We like to share product recommendations with you and hope you like them! Just to make you aware Water Filter Data may collect a small share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
Water is a solution to a life that just can’t be supplanted by any other. However, as time passes, there seems to be a wild increment of impurity in water that’s provided to us. So, how do you get rid of the hard water? Well, you don’t. You install a water softener for your water supply and then buy the suitable salt for it! Deciding what water softener salt to purchase can be overwhelming. Diamond Crystal vs Morton Water softener salt – which is the best salt for your water softener? In this article, I’ll help you make the right choice while choosing the best salt for your water softener.
What Does Water Softener Salt Do?
If you’re considering buying or if you already have a salt–based water softener, it’s very important that you learn all there is to know about water softener salt, which is required to regenerate your softener. Choosing the proper one can make a world of difference, as they are not equally compelling on every machine. Moreover, a few of these salts might not be good for you if you’re suffering from certain health conditions.
First of all, don’t think that it’s the salt that softens water in. The resin beads in your water softener are the ones doing all the softening. When hard water comes to them, a process called ion exchange happens. So basically, the negatively charged resin beads, which hold sodium ions, draw within the positively charged magnesium and calcium ions in your water.
At the trade location, magnesium and calcium ions displace the sodium ions. In doing so you freed your water of the hardness – causing minerals. In exchange, your water picks up soluble sodium or potassium salt. After a certain amount of time, the resin beads would run out of sodium or potassium ions and need to be regenerated. That’s when the salt comes into play.
It is used to form a brine solution that can be stored in the brine tank. Regeneration produces hard water that contains higher levels of minerals than municipal water. Not each type of salt an equally good job ensuring that your water softener runs smoothly. There are two very important parts: the type of salt you want and the brand of salt. In this article, I will help you answer the first part of that question to guide you to refine your choice of brand.
The Brands
Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt
Features: great fragrances, kosher, sodium saccharide free, used by 65% of all water softener owners.
Price:$
Diamond Crystal Salt is the most advanced water softener salt ever. It is a kosher salt that comes in a convenient brine pack. It boasts a super–musky fragrance that is deliciously coconut and citrus. Its diamond crystal shape creates a consistent product that does not need to be rinsed. It is completely free of sodium saccharide, a mineral builder salt that can cause white spots in hard water areas. It can be used alternatively by people depending upon their health issues.
Furthermore, this salt lasts an incredible four times longer than any other salt out there! That is because the technology behind Crystal Diamond makes it highly absorbent, so it can soak up many more minerals to soften your water – and work for you for much longer. As it also contains no additives, Diamond Crystal can be used for seasoning food or for bringing and curing meats, poultry, vegetables, and fish.
This product can also be used to avoid rust buildup on laundry, fixtures, tubs, and sinks. It keeps you away from plumbing problems for sure! Diamond Crystal uses a patented manufacturing method to ensure an exceptional micro-fine grain size, which results in the highest quality salt for your water softener. They are also formulated to meet the high corrosion standards for chloramines, industrial wastewater, and seawater.
Diamond Crystal Salt is used by over 65 percent of water softener owners in North America and Canada. Not only does Diamond Crystal have a wide range of products, but they also offer one of the best warranties in the product. The salt crystals are larger than any other brand out there, which helps the water softener filter use less salt while reducing scale build–up. Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt has a host of unique properties that make it well suited for use in water softeners.
Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt Crystals have a white, opaque appearance and are highly recommended for use in all water softeners. After utilizing Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt, soft, delicate, bright towels and clothes, shiny and glossy dishes, and longer pipe and appliance life, which in the end can save you money. Diamond Crystal water softeners are available in different product ranges to suit varied requirements. In areas with high iron content in water, its Iron Fighter variant is highly efficient to reduce iron content and can become an ideal choice.
No doubt, it is the best investment for your health and your home.
PROS
✓ Removes heavy iron from water
✓ Handles make it easier to carry
✓ Clean salt with no channeling and bridging
CONS
X Expensive for what it is
Note
It is very important to note that a Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt is not implied for human consumption directly, nor can it remove the odor from the water. It should not be given to domestic animals also. It is purely a water softener salt implied to reduce the hardness of water and make it soft after the treatment.
Morton Water Softener Salt
Features: high purity level, popular, no hard minerals.
