What is Water Softener Salt?

What Is the Difference Between Water Softener Salt and Regular Salt?

Chemically, nothing! Both are sodium chloride (NaCl).

Many varieties of water softener salt are made from what you might know as table salt, the same as what you would use on your fish and chips! This is also known as PDV (pure dried vacuum salt) due to its method of extraction and purification. Others are made from refined sea salt to high quality standards. However, there is water softener salt on the market that is not made to these purity standards which is problematic. Purity matters when it comes to water softening so it is important to chose salt that meets these quality standards. 

Types of Water Softener Salt

Your water softener will be designed to use a specific format of water softener salt. At PureSalt, we sell a variety of water softener salt depending on your needs:

• Block Salt
• Tablet or crystal salt
• Granular salt
• PDV salt for bulk commercial water treatment

How Do I Know if I Need a Water Softener?

There are areas across the UK where they have what is called “hard water”. Hard water passes through rocks that have high calcium content and therefore naturally has lots of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in it. 

Homes and businesses in these hard water areas will see the benefits of fitting a water softener to reduce the damaging minerals found in hard water. These can damage heating systems and appliances, dry out your hair and skin, and make keeping your home sparkling a real chore. If you are seeing limescale in your kettle, water spots on your shower screen and taps, or struggling with eczema flare ups then a water softener might be right for you and your home.

What Happens if You Don’t Add Salt to your Water Softener?

Salt is essential to the water softener system and while it will still go through the processes without any salt in the machine, it will not give you soft water. However, we know that life happens and sometimes your salt supplies run empty. Running out of salt temporarily will not cause damage to your machine, and we can despatch water softener salt to be with you in a few days so no need to worry!

For commercial applications, running out of salt could be more problematic. For regular demand, our commercial salt team are on hand to help support with logistics of always having salt on hand. Speak to our team to see how we make water softener salt simple. 

What Happens if You Don’t Use Water Softener Salt?

Not using specific water softener salt will also cause issues. While it might be tempting to use PDV salt for your domestic machine, especially as they are chemically the same, PDV salt is too fine for domestic models and will cause blockages and costly repairs. It is important to use water softener salt in the correct format for your water softening equipment.

You cannot add just any salt to your water softener system. Salt that contains impurities such as sand or grit can cause lasting damage to your water softener, meaning costly repairs or even premature replacement for your water softener. Water softener salt in any format should meet European EN 973 Type A quality standards which regulates the purity of water softener salt, and here at PureSalt we only supply brands that meet these requirements.

Choose PureSalt for Reliable Water Softener Salt

Order online for an easy solution to your water softener salt needs, delivered nationwide. Still got questions about water softener salt and your requirements? Contact our friendly team who would be more than happy to help with any of your queries.