An ion-exchange water softener works by collecting calcium and magnesium ions in a resin filter. Eventually the resin gets saturated with those ions and must be refreshed.
When the water softener goes through its regeneration cycle, it mixes the salt with water to make a very strong salt solution (brine), which it uses to flush the resin filter. The sodium ions in the brine replace the calcium and magnesium ions that have been collected by the resin; this refreshes the resin. During the cycle, the brine (with most of the salt) is flushed out to a drain (sewer) and is replaced with fresh water. The salt does not go into the household Plumbing (if the machine is working correctly).
The best salt for your water softener is typically high-purity, evaporated salt pellets or crystals. These options are recommended as they help maintain the efficiency and longevity of your water softening system. It's also important to use salt specifically formulated for water softeners to prevent clogging and other issues.
perhaps the obvious answer is best.... You need a new water softener when the water in your home is no longer soft water. Another reason to replace or upgrade a softener could be to go to a more efficient system that uses less salt or might be quieter or offer other advances in convenience - such as a remote control, lower pressure drop, less noisy etc.
The answer is.... "it should NOT taste like salt".... While water softeners use salt to function correctly, they only use salt during a process called "regeneration" which is usually scheduled to occur once every 3-7 days in a household softener. During regeneration, the softener rinses salt water thru the resin tank - but during this time, it supplies the home with untreated water that is bypassing the resin tank so it should not be salty. After the softener rinses the resin with salt water it next removes any excess salt out of the resin beads by rinsing with fresh water. All of the salt water and rinse water during the regeneration process is supposed to go directly out to drain, not into the household water supply. By the end of the regeneration the resin tank should be free of salt and there should be no salt taste. If there is a salt taste, it is because the softener is not working properly. The likely causes are: a) the softener may be defective. It may have an internal leak that is allowing some brine (salt water) to escape into the household plumbing during regeneration. b) the controller may be set up (programmed) incorrectly. In particular, the rinse-out time maybe programmed to be too short. (typically a system rinses for 5-10 minutes.) c) there may be a brine-tank problem which is causing the softener to make too much salt water and then it does not have enough time to rinse all of this excess salt out of the brine tank. For a typical household softener, the system should be consuming between 4 and 20 lbs of salt per regeneration (depends on the size of the system and the hardness of the water). If it is using much more than this, there is probably a problem with the brine tank that will either require a service technician to check and fix, if possible, or, if it is not worth paying the cost of replacement parts and labor to fix, you may need a new water softener.
No, the salt used in water softeners does not get absorbed into your body through showering. The salt is used in the softening process to remove minerals from the water, but it does not transfer to your skin or body during showering.
Yes it sure will. If you leave it with no salt for a week or two, mold will grow on top of the water. When this happens you will have to go through a plenty big job just to bleach it all out without affecting the rest of the fresh water system.
If you go to Tractor Supply, and Do It Best stores, Tru Serve or Menards All these stores carry the North American Salt Company water softeners.
When you have hard water in your home, the pipes get a build up of minerals in them, decreasing water pressure. Your sinks and tubs are hard to clean because of those minerals creating a build up around faucets and drains. Dishwashers and clothes washers get clogged up when they are operated with hard water, and you must use more detergent to get the dishes and clothes clean. A water softener can make your life easier in many ways. Baths and showers will leave your skin feeling soft and silky, and you won’t have as many problems with dry skin when you have a water softener. Your dishes and clothes will get cleaner and be better rinsed with soft water, and you will need less detergent to do the job. After cleaning the mineral deposits that came with hard water from your sinks and tubs, your water softener will ensure that cleaning will be a breeze in the future, and you won’t have that hard water film on shower doors and walls to contend with. Modern water softeners can be programmed to recharge only when needed instead of at certain set times like the old ones did. That will save money on water and softener salt, because if you use less water than normal for some reason, the softener will not recharge until the level of softened water gets low. When you go for a two-week trip, you won’t have to think of your softener wasting salt and water by recharging twice a week unnecessarily. You can connect a few pipes or all of your pipes to the soft water. You may want to leave the outside faucets unconnected to the softener, because your yard and garden do not need soft water. When you purchase a new water softener, some companies’ warranties offer free delivery of softener salt, and their technicians will make sure the unit is running correctly and even fill your softener with the salt for you. You will find that you save money on detergent, soap and cleaning supplies when you have a water softener, baths will feel luxurious, and you won’t need to use as many lotions to keep your skin soft.
