Crystals work but are more prone to mushing and bridging, especially in warm or humid conditions. Rock salt leaves more … Read more
Water softener salt is the one part of a softener system that runs out on a schedule. Most households use a 40 lb bag every four to six weeks and spend between $100 and $200 per year, depending on water hardness and household size. Pellets, crystals, and block salt are not interchangeable, and using the … Read more