Can You Overfill a Water Softener With Salt?

A water softener is a relatively simply appliance to own. Outside of adding salt pellets into its brine tank every now and then and cleaning occasionally, there’s not a lot of maintenance involved. Still, there is a science to adding salt to a water softener. This begs the question, can you overfill a water softener with salt? Why yes, yes you can.

Learn the Basics

Let’s start by discussing why a water softener requires salt in the first place. Salt contains sodium—an element that plays a key role in the process of eliminating hard minerals from a home’s water supply. During a process known as ion exchange, positively charged sodium molecules attach themselves to the tank’s negatively charged resin to help capture and remove hard calcium and magnesium minerals. So, how much salt is too much when it comes to water softeners? It’s important to carefully adhere to the recommendations listed in your specific water softener’s owner’s manual, but generally speaking, you should keep the brine tank between one-third and two-thirds of the way full of salt. Adding more than that can lead to the formation of salt bridges—salt towards the top of the brine tank that clumps together and cannot be used by the water softener. The salt below the bridge will run out, but the tank will still appear to be full due to the suspended salt bridge. If you notice an increased amount of hard water in your home, be sure to check for salt bridges. If the brine tank is less than one-third of the way full, add more salt according to your water softener’s instructions.

Florida’s Go-To Water Softener Company

Since 1989, Florida Energy Water & Air has been the state’s premier provider of innovative water treatment solutions, including American-made water softeners from industry-leading manufacturer RainSoft. Whether your household is large or small, we can provide the perfect water softening system for your home’s water usage needs and your family’s budget. Choosing Florida Energy Water & Air for a new water softener also means that you’re partnering with true industry experts for this important investment. As one of the top authorized RainSoft dealers in the country and an authorized service provider for The Home Depot, we adhere to the highest standards of craftsmanship and never cut corners. Thanks in part to our incredible professionalism and expertise, we maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Schedule a Free Quote

Our team is here to answer any questions you may have about our water softening systems and help you make a smart investment in your home. Contact us today to receive a free quote! Florida Energy Water & Air proudly serves homeowners throughout the Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Melbourne, and West Palm Beach areas. Easy-term financing options are available—give us a call for more information.