What is potassium chloride?

What are the benefits of using Potassium Chloride pellets versus other salt softeners?

• Where can i get more info regarding Potassium chloride pellets for water softeners

• Answer:

  I've not heard of this as a regenerant for water softeners. The resin in a softener exchanges the hardness salts (calcium and magnesium) which are responsible for scaling in the hot water tank for sodium which is very soluble and does not precipitate or produce the bath tub ring. The process is reversible and so when the cycle is complete the resins must be regenerated with a sodium based salt, the cheapest being sodium chloride. Why you would want to use potassium is a mystery to me as I have always understood that it is not advised to use a water softener for drinking water as this can and will contain bacteria or even viruses The site I have found seems to suggest that potassium is an essential element in a healthy diet and so good to use in a softener... and then goes on to say it's good for the garden. So you drink the water then go pee on your plants!!! I will look into this some more as it puzzles me. If I were you I'd stick to using salt (NaCl) and take a potassium supplement if that's what you need for your diet, and use a fertiliser for the garden. But maybe I'm just old-fashioned.