Before you march off, let’s clear up one more thing. You might see “pellets” and “crystals” next to a bag marked rock salt. Run. Rock salt is cheap, but it’s full of dirt and minerals that can gum up your system. Pellets and crystals are both processed to be purer, but rock salt is basically the litter box of the salt world.
Side note for the curious: If you have a iron problem in your water, pellets are almost always recommended. Crystals can actually worsen the iron staining because of their higher impurity levels. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when your laundry turns orange.
Water Softener Salt Pellets
What’s Your Water Really Like?
Here’s the part where I ask you to actually test your water. Most people guess. “It’s kinda hard, I think.” That’s like guessing your blood type. Get a test kit—they’re cheap—and check your grain hardness. If it’s below 15 grains per gallon, crystals might work fine. Above that? Pellets keep your system running like a dream.
Also, consider your regeneration frequency. A high-efficiency softener? Feed it pellets. An older, simpler model? Crystals won’t make it cry. Your appliance manual is the boss here—not the guy at the hardware store named Chad.
