What is the difference between the types of water softener salt?
There are 3 basic types of softener salt: rock salt, solar salt (crystals) and evaporated salt (pellets). Rock salt is a naturally occurring mineral, which is obtained from underground salt deposits by traditional mining methods. Its chemical purity, runs from 98% to 99% sodium chloride. It has a water insoluble level of about 0.5% to 1.5%. Solar salt is a natural product created by the evaporation of seawater or inland brine sources. It has a sodium chloride content of 99.5% or higher, and water insoluble level of less than 0.03%. It is most commonly sold in a crystal form, but also may be sold in the form of compressed pellets or blocks. Evaporated salt is manufactured by solution mining underground-bedded salt deposits of dissolving salt to form brine and then evaporating the moisture using energy in the form of natural gas or coal. Evaporated has a sodium chloride content ranging from 99.6% to 99.99%. Water insoluble matter generally is less than 0.01%.
