Water softeners are vital for maintaining clean drinking water at all times. Regardless of whether you get your water from a well or a municipal facility, it tends to contain a number of minerals that, if not neutralized, can pose a health risk. A water softener is what makes the water safe and drinkable by eliminating the excess amount of minerals present in it. It goes a long way in saving the plumbing system by preventing the build-up of minerals inside the components.

Turns out, there are several benefits you get with the use of water softener. Yet the question remains: what happens if my water softener runs out of salt? Salt holds much importance; it is what changes the water’s properties and helps make the water soft.

It is said that without salt, a water softener is of no use and will not serve even the basic purpose of softening the hard water. Is it really the situation or just a fable? Let’s find it out. Water safety and quality are what matter in the end.

If you aren’t sure what a water softener is and how it even works, we will discuss that too later on in this article, but first, let us get the answer to our main query, and that is what happens if the softener runs out of salt.

What happens when your softener salt ends?

There are a variety of softeners available in the marketplace, and salt-based softeners are one of them. Despite being one of the most efficient, they are useless without salt.

Salt acts as a fueling agent, and without it, water softening would not be possible unless you are using other methods.

So if there is no salt, the softener will not work, and you get hard water as it is.

It explains in a single sentence that water softener will be of no use without salt, but why is this the case. For that, you need to understand how a softener works and why salt is so important.

What is a water softener?

Starting with the basic understanding so that you get it clearly, a water softener is a kind of filtration system that is particularly used for softening the hard water.

Now, what is hard water? Water that has a high mineral concentration is said to be hard. Hard water is not entirely safe to drink because it has high absorption of minerals. Plus, the minerals cause the plumbing system to be clogged as the deposits build up in the water lines, fixtures, and appliances.

Aside from that, hard water leaves stains on appliances, clothes, and anything for which it is used for. In addition, it makes the cleaning process even more difficult as minerals react with soaps or detergents.

As a result, hard water is a serious problem that needs prompt action.

Softening hard water is possible by using a water softener, which is one of the most effective techniques. It does this by removing high levels of minerals from the water.  The process overall is called an ion exchange process.

How does water softener salt work?

Scientifically speaking, the minerals ions are replaced with sodium ions during the water softening process. This makes the water soft, and you won’t have to face issues like hard water stains. Plus, water softening increases the effectiveness of detergents in removing dirt and oil from clothes and dishes. Above all of that, you are provided with clean and safe drinking water.

The working of the softener is quite easy to grasp. It contains a resin that is usually covered with positive sodium ions, and as the water flows through, the minerals ions are attracted toward it if present in the water.

This way, a balance of electrical charge is maintained on the resin by releasing sodium ions into the water. As part of its upkeep, the softener unit needs to be added a bag of sodium chloride salt every so often to prepare this salty rinse water.

This overall process tells us how important salt is for the softener that, without it, it serves no purpose. In order to keep removing unwanted minerals from the water, resin beads need to be replenished with softener salt.

This explains that when the water softener runs out of salt, you will start getting the water unfiltered and will have to go through the issues like stains, blockages, and all other similar problems you face with hard water.

Conclusion

For salt-based softeners, running out of salt is not an option as, without it, the softener wouldn’t do its job. On the other hand, hard water is not at all feasible for your health, the plumbing system, and as well as for household chores. Thus, if the only water source you have is providing you with hard water, you shouldn’t let the water softener run out of salt.