You are getting a lot of mixed information here.
I am speaking from personal long-term experience and very strong knowledge of water conditioning for homes--especially those on well water.
Here is the 'executive summary': I think your softener is misprogrammed, contaminated (salt), in need of repair/maintenance/replacement (unit or resin) and your rental probably doesn't have good whole-house filters (5 micron or smaller). Solution: Test, program, replace or repair, filter. Systematically flush the household water system (cold/hot--all to lowest point) after remediation is complete.
Use potassium chloride to reduce sodium.
To address your concerns;
- Softened water does contain traces of sodium as a byproduct of the process. If you're using an Ion-exchange resin method softener, and filling it with NaCl (Salt), then you are ingesting additional sodium in your diet. So, how much?
- The amount of sodium intake from softened water varies. The average for 'properly' softened, light-moderately hard water is about 50 mg sodium per liter
- The amount of sodium in municipal NON-softened water can be as high as 120 mg per liter
- The amount of sodium in very hard water, using an improperly maintained/programmed softener could be as high as 1200 mg per liter. This is not just the soft-water...it's more than one issue/problem.
- Water softeners must be programmed to regenerate based on the water hardness (grains), expected household usage and other personal preferences (when to refresh?) An improperly programmed water softener can
- Water softeners typically use a 'resin bead' to exchange calcium and magnesium (hardness) with sodium (salt). These beads have a lifespan of about 5-20 years. After that, the unit needs to be replaced or the resin must be replaced and maintenance performed on the internal valving and filters. Older softeners (timer vs demand) are very inefficient and problematic with age. Iron can destroy resins quickly. Chlorine (often used to sterilize wells for inspection or safety) can destroy resin in 5 years. Hydroshock destroys resin 2-10% per year. 10 years plus? probably needs replacement.
- Water softeners are just like a thermos or water-bottle or water-jug: if you leave them stagnant in warm environments (house unoccupied and above 50 deg), they can develop problems with contamination, bacteria and foul odors/taste. There are methods (chemical) to 'scrub' the resin beads and vessel that may improved these issues.
- Many homeowners are the worst enemy of the water treatment equipment. The softener (etc...) must be periodically checked for contamination, clogged filters, age of the resin, proper cycling during the regeneration process etc.... If the unit suffers a power outage during the regeneration process or if the operator 'manually cycles' the unit improperly (twist the dial/push buttons), the resin bed and tank can become SATURATED with liquid sodium chloride solution. This will result in SALT WATER being circulated into the home. This can take days of concentrated effort to eradicate the foul water from the softener, heaters, pipes and appliances in the home. Weeks of bad water could result if not addressed.
- Ion-exchange softened water (vs the same water NOT softened) should have NO perceivable taste or smell as a byproduct of the process. AGAIN. Softened water does not TASTE salty. If it does....you have a bigger problem.
- Well water DOES have significant taste/smell/feel perceptions. Municipal treated water also has significant taste/smell issues. Well water (muni too!!!) can have additional problems with bacteria, heavy metals bacteria, microorganisms and more. Manganese gives off a tar/oil/asphalt odor, hydrogen sulfide is 'rotten eggs', iron and sulphur bacteria react with hot water heaters to produce the same rotten egg smell.
Some solutions:
So unhappy with soft water you can't stand it? You won't like the same water 'hard.' Buy a counter-top RO system or undersink.
- Have your 'untreated' water checked for hardness, iron, bacteria etc....
- Have your 'treated' water checked for hardness iron, bacteria etc... Note the sodium content before and after softening
- Compare the before/after of the treated/untreated water. Program the softener appropriately or replace or add filters etc....
- Determine the age and condition of the softener. If over 10 years old with no maintenance--it's dead and needs replacement or refurbishment.
- Insure that the water softener is properly programmed to fit your water usage, hardness and regeneration times.
- DON'T use NaCL SALT in the softener. Use POTASSIUM chloride KCl instead. It's available at Lowes HD etc.... Probably $15-20 a bag instead of $5-6. NO Sodium
- Clean the softener with a resin regenerator. Available at Lowes, Hd etc... May improve the flavor of the water.
- Is your water filtered with a whole-house filter? Why not? Well water should ALWAYS be filtered and I highly recommend a secondary (fine) filter with charcoal to reduce contaminants, odor and improve the flavor. A kit with 2 big-blue 10" filters, mounting block, valves etc... is less than $150 and easy to install. By the owner. Filters are about $20-25 and last 3-6 months. $99 on Fleabay plus filters.
Hope this helps.
https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Resin_Replacement.php
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