Price: $$
Morton Water Softener Salt is meant to make life easy for people. You may know Morton from your table salt, but the company is also the leader in water softener salt, which has gained a lot of popularity with customers over the years. As far as water softening goes, the formula of this salt does a great job. Aside from keeping the system clean, it also helps the resin beads regenerate with great efficacy.
There are no harmful chemicals used, and thus, it softens the hard water naturally. It is around 99 percent Sodium Chloride pure with no additives that showcase its efficiency. Morton Water Softener Salt is a naturally mined product, mined from an ancient sea bed. It is not manufactured, it is mined and then processed for use in the water softening process.
This salt is a special kind of softened water salt that does not contain any calcium, magnesium, or other hardness minerals dissolved in it according to Morton Salt. It is the cleanest form of softened water as it does not have any harmful minerals additions in it and it can be used for cleaning the clothes and water vessels. Extensively used in households as well as commercial settings, Morton Water Softener Salt is very effective and works efficiently.
Award–winning Morton Water Softening Salt is a specially formulated salt designed to work with your water softener system to protect your plumbing and appliances from the damaging effects of hard water. Many types of salt, especially rock salt, tend to leave mineral residue and sediment in the brine tank. This salt can ensure you that does not happen by cleaning the tan thoroughly. Due to its purity, this one is great for all water softeners.
PROS
✓ Resin cleaning additives keep softener clean
✓ Affordably priced
✓ Protects the system against damage
✓ Prevents rust
✓ Removes iron from water
CONS
X Would prefer a larger quantity
A Brief Comparison
Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt
Formation
Diamond Crystal is one of the most popular water softening items out there!
They are produced utilizing solar evaporation. Naturally occurring saltwater from sea, river, lake, or even from an underground resourced is channeled through a sequence of ponds. Amid this process, water gets evaporated due to the action of the sun and the wind. After some time, when the saltwater dries, salt crystals are formed.
These salt crystals are treated and then packed for use.
Benefits
- It comes in the form of crystals, soft pellets, or cubes (depending upon the requirement), which dissolves in water quickly
- Water fixtures do not get clogged easily
- Clothes do not lose brightness due to hard water
- Helps remove rusty stains from home appliances
- Easy to use and highly effective
- Soaps make more lather, thus help in cleaning
- Softened water is safe to use and drink
- It can also be used in pools
- Managing household chores become more manageable
- Available in an easy to carry bag
- Value for money
Features
Physical Appearance: The different forms that this salt comes in can be easily dissolvable in all waters.
Purity Meter: It is 99.6 percent pure and gives excellent results.
Usage: Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt is useful in the areas where there is high iron content in water.
Handling: The package is designed ergonomically. The material that is used is of high quality. Carrying the bag and sorting is easy.
Price Range: A 40 Lbs. bag costs around 8 dollars. Considering the benefits this salt brings, this is a minimal cost you can pay.
Morton Water Softener Salt
Formation
Morton Water Softener Salt is manufactured naturally through the evaporation of salty water from diverse natural resources. The salt residue left after the evaporation process is treated, packed, and dispatched for delivery. It is available in different forms, such as pellets, cubes, and crystals. In conjunction with the water softener, it provides pure, tasty, and way more refreshing domestic water. The water, thus treated is easier on clothes, and it makes them brighter. The glassware or ceramic dishes are less stained and are more striking.
The net result is better management of household chores, bringing a reviving smile to the occupant’s face.
Benefits
- The water is tasty and safe to consume
- The pipes and water fixtures are clean and unclogged. Less expenditure on changing defunct valves and rusted taps
- Clothes are bright and softer than before
- Less soap is required to bathe or less detergent is needed for washing clothes
- No deposit of sediments on water texture
- Stains free kitchenware, a refreshing change for house inmates
- No dry skin and softer hair
- Removes the minerals (magnesium, calcium) efficiently, making the water soft effortlessly
- Household electricity bill reduces
- Available in easy to carry bag for convenience
- Value for money
Features
Physical Appearance: Morton Water Softening Salt comes in the form of crystals, pallets, and cubes. All of them are equally dissolvable and work with the same efficiency.
Purity Meter: As far as purity is concerned, Morton lags a little behind Diamond Crystal. It is around 99 percent pure.
Usage: Since it is also a water softener, usage is also the same.
