We’ve got fairly hard water in our region and am getting tired of all the crusty scale that is on and in everything that holds or is touched by water. We’re on a septic system and have been told that the salt will eat out the concrete septic tank. Is the only time you would push a large concentration of slat in the septic when the system backwashes or is through the water in general.
Is there another alternative out there other than a salt system?
Thanks
Framing the floor inside a crawlspace foundation keeps a gable-end addition close to grade.
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Replies
carbon filters...
back flush to daylight...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
We have a carbon filter system that is used to remove the chlorine from the city water, but it does nothing to soften the water.
There's debate as to how harmful a water softener is to a septic system. Generally it's agreed it's not terribly harmful to a properly functioning system, though it's not exactly good for the system. You can reduce the problem somewhat by using potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride -- may require an adjustment on the softener, and costs more (more potassium salt used per gallon and costs more per pound) but otherwise works as well as sodium salt.
Never heard it said that the salt would damage the septic tank. Salt will damage concrete, but I think that's only in conditions where it can crystalize (not kept constantly wet).
There are some localities where code prohibits the softener on a septic system, but not clear that such rules are "evidence based". In any event, lots of folks DO have softeners on septic systems with no apparent trouble.
There is one alternative to a salt system: It's an air injection system involving several tanks. Doesn't use chemicals, so lower cost operation, but more expensive from the start and kind of iffy as to whether it will work in a given situation (depends on water chemistry). The magnetic systems are pure hokum.
There will be no problem with a softener on a septic. The salt water is only use to clean the resin in the tank. The rinse water is normally then dumped into your crock then pumped out the back of the house. There will little if any additional salt going into your septic tank. Most houses that are on well are also on a septic, at least in Michigan, and I have never heard of a problem with this.
zzzzz : Welcome, had not seen a post from you before. (5th)
Very succinct reply, look forward to hearing from you again with this type good, precise, advise to folks.
BTW, it would help others if you put a little something in your profile - click on your name on a post and it brings up the profile screen.