Does Water Softener Potassium Have Health Benefits?

If you’re looking for a salt-free water softener, potassium chloride is one possible alternative.

For many years, salt has been an acceptable form of water softening. Potassium chloride has a similar effect on hard water as salt, but with healthier results.

Hard water is caused by excessive amounts of minerals in the water, particularly calcium and magnesium. Calcium is responsible for causing the majority of hard water related problems because it has a tendency to solidify into a hard eggshell-like substance known as scale. It sticks to practically any surface, which can mean trouble for the insides of water pipes.

If hard water is left untreated, scale buildup inside pipes can become so thick that it actually clogs the pipes or reduces water flow to a mere trickle. Scale can also clog your shower heads as well as the insides of any appliances which use water, such as the coffee maker, dishwasher or washing machine.

One of the biggest problems caused by scale involves the hot water heater. A hot water heater element coated with mineral scale does not heat the water as effectively as it’s supposed to, which means the heater has to work much harder than it was designed for in order to keep the water heated to the desired temperature. Eliminating the calcium from the water prevents scale from forming and thus eliminates these problems.

Traditional methods of water softening generally involve the use of a chemical reaction that replaces the calcium ions with a different element, namely sodium in most cases. A salt-based water softener simply replaces the calcium ions with sodium ions, and sodium doesn’t cause adverse reactions inside pipes and appliances. The problem with sodium is that the waste water from the water softening process is high in sodium, which is deposited back into the water table.

Sodium can harm the growing environment and damage agricultural crops as well as upset the ecosystem of rivers and lakes. This is why some people have sought out a different form of water softener.

Potassium chloride water softeners can actually be used in the place of rock salt or other salts in a standard water softening unit. It can also be sprinkled over top of an existing salt bed, reducing the sodium level of the brine and thus reducing the amount of sodium that is introduced into the environment. Potassium on the other hand, is a component of fertilizer and it is beneficial for plants, so having it in the waste water isn’t such a bad thing.

When used as a water softener, potassium chloride also adds potassium to your drinking water, which is beneficial. Potassium is an essential part of the diet, and many people don’t get enough of it.

Potassium chloride water softeners cost a little bit more to buy than salt but when the health of the environment is at stake, most people would agree that it’s worth paying a few dollars extra for a product that helps rather than harms the environment. Plus, it’s healthy for you!