Handling: Morton Water Softener Salt also comes with a handle, which makes it easy for transportation. However, the packing material is not as good as Diamond Crystal.
Price Range: The price range is higher compared to Diamond Crystal.
Diamond Crystal Vs Morton Water Softener Salt – Face to Face!
Quality: In terms of quality, Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt is 99.6 percent Sodium Chlorine pure while Morton Water Softener Salt is around 99 percent pure.
Price: Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt is cheaper in comparison to the Morton Water Softener Salt.
Packaging: The quality of the bag of Morton Water Softener Salt is slightly better than the Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt. Thus, it is easy to carry or transport Morton Water Softener Salt bag.
Price: It is one of the most critical deciding factors before purchasing as the salt is used throughout the year. Only the water softener salt, which is economically viable, should be chosen.
Health Issues: People who have high blood pressure problems should opt for Potassium Chloride – based water softener and not a Sodium Chloride water softener.
Environment: Potassium salt is not harmful to the environment, while some amount of sodium discharged from a Sodium water softener is detrimental to plants.
How to Use Water Softener Salt to Avoid A Salt Bridge
Whether you choose Diamond Crystal or Morton water softener salt, you will find that a salt bridge is annoying. Salt bridges can happen regardless of the type of salt-based softener you use if you don’t shake up the crystals every once in a while.
Salt bridges can also occur when you overfill a tank, which is why the rule of thumb is to keep the amount of salt for water softeners you add around your knee level.
A salt bridge can form when the crystals of salt make a solid cake. It can affect the purity level of your water because there will be less efficiency from the filtration system. To increase the efficiency of your filtration system, here is how you can use your water softener salt effectively:
Step 1: Know just how much salt you need: I will show you how to calculate it so that you don’t unknowingly create a salt bridge. A salt bridge will prevent water from moving around properly, which will be a problem when you top off the new supply. Break the bridge with a suitable tool, like a wooden rod.
Step 2: Shake the salt tank, ensuring that you have separated every clump.
Step 3: Add the new supply and check back at least once a month.
How Much Water Softener Salt Should You Use?
Sodium is a big issue for many consumers. It should not be consumed in an uncontrolled quantity.
The amount of water softener salt that should be added to prevent a salty taste depends on how many people live in your home. The degree of hardness and quantity of metals in the water also matters.
If you have a small household, it is best to keep your brine tank half-full of salt crystals. Larger families should fill it to a third of the tank capacity, and smaller or two-person households need less than half the tank filled.
Regardless of how large your household is, ensure the water stays below the salt level. This is important because there must be direct contact before the purity rating can genuinely change.
You can use this formula to determine the precise amount of water softener salt you need:
Multiply the total gallons all members of your household consume by 110.
Conclusion
Hard water is becoming a troublesome issue in every household today. Families and individuals tend to ignore the issue of hard water until it gets to be immense and end up rupturing water fixtures, staining kitchenware, clogging pipes, water heaters, and other appliances.
Some individuals are not even aware of the hard water problem in their homes or that their dry hair and skin, and dull clothes are the result of a changing environment. As you can see, there are numerous things to take under consideration when purchasing water softener salt. Keep everything in this guide in mind if you want to make sure to find the right one!
While Diamond Crystal Water Softener Salt seems to win in purity (by 0.01 percent) and in variety, Morton offers lower-cost options that seem to be as effective. Both brands offer an assortment of choices, and both offer pellets, crystals, and rock shapes to fit every water softener need. You honestly can’t go wrong with either brand.
Also, if you want to choose the best salt for your water softener, check our guide here.
FAQs
1. How do I Know if there is too much salt in my salt tank?
If the salt level is higher than the water level, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have too much salt in your tank. A sizable amount is encouraged, but you can also add a little too much. However, you will know that is the case if the brine tank looks dry. Next time, avoid adding salt to a level higher than your knee – the water level should be slightly lower.
In contrast, if too much water is in the brine tank, add more salt. Be sure not to exceed a third of the container’s capacity.
2. Which is saltier – Diamond Crystal or Morton?
Morton water softener salt is saltier than Diamond Crystal water softener salt, which means that it tends to be more effective and efficient.
Wayne is a water quality expert – The founder of Water Filter Data. He has a degree in microbiology and his field of expertise is drinking water. His goal is to allow for clean and healthy water for as many people as possible.
