05 March 2019

Can I use any type of salt in my water softener?

There are certain types of salt that are recommended for use in water softeners. 

Manufacturers of single tank softeners will often recommend using pellets to prevent the formation of a salt crust around the salt tank. Softeners that don’t have a salt screen in the bottom of the salt tank may also work best with pellets or cubes to avoid crystals being sucked into the salt draw pipe.

Ice melt and table salt is not recommended for water softeners. Both have smaller crystals which can lead to mushing and makes it less suitable for water softeners. Ice melt is also less pure than water softener salt and would require more frequent clean out of the salt tank.

It is best to follow the manufacturer’s directions if they recommend one type of salt over another.