Average Salt Amount Needed and Normal Water Level In Brine Tank

The amount of salt needed to properly recharge a water softener is mostly based on the amount of resins being recharged. 3/4 cu.ft. resin = 6 - 9 lbs. 1 cu.ft. resin = 8 - 10 lbs. 1.5 cu.ft resin = 12 - 15 lbs.

Typically, 9 lbs for 8 - 9 inch tanks, and 12 lbs. of 10" tanks is average. If there is a lot of iron ( over 2 ppm ) or if the water is really hard ( over 25 grains ), then 2 - 4 lbs. extra should be used.

So, an average residential system will use 6 - 12 lbs of salt per regeneration at least once a week. Very hard water, or water high in iron, may require regenerating every 2 or 3 days. The result is you will be using at least 30 - 40 lbs. of salt per month if hardness is not too high, or amount of water used low. Well water ( usually very hard and often containing iron ) will commonly require using 80 - 120 lbs. of salt per month. Simply multiply the pounds of salt per regeneration times the number of regenerations in a month to calculate your monthly average usage.

P.S. If you run out of Salt, don't expect to have soft water after a few days. And it may take more than one regeneration to get the water feeling soft again once you've added salt. I recommend keeping the salt level above the water level in your Brine Tank. When you start seeing the water level ( normally between 6 - 12 inches ) then it's time to think about adding more salt ( 40 - 120 lbs. ). * Does it matter which type of salt is used? Pellets or solar salt crystals? Is one better than the other?

* Either will work.

Recommend the solar salt crystals as they dissolve 100%, as opposed to the Pellets that leave an un-dissolved residue in the bottom of the brine tank. And this residue builds up until is clogs the float of the brine water in and especially, out of the salt tank. Requiring that the tank be dumped, emptied, and re-filled with new salt ( plus 4 gallons new water ) every 1 - 2 years on average.