What happens if my water softener runs out of salt

Clover Dane

Updated on:

What Happens If My Water Softener Runs Out Of Salt

The purpose of a water softener is to make water soft with the use of softening salts. For the proper working of the water softener, the system requires enough amount of salt in it. Afterward, when there is a shortage of salt, then the system will not be able to produce soft water. As a result, it merely means that the water is with all hard minerals. In this case, what happens if my water softener runs out of salt?

The majority of the people consider that the water softeners run out of salt cause no problem. But, in reality, it causes long term damage.

No salt means no soft water

As we above told, the water softener with no salt means that there is no more soft water. The output water is not great for bathing. And, it is not great to use in any appliances for their functioning. It will not only cause hard water, but it also inhibits the flow of the water.

Most of the time, users forget to check the salt of the water softener. You have to know when the water softener runs out of salt before facing many problems.

What Happens If My Water Softener Runs Out Of Salt

Hard minerals and iron start get in the control valve

The untreated water moves towards the control valve and the main chamber of a water softener. These are the central elements of the system of water softener and utilize salt. Furthermore, if the system will run out of salt, then the hard minerals will get into the piston chamber.

The iron & hard minerals will move towards the delicate gears when the system runs out of salt. It happens in the non-electric water softener. The gears control the system as well as the process of regeneration.

Read more

Why Does Soft Water Feel Slippery?

Does Boiling Water Remove Chlorine

Well Water Vs City Water Pros And Cons

In addition to it, the hard minerals will build on the venturi & the internal screen of the water softener. The purpose behind the venturi is to draw the brine solution. Likewise, if the hard minerals will build on the venturi, it will not draw brine solution. Further, the system cannot clean the resin bed of softening. As a result of it, it surely means that no more production of soft water.

When the system has a deficiency of salt, then the resin bead will cover with hard minerals. In the meantime, the resin of the water softeners will not produce the soft water.

Significantly, the take care of salt level in the system is necessary. The hard minerals in the control valve lead to the expensive repairing of the system.

Permanent etching on everything when softener runs out of salt

Next, the run out of salt from the system can cause permanent stains on the shower door and glassware. Namely, the water softener with no salt in it will produce hard water. Ultimately, that hard water causes a permanent stain on everything.

After that, you may consider that the hard water stain can easily remove from the glassware. But generally, the pigments become non-removable in a short time. On the other hand, the silverware will look as it will never clean.

The white film of the stains on the glass shower walls will look as they become damage. As a matter of fact, such stains will never remove, though you want to clean. Lastly, it would help if you replaced the shower enclose. Thereby, it leads to expensive cost.

Salt tank could overflow when the shortage of salt

It is not a very common problem, but it becomes the worst one for everyone when this happens. Besides the hard water stains, the salt tank could overflow when the system runs out of salt.

This is present in the non-electric softener as compared to the electric softener. For instance, the salt of the water softener has some dirt in its bag. That dirt will settle to the tank’s bottom. When the non-electric water softeners run out of salt, the dirt will move upwards. When more salt adds to the tank, the soil will enter the shut-off valve.  

Moreover, the water will keep flowing in the salt tank, and in short, the water will flow over there. Usually, no one knows about the deficiency of salt for many years. Subsequently, you will see when the water is getting all on the floor.

The simple solution is that always keep a check on the salt in the water softener. Therefore, when the system runs out of salt, you will immediately add the salt to the system.

In particular, if the softener operates without salt, then hard minerals will build. The amount of the hard minerals is large. Singularly, in this condition, you will need a water softener cleaner. The excess amount of hard minerals will instantly remove from the system.

If you know that the water softener runs out of salt, do not panic. Add the water softener salt with sanitizer in the system. To summarize, a water softener will start to work correctly.

Bottom line

In conclusion, it is essential that the system has enough salt for functioning. On the negative side, if the water softener has a deficiency of salt, it will produce hard water. Also, it will cause hard water stains. At last, the lifespan of the water softener also becomes shorter.

The electric water softener will less effect from the run out of salt in the system. In contrast to the electric softener, the non-electric softener has issues due to no salt. Salt is the foremost important thing for the appropriate working of the water softener. Accordingly, it produces soft water, which is free from hard minerals. With the above information, you will know what happens if my water softener runs out of salt.

Wherefore, the water softener runs out of salt will cause many problems. Consequently, you have to check the salt in the system regularly. It makes it a part of your routine to check the salt in the water softener daily. Finally, no such problem will face. You will avoid all such issues due to the deficiency of the salt.