Salt is a quiet companion in the water-softening process, and your water softener would be a pricey paperweight without it. However, what occurs if the salt is depleted? Will the hardness of your water suddenly return? Can you expect a pipe burst? The end of the world is imminent. Let’s break down this situation before knowing the best water softeners available, go here.

Sodium ions are substituted for the calcium and magnesium ions accumulated when your water softener starts its regeneration cycle. This process uses salt to flush away the accumulated calcium and magnesium ions. Because of this, your water softener cannot renew and eliminate the minerals in hard water without salt.

Your water softener won’t operate if you allow the salt levels to drop too low and get too intense for regeneration. You’ll begin to notice the deposits and stains that come with hard water as soon as hard water begins to flow through your pipes once more.

But hold off on panicking just yet! The brine tank can be filled before the salt runs out because your water softener will typically give you a warning before that happens. Additionally, you can always set a reminder on your phone or calendar if you tend to forget things to ensure that you never run out of salt again.

If your water softener hasn’t had salt in it for a while, you may need to thoroughly clean your pipes and appliances to eliminate the buildup caused by hard water. Be at ease, though; this discomfort is nothing compared to the harm that hard water can wreak over the long run.

What lesson does this tell us about life? First, watch your salt levels and top your brine tank as needed. Then, don’t worry if you run out; there is a simple cure.