Some people believe that if you have a poorly functioning or faulty ion exchange resin bed in your system, then putting more sodium (pool or water softener salt) into your system will help keep those beds from going bad prematurely.
Others say that adding pool salt to your existing water softener on top of all the other chemicals and minerals already present may cause some problems with scaling or corrosion due to incompatibility.
There are also concerns about what happens when you add more sodium on top of what’s already being sent through your softener by the city. With varying opinions all over the place, should you or should you not use pool salt? Well keep reading to know more on this.
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So, can you add pool salt to your water softener?
Generally, it is not advised to use pool salt on your household water softener because,
- Some types of softeners aren’t compatible with table salt (the granules are too small).
- Table salt may harden inside your water softener.
- The salt will not soften your water like a salt-based water softening system would.
- The salt may corrode the softener.
However, there are special cases when this may be a viable option worth considering depending on the unique circumstances of your household and how much water you use in a given day.
What are some reasons that you might want to add pool salt to your water softener?
The most commonly cited reason for adding pool salt to a water softener is when doing so will fix an ongoing problem with insufficient softened water output.
In cases where a household has a water softener that is not properly functioning or one that is insufficient for the amount of usage, then adding pool salt to it will usually help to enhance its performance and create softer water because it has been shown to increase the capacity of an ion exchange resin bed.
In these situations, however, it’s important to get your water tested and make sure that there are no issues that could be causing the problem with the softener.
Failing to do this might just mask a much larger issue while wasting money on unnecessary extra salt.
What issues should you be wary of when adding pool salt?
There will always need to be a balance in water hardness and in the presence of other minerals in your water like calcium and magnesium.
Other minerals in your household’s water will interact with the ion exchange resin bed much like sodium does, so when you add more salt to allow for softer water, you should also consider adding potassium chloride along with it because that will reduce the overall concentration of sodium and will help avoid the buildup of scale and corrosion that happens when your water contains too much salt.
Another concern is that if there are issues with your current water softener or even damage to its resin bed due to mineral buildup, adding another chemical pool salt to your system could cause further issues.
If you are concerned about using salt in your system, consider these special cases when adding pool salt to a water softener.
When shouldn’t you add pool salt to your water softener?
If you do not have an ion exchange resin bed that is insufficient for your household’s water needs or current water softener, then there really isn’t any need to add pool salt.
Additionally, if your household does not use enough water in a given day to require softening, then adding pool salt will just result in over-salting before the water has a chance to be used.
Another common situation where pool salt is not recommended for use with a water softener is when your water contains high levels of other minerals besides sodium chloride, like calcium chloride or magnesium sulfate.
If you are unsure about whether or not pool salt is safe for use with your current water softener or household, contact your local water department to discuss your concerns with them.
Use good judgment when considering whether or not pool salt is the right choice for you in relation to your household’s unique circumstances.
Conclusion
Pool salt can be used in a water softener, but not always. If your household doesn’t use enough water to require softening, then adding pool salt will just result in over-salting before the water has a chance to be used. If you have a special case where the water contains high levels of calcium or magnesium, then it is generally recommended that you buy a new water softener instead of adding salt to your existing one.