Salt & Potassium: What to Use in Your Water Softener

Missoula water softener salt & potassium experts. Keep your system running efficiently, order or consult with us today!

Your water softener will work well with coarse salt, pellets, cubes, or potassium chloride. The most important rule is simple: don’t mix different salt types.

Sodium Salt Vs. Potassium Chloride Softeners

There are two main types of regenerant used in water softeners: sodium chloride (salt) and potassium chloride. Sodium is the most common and cost-effective choice, while potassium is a sodium-free alternative for households watching their salt intake. Here’s how the two compare:

Sodium (Salt) Options:
  • Works well for all softeners.
  • Most cost-effective choice, typically $8 to $14 per bag.
  • Available in coarse, pellets, or cubes, recommended for most households.
Potassium Chloride:
  • Sodium-free alternative, ideal for low-sodium diets.
  • Environmentally friendly with no salty taste, but costs $30 to $65 per bag and is less efficient.

Key Reasons Some Customers Choose Potassium

Potassium chloride is a good alternative for customers who prefer a sodium-free option. It does not add sodium to the water, instead it releases potassium, an essential nutrient. Here’s when it makes sense and what to consider before switching:

  • Health Concerns, ideal for households limiting sodium due to hypertension or other medical conditions.
  • Environmental Benefits, better for wastewater treatment systems and for customers who use backwash water on gardens or landscaping.
  • Important Considerations, potassium costs $30 to $65 per bag versus $4 to $10 for standard salt, may require up to 25% more product, and is not recommended for people with kidney disease or diabetes due to the risk of hyperkalemia.

Bottom Line on Potassium Chloride

Potassium chloride is a solid option for customers with specific health or environmental priorities. For most households, however, coarse salt or pellets remain the most cost-effective and efficient choice.
The short version: any of these will work well, coarse salt, pellets, cubes, or potassium chloride. Standard salt runs about $4 to $10 per bag and is the best value. Potassium is sodium-free, environmentally friendly, and has no salty taste, but costs $30 to $65 per bag and is less efficient.

What Our Clients Say

Some kind words from our respected clients

Do Mix or Don’t Mix, the One Rule That Matters Most

Coarse salt, pellets, cubes, and potassium chloride all work well in your softener, but never mix types in the same tank. Mixing causes bridging, caking, clogging in the brine well, and poor softener performance. Pick one type and stick with it. You can use any of the following (one at a time):

  • Coarse salt
  • Pellets
  • Cubes
  • Potassium chloride

Don’t mix pellets with cubes, don’t mix coarse salt with pellets, don’t mix salt with potassium chloride, and don’t layer different types in the tank. If you want to switch between salt and potassium, let the tank run low first so the types don’t combine. We also recommend avoiding any salt that comes in pellet form with binding adhesives, those can cause bridging, caking, and clog the brine well floats. Coarse or crystal salt is the safest bet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, just let the tank run low first so the types don’t mix.

Both work well. Potassium is chosen mainly for health or environmental reasons, not performance.

It costs more to produce and transport, which is why it runs $30 to $65 per bag.

It works, but it’s less efficient and may require more product and more frequent regeneration.

Not necessarily. People with kidney disease or diabetes should consult a doctor before using potassium chloride due to the risk of hyperkalemia.

For most customers, coarse salt or pellets provide the best performance and value. If you’re not sure which is right for you, contact McGowan Water Conditioning and we’ll help you choose.

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