In a water softener, the salt is typically added to a brine tank. When the water softener regenerates, the salt in the brine tank is mixed with water to create a salt solution, which is used to clean the resin beads inside the water softener tank. This process helps remove the built-up minerals and regenerate the resin beads for continued softening of the water.
The best Water Softener for your situation is down to personal choice and budget. Different types on the market include:Non Electric Water Softeners - Non-Electric water softeners are powered entirely by the incoming water pressure. As no electrical supply is required, it is easier to install, and you will not have to worry about costly repairs or higher monthly electricity bills. Non-electric softeners tend not to have fiddly controls, adding salt is all that is requred to keep them running smoothly. 
The twin tank versions offer constant unlimited softened water to your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Non-electric softeners are reported to be longer lasting and more reliable.Metered Water Softeners - Metered water softeners are the most economical softener when it comes to using salt and regeneration water. A metered softener will only regenerate when a pre-set volume of softened water has been used regardless of the number of days this takes.This avoids under- or over-regenerating of the softener when your water demand varies. Again ,the volume of softened water is calculated by the hardness of your water supply, the capacity of the water softener and number of people in the property.Time Clock Water Softener - The more basic water softeners operate on a timed basis. The time clock is set to carry out its regeneration on set days. This is usually calculated by the hardness of your water supply, the capacity of the water softener and number of people in the property. When installed, the softener is set to regenerate off peak-times (like at 2:00 am) at the calculated regeneration frequency. To ensure that soft water is always available, the interval between regenerations will be underestimated rather than overestimated.The softener will then regenerate at this set interval regardless of the volume of water used. If the water usage is low, for instance, one or more of the residents is away, there will be unused softened water capacity at the time of regeneration, which can be argued as an unnecessary waste of salt and regeneration water. Similarly, if there is an increase in your water usage, the softened water capacity will more than likely be exceeded and the water would go hard towards the end of the cycle before the next regeneration. If you are going to be away from the property for a period of time, i.e. on holiday, and there will be no water flowing through the water softener it is advisable that it is switched off until your return.
With installation expect to pay at least $500 for a water softener system. If you have a larger home or facility the cost will go up. Some systems sell for over $2,500 (not including installation).
If you are adding salt to a salt water pool with a salt water chlorination system and the TDS level does not go up then the problem probably lies with the chlorination system not working (the electrolysis unit or power supply). Adding salt directly to the pool will increase the TDS (Total Dissolved Salts) concentration of the water.
Having a water softener in your home is a great way to have cleaner, safer water with just one appliance. Many people are not aware of how damaging their tap water can be. If you are on a well, there are millions of minerals in your water at any given time. These minerals can do a number of different things to your skin, health, and to your plumbing. For one, hard water can aggravate dry skin and make it worse. For some, it can even irritate people with acne-prone skin. Some individuals who use hard water may find that their hair is also a little drier than usual when they shampoo it in the shower or bath.The water softener's job is to make the hard water softer. It does this by using salt that is poured into an appliance. The appliance is then connected to your home's plumbing. Each time you turn on the tap, your well water goes through the salt and out of the faucet or shower head. You may find that the water feels more slippery and that soap suds up more. You'll also find that your skin and hair are softer. Your pipes and plumbing also won't get that routine buildup of minerals anymore. It's just a safer and healthier way to use the water in your home.If you currently have a water softener and you're finding that the benefits are no longer there, you may need to get the appliance repaired. Appliances break down all the time, and your water softener is no exception. If you feel that the water you're using is making your skin dry and that there is a buildup of minerals on your taps, there's a good chance that your appliance may be in need of repair. Repairing and filling the softener with salt are two different things. All softeners need to be filled with salt at regular intervals. This depends on how much water you use and how often the softener is running. You can purchase this type of salt at your local department store, hardware store, or you can even go online to find the best deals possible.