Frequently Asked Questions

Hard water is water that contains a high amount of dissolved minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium.

For more information, check out our Hard Water Blog.

• Scale deposits that can clog pipes and limit water flow in plumbing fixtures and appliances
• Shortened equipment and appliance life, including washing machines and dishwashers
• Soap scum rings and stains on bathroom fixtures, sinks, tubs and showerheads
• Newly washed clothes looking dingy or feeling scratchy
• Noticeable spots on glassware, cutlery and dishware
• Filmy residue on skin after bathing
• Increased use of detergents in dishwashers and laundry machines

For more information, check out our Hard Water Blog.

One of the simplest and least expensive ways to test for hard water is with a water hardness test strip, which can be purchased at a local hardware store. The strip measures the grains of hardness per gallon (i.e., the hardness of water relative to the amount of magnesium and calcium present), which establishes the level of hardness in your water.

For more information, check out our Hard Water Blog.

The difference comes from how they are manufactured. Please consult your water softener system owner’s manual to see if a certain salt shape is recommended over the other. All SureSoft water softener salts are high-quality, high-purity products that are compatible with all traditional water softeners.

Cubes: are about 3/8” thick and vary in width and length.
See: SureSoft® CubesPlus® with Resin Clean, SureSoft® CubesPlus® with Rust Buster

Pellets: are shaped like a cough drop and can vary in thickness.
See: SureSoft® PelletsPlus® with Resin Clean, SureSoft® PelletsPlus® with Rust Buster

Crystals: resemble oversized grains of table salt.
See: SureSoft® Extra Coarse

For more information, check out our Water Softener Salt Blog.

Salts with Resin-Cleaning Additives: help reduce residue buildup and the accumulation of insolubles in the resin tank of your water softener system by cleaning the resin beads.
See: SureSoft® CubesPlus® with Resin Clean, SureSoft® PelletsPlus® with Resin Clean

Salts with Iron-Fighting Additives: help prevent the accumulation of iron deposits in your water softener system and pipes and prevent rust stains on fixtures and appliances.
See: SureSoft® CubesPlus® with Rust Buster, SureSoft® PelletsPlus® with Rust Buster

For more information, check out our Water Softener Salt Blog.

Rock Salt: obtained by the traditional mining of underground salt deposits.

Solar Salt: obtained mainly through the evaporation of seawater or inland brine resources, solar salt is purer than rock salt.

Evaporated Salt: obtained mainly by evaporating the moisture in dissolved salt brine and is the purest form of salt.

For more information, check out our Water Softener Salt Blog.

When used in a traditional water softener, potassium chloride water softener products are a great option for sodium-conscious families to use as an effective substitute for salt. Consider the sodium-alternative product Nature’s Own® Potassium Cubes to help condition your water.

• Helps prevent mineral deposit buildup in pipes that can decrease water flow efficiency
• Minimizes maintenance and repairs and extends the life of your water softener system and other appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, coffee makers and ice machines by reducing hard water scale buildup.
• Supports lower energy and water use which can help cut utility costs
• Decreases soap scum rings and soap scum buildup on bathroom fixtures, drains, toilets and showerheads
• Reduces spots on glasses and dishes for cleaner, shinier tableware
• Provides softer-feeling skin and hair

Plumbed into a home’s water supply, a water softener is a mechanical appliance that includes a resin tank filled with a bed of resin beads and a brine tank that holds a salt solution.

To soften hard water, a process known as cation (ion) exchange occurs where the positively charged calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water exchange places with positively charged sodium ions attached to the active sites on the resin beads as the hard water pass through the resin bed. The result is softened water.

As a resin bead attracts more and more calcium and magnesium minerals, its ability to soften the water is lessened and the regeneration cycle occurs. In this cycle, the calcium and magnesium minerals are flushed from the resin tank, and the resin beads are replenished with new sodium ions from the brine solution in the brine tank.

For more information, check out our Water Softener Salt Blog.

Cabinet Style: The cabinet-style system provides a space-efficient solution, housing both the resin tank and brine tank within a single unit.

Side-by-Side Style: The side-by-side style system has a larger footprint, as the brine tank is separate from the resin tank.

Backwash: the water flow is reversed into the resin tank to wash any collected debris off the resin beads and flush it into the drain.

Brining: brine solution travels from the brine tank into the resin tank to displace calcium and magnesium from the resin beads. The brine and hard minerals are flushed down the drain leaving the resin beads recharged with sodium or potassium ions.

Rinse: freshwater flows through the resin tank rinsing and packing down the resin beads. The brine tank is reloaded, and the process begins again.

Our water softener salt products are certified by the NSF as a safe drinking water treatment chemical. Compass Minerals Inc. does not recommend or make any guarantees on the use of our products outside the stated intended use.

Please refer to your water softener system’s user manual for guidance on the proper steps to clean and maintain your water softener system.

All SureSoft® water softener salt products are sourced and manufactured in North America.