Softner Salt

**bobh33** · 07-12-2009, 09:47 PM

What's the difference (besides $2 a bag) between the HyVee/Menards cheap salt & the Morton Super Saver Pellets. Any plumbers in the house that can shed some light on this? Thanks!

**kingcy** · 07-12-2009, 10:25 PM

Salt is salt. Some salt does come in a 40lb bag so watch out for that.

**TarHeelHawk** · 07-12-2009, 10:29 PM

I usually just get the big 50 pound bags at Costco. They cost as much as the 40 pounders everywhere else. Usually I get 4 of them, and that lasts about 3-4 months.

I never knew how cool soft water was until I experienced it. Taking a shower with hard water now feels disgusting.

**Bobber** · 07-12-2009, 10:39 PM

Check the purity out. 1% non salt might not sound a lot, but if you put in 300 pounds in your tank, that's 3 pounds of junk that can clog up your system.

**tman24** · 07-12-2009, 11:02 PM

Does salt make you feel slimy while/after showering? If so I can't stand it, feels gross.

**kingcy** · 07-13-2009, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by tman24

Does salt make you feel slimy while/after showering? If so I can't stand it, feels gross.

You have no idea how a watersoftener works do you.

**tman24** · 07-13-2009, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by kingcy

You have no idea how a watersoftener works do you.

No I dont. I have gone to several hotels where i felt dirtier after the shower then i have before. I figured it was the water softner, but I may be wrong. I may be backwards in my assumptions. I have never had a water softner so I might not know what hard water feels like.

**Mr Janny** · 07-13-2009, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by tman24

No I dont. I have gone to several hotels where i felt dirtier after the shower then i have before. I figured it was the water softner, but I may be wrong. I may be backwards in my assumptions. I have never had a water softner so I might not know what hard water feels like.

likely if you take a shower and come out feeling slimy/scummy, it is a result of hard water, rather than soft water. Soap is much more effective in soft water.

also, the salt that you add to a water softener is used to recharge the zeolite in the water softener with sodium. Zeolite is the compound that pulls the minerals (calcium/magnesium) out of water, replacing them with sodium, and thus softening it. But after a lot of use the zeolite becomes full of calcium/magnesium and so the chemical reaction no longer works. Adding salt flushes the system with sodium, allowing the reaction to continue.

**CyPride** · 07-13-2009, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by jdewaard

likely if you take a shower and come out feeling slimy/scummy, it is a result of hard water, rather than soft water. Soap is much more effective in soft water.

also, the salt that you add to a water softener is used to recharge the zeolite in the water softener with sodium. Zeolite is the compound that pulls the minerals (calcium/magnesium) out of water, replacing them with sodium, and thus softening it. But after a lot of use the zeolite becomes full of calcium/magnesium and so the chemical reaction no longer works. Adding salt flushes the system with sodium, allowing the reaction to continue.

.....uh, thank goodness for google, eh?

**intrepid27** · 07-13-2009, 06:45 AM

My wife's uncle is a Culligan Man and he even admits that there is no difference (except the price). However, higher priced salt is usaually harder and will last longer. (FYI the big 50 lb white salt blocks are fine also.)

**TarHeelHawk** · 07-13-2009, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by tman24

Does salt make you feel slimy while/after showering? If so I can't stand it, feels gross.

The slimy feeling is the oil on your skin coming up that normally wouldn't get washed off with hard water, but as soon as you dry off, it's gone, and you really can't tell a difference.

Whenever me and Mrs. THH buy a new house, a water softener will be one of the first things we put in if it doesn't all ready have one.

**bos** · 07-13-2009, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by intrepid27

My wife's uncle is a Culligan Man and he even admits that there is no difference (except the price). However, higher priced salt is usaually harder and will last longer. (FYI the big 50 lb white salt blocks are fine also.)

You can use a salt block?

**4VR4CY** · 07-13-2009, 08:55 AM

We have a softener sitting in our basement needing to be installed. It has been there for over a year now.... I really really want to get it installed, but it just hasn't been a good year. I'm hoping we can get it done next month. I love soft water!!!!!

**CycloneYoda** · 07-13-2009, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by bostinelosd

You can use a salt block?

Do you have a cow?

**clones_jer** · 07-13-2009, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by tman24

No I dont. I have gone to several hotels where i felt dirtier after the shower then i have before. I figured it was the water softner, but I may be wrong. I may be backwards in my assumptions. I have never had a water softner so I might not know what hard water feels like.

There are a lot of people on this board that feel dirtier after showering. sinners.