It is not as simple as it may seem to determine the correct amount of salt to put in a water softener. The amount of salt that goes into your water softener will depend on the hardness level of your local water supply and what kind of water softener you are using (i.e., tank-type or cartridge-type). In general, 1 pound per 10 gallons should be enough for most household purposes.
Following are the factors that you have to consider before deciding on putting salt in your water softener.
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Determine the hardness level of your local water supply
The water hardness level is usually reported using the Grains per Gallon (GPG) measurement. For example, if your local water supply is rated at 10 GPG, this means that for every gallon of water you put through your softener, it will remove one-tenth of 1 grain of hardness from the water. In general, a quarter cup of salt will remove about a quarter grain of hardness from the water.
Find out what kind of water softener you are using and what level of salt has been set on the unit
As a general rule, the salt level should be high enough that you can see it in the brine tank when filling your water softener.
If you have a tank-type water softener, it usually needs to be filled with about 40 pounds of rock salt. If your cartridge-type water softener is rated for 10,000 grains and your local hardness level is 20 GPG, you should use about five pounds of salt. Decide how much salt to put in your water softener based on the information above.
If you have had to add more salt several times, it is a good idea to call a water softener professional for some maintenance. They will evaluate the unit and make any necessary adjustments.
Finish by testing your softened water with a TDS meter before adding any other chemicals like chlorine bleach or phosphate remover. Test again after 24 hours for best results.
Make sure that you clean and replace all filters on your system regularly for optimal performance and longevity of both the equipment and filter media.
Conclusion
Now that you know how much salt to put in your water softener, it’s important to make sure that the unit is cleaned regularly. If not, then your water could be contaminated with bacteria and other harmful substances. To prevent this from happening, schedule routine maintenance appointments when you need the most. Maintenance may include replacing filters or adjusting settings on the system if necessary.