Potassium Chloride Water Softener Salt Benefits (vs Sodium Salt)

Potassium chloride water softeners have become a go-to alternative to classic salt-based water softeners. This is because potassium chloride has several benefits, such as helping to reduce sodium intake and potentially lowering blood pressure.

So, which one should you choose?

In this guide, we discuss how both potassium chloride and sodium work within water softeners. We also cover the benefits and disadvantages of using each one and much more.

How Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride Salt Works

When hard water flows through the softening system, calcium and magnesium minerals in the water are absorbed by resin beads in the system during a process called ion exchange. When these resin beads reach their full absorption capacity, they’re flushed with a salt solution to remove the mineral buildup. The salt solution and excess minerals are then discharged from the system to drain.

But how do these resin beads absorb minerals in the first place? Well, on their own, they can’t. Their ability to absorb comes from the chemical makeup of the salt solution: potassium chloride or sodium chloride. Here is an excellent Scientific American article that explains exactly how it works.

To put it simply, potassium (or sodium) ions replace the calcium and magnesium ions that get stuck in the resin. The resin holds the hard minerals, while sodium or potassium is free to flow. Therefore, you get mineral-free but sodium or potassium-rich water.

Also Read: Different Types of Water Softener Salt & How to Choose

Potassium Chloride Benefits in Drinking Water

Potassium chloride is an ionic compound composed of potassium and chloride. It can be purchased at most drug stores and big outlet supply stores. It’s generally available in granular, powdered, or tablet form.

When you use potassium chloride in your water softener instead of sodium, it reduces your sodium intake and also adds potassium to your drinking water. There are several health benefits of consuming supplementary potassium either via food or beverages, such as:

• Stroke prevention: High-potassium diets have been linked to a decreased risk of strokes in some studies.
• Reduced blood pressure: Potassium can lower blood pressure by eliminating excess sodium from your bloodstream.
• Kidney stone prevention: Potassium can reduce kidney stone formation by lowering urine calcium levels.
• Water retention reduction: As it increases urine production, potassium can help to reduce water retention.

However, the amount of potassium that’s added to drinking water via a water softener is hard to regulate. So, there may be too much or too little in the drinking water you consume. As a result, it’s usually best to get your potassium from food sources like bananas, avocados, oranges, and leafy greens.

Potential Side Effects of Using Salt in Your Water Softener

As we mentioned above, potassium chloride salt will enrich your drinking water with potassium, while salt-based softeners will do the same with sodium.

While high sodium intake can lead to health complications, it’s worth noting that water softeners don’t increase your sodium consumption to such dangerous levels unless you have very hard water and have to use a large volume of salt.

The best way to determine the levels of sodium in your drinking water is to send your water for testing. If you’re on a low-sodium diet, the sodium levels in the water shouldn’t be over 20 milligrams per liter (mg/L).

If you want to switch to potassium salts to avoid excessive sodium consumption, you should be aware that too much potassium can also have negative side effects, especially for people with pre-existing conditions such as impaired kidney function.

Is Potassium Chloride Good for Plants?

Watering your plants with potassium chloride-rich water can have several benefits:

• It can improve the yield of fruit trees and the quality of the fruit.
• It promotes root development, healthy growth, and vigor in plants.
• It promotes the binding of soil particles, leading to improved soil structure and soil pH regulation.
• It can make plants more resistant to diseases by strengthening cell walls.

Yet, it should be noted that there can also be some downsides. For instance, the chloride component in potassium chloride can lead to ion imbalances and toxicity issues in some plants.

Can You Mix Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride Together?

One of the main drawbacks of potassium chloride is that it’s more expensive than sodium.

However, as mentioned, it helps to reduce your sodium intake. So, is there a way of combining the two and getting the best of both worlds? The answer is, absolutely!

You can simply mix the two together and then fill up your brine tank. In fact, many manufacturers actually recommend using a combination of the two.

Is It as Effective as Using Sodium Chloride Salt?

There are some studies that support the claims that potassium chloride is just as effective as sodium chloride in water softening.

So, why isn’t everyone using potassium chloride for their water softeners? Well, as mentioned, salt-based softeners are a lot more affordable. Potassium softeners are usually double the price of salt-based ones. By the looks of things, potassium solution prices will keep climbing with no end in sight.

Also, while potassium chloride is effective at removing minerals, consumers often complain about a metallic or bitter taste in the water once they start using it. This is more likely to occur if you have to use high volumes of potassium chloride to purify your water.

In Closing

Ultimately, potassium chloride and sodium are both excellent options to use in your water softener. However, if you want to reduce your sodium intake, it’s best to choose potassium chloride. Doing so can also have some health benefits, like reduced water retention and blood pressure.

Yet, potassium chloride is often twice as expensive as sodium. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, it’s better that you stick with sodium.