Is the Salt for Kinetico Water Softeners a special type?
russ14
13 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (16)
asolo
13 years agoruss14
13 years agoRelated Discussions
water softener salt pellets in water for garden
Comments (19)Well, the aquifer the water is stored in is surrounded by limestone which happens to be the foundation for my soil. The majority of the water for my garden comes from the hose. So all of those things in the water that makes it hard is being added to the already alkaline soil. Most of the plants in my vegetable garden handle this okay, some of my roses, not as much and my Japanese maples get rain water, only. Of the 2 outdoor spigots on my house, one gets water through the softener and one does not. I hook the hose up to the one that does not, just due to the high price of the potassium. I give dirty looks to the person in the house who will sometimes use the other spigot out of convenience. If I have to water a more sensitive plant with the hard water, I sometimes add some vinegar to react with the limestone. I also make a point to make sure to leave some beds open (i.e., do not cover all with row cover fabric) so that any little of natural precipitation I get can help leach out some of the build up from the water....See MoreKinetico Water Softener - Math Doesn't Work?
Comments (6)homerguy, Since you didn't include the model of Kinetico or it's volume of resin for each tank nor the 40k softener you quote I can't check your math but I'll offer the following... In order to make an accurate comparison you need to consider at what salt dose each softener is regenerating and what volume of resin is being regenerated?. For example, 1 cubit foot of resin will soften: 20,000 grains with 6 lbs of salt 24,000 grains with 8 lbs of salt 27,000 grains with 10 lbs of salt 30,000 grains with 15 lbs of salt Another consideration of efficiency is that a twin resin tank softener will regenerate very close to the complete exhaustion of the resin's hardness removal capability while a single resin tank softener will regenerate early and usually lose the calculated reserve that has been set aside which wastes salt and water and over time will add up. Twin resin tank softeners make brine with softened water AND regenerate with softened water while some single resin tank softeners make brine with softened water but none that I know regenerate with softened water. Regenerating with soft water = longer resin life and reduces operating cost long term... efficiency related if you consider service life and repair cost....See MoreWill R/O remove salt - Kinetico softener?
Comments (3)I don't know whether the resin needs to be replaced (we had to replace our 10-year old softener because the resin was just shot, and it was cheaper simply to get a new one), but I believe that an R-O will definitely get rid of the salt (it does for us at least). Due to the excessive amount of salt in the water, you may find that you have to replace the R-O membranes more often than usual. Another idea is to replace the sodium salt with potassium salt. I think that potassium is less detectable to taste than sodium is. And, it's healthy for you, too. The potassium bag says that 8 glasses of potassium water is equal to eating a banana. In any case, I do think that you're softener needs to get looked at. If the water is going hard in-between softening cycles, it could be the resin, or it could be that it's not being regenerated enough. If your water varies in hardness throughout the year, you may have to modify your regeneration cycles correspondingly, or set your regeneration cycles for the maximum hardness you're likely to encounter....See MoreYes or No to Easy Water (no-salt) water softener?
Comments (40)I'd love to believe that these no-salt water softeners work as it is a chore to lug salt to the water softener but none of them have an understandable scientific basis with solid controlled experimental evidence to support it. While conventional water softeners work on a clearly understood and easily confirmed chemical process. When we move to our present home, it was clear our water had unacceptable levels of calcium in it. We're on a neighborhood well and well water in many regions has this problem. We have both a front loading washer as well as a continuous melting ice maker. Both had problems with our water immediately. Continuous melt ice makers don't tolerate scale at all. The deposits on the freezing plate interfere with the sheets sliding off and cause the unit to jam up. I was having to clean the freezing plate on ours monthly. Front load washers also have all sorts of problems with hard water. The soap forms scum deposits which quickly become smelly. I was running two packs of washing machine cleaner through ours every month to try to combat this. Plus I had the usual scale on the dishes and bath fixtures, plus the soap scum buildup in the showers. I installed a basic Whirlpool water softener from Lowes and this immediately solved all our problems. I clean the ice maker about once a year which was the same frequency I had done it in our previous house on city water. And occasionally I run a washer cycle with washing machine cleaner but no longer does our washer continuously get smelly. This is also a good place to point out that the science behind calcium removal using resins with salt or potassium salt is the same across all brands. I won't argue that $3,000 water softeners have a lot of extra features that you will not find in a $400 Whirlpool one. BUT the way the remove calcium is exactly the same. They ALL use an ion exchange resin that substitutes sodium for the calcium. Periodically the resin is flushed with super saturated salt water to unbind the calcium, dispose of it, and replace it with more sodium for a new cycle. Note, it is a myth that water softeners add salt to your water, they add sodium, not salt. For those that are concerned with sodium intake, for a little more money, potassium chloride can be used instead of regular salt in just about any resin based water softener. As a plus with potassium, those with gray water systems can have a water softener and still use the waste water on plants and the lawn....See Moreandy_c
13 years agoasolo
13 years agoandy_c
13 years agoMichelle Johnson-Smith
7 years agoUser
7 years agoMichelle Johnson-Smith
7 years agoUser
7 years agoHU-440343818
5 years agoBruce in Northern Virginia
5 years agoRussell Wilson
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHU-872188012
3 years agoJake The Wonderdog
2 years agoaquahow
2 years ago
Related Stories
HEALTHY HOMEHow to Choose a Home Water Filtering System
Learn which water purification method is best for your house, from pitchers to whole-house setups
Full StoryEARTH DAYHow to Build a Greener Driveway
Install a permeable driveway to keep pollutants out of water sources and groundwater levels balanced
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard
End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGThe Quick and Easy Way to Clean a Microwave
All you need is water and a couple of other natural ingredients to get your appliance sparkling and smelling fresh again
Full StoryPATIOSPatio Details: Simple Materials Make for a Sophisticated Space
Low water bills and minimal maintenance are just part of the beauty of this handcrafted backyard deck and patio
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGWorld of Design: The Joy of Moss and Its Modern Uses
This great design plant is 400 million years in the making. See how it’s inspiring art, soothing spaces and building design
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPING10 Reasons to Love Outdoor Showers
Keep summertime dirt and sand outside with a shower area that turns an everyday routine into an exhilarating experience
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNDisplaying Kitchen Supplies — Hot or Not?
Do some kitchens just beg for a cozy row of canisters and gear for all to see? Have a look and let us know what you think
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Clean a Glass Shower Door
See which tools and methods will keep those glass shower walls and doors sparkling clean
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGThe Best Way to Get Your Windows Spotlessly Clean
Learn the pros’ tips and tricks for cleaning windows and getting them streak-free
Full Story
asolo