Chemicals In Water Softener Pellets And Its Effects

A water softener removes the hardness minerals, calcium and magnesium, from your water. When water with these hardness minerals passes through the water softener, the calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to resin beads inside the softener. In turn, the resin beads release sodium ions. Water without the hardness minerals is "soft." Salt is used to recharge the resin beads once they are saturated with magnesium and calcium.

The type of water softener pellets you add to your brine tank is associated with the type of water softener you own. Sodium is the most common chemical used to soften water. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages associated with using sodium pellets.

The main advantage of using sodium softener pellets is that sodium is a mineral that is required for human life. The amount of sodium that remains in the water supply after the ion exchange process is minimal, but can still prove beneficial. If we did not intake any salt we would die. Another benefit is that a bag of sodium crystals costs about $5. In comparison to other types of pellets for water softeners, sodium is the cheapest.

Although sodium is a mineral required for human life, for some people too much can cause them health problems. Although the amount of sodium that an individual can obtain from a water softener is minimal, people who have high blood pressure have to restrict their sodium intake and the amount from a water softener can cause a problem.

Another disadvantage of using sodium water softener pellets is that the sodium can cause problems with plants. If you water your plants with water softened with sodium, the leaves on your plants will start to brown and the plants will eventually die.

An alternative to sodium pellets is potassium chloride. Using these types of pellets has advantages and disadvantages as well. For people with concerns about sodium intake, potassium chloride is a good substitute. Potassium chloride is a salt substitute that has been found to actually lower blood pressure. Because everyone is different, you should discuss this with your health professional before using potassium in the water softener exchanger.

Potassium chloride is also beneficial to plants. The one disadvantage of using potassium chloride pellets is the cost. While a bag of sodium pellets costs around $5, a bag of potassium chloride pellets of the same weight costs around $10. You will need to weigh the pros and cons of each type to determine which type is better for your situation.
 



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