Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t need salt every month?
No worries—we get it, every home’s salt needs are unique, and we’re all about fitting your schedule. Monthly, every other month, or quarterly? Any works for us. We recommend starting monthly to track your usage over the first couple cycles (especially if your tank’s low—better safe than hard water surprises). Got a solid base already? Feel free to ease in with bi-monthly or quarterly right away, just tell us in the comments upon sign up.
Switch anytime, skip any month at no charge once you know your rhythm. Pro tip: Our night-before text reminder makes it easy—just reply ‘skip’ if you’re good, and you’re off the hook for that delivery. No salt delivered? No charge—simple as that.
Do you have pellets or solar crystals?
Quick answer: Both, but we strongly recommend crystals. At Minnesota Salt Co., we offer Diamond Crystals as our default—the cleanest, purest water softener salt on the market, with zero additives. Every technician we’ve consulted swears by them and steers clear of pellets. Here’s why: Most pellets start as evaporated salt (the purest base out there), but they require a bonding agent—like glue—to form into pellets or blocks. That glue slows dissolution, weakening your brine strength and risking resin issues or salt bridges.
And if you’ve ever fished pellets out of your tank? That’s the infamous “pellet experience”—like chiseling concrete. Both types can clump (salt’s just salty like that), but pellets laugh off hot water flushes, turning into a total headache. Crystals? They dissolve fast and easy when you need to stir or move things around.
That said, we get it—some systems are pellet-friendly. If your salt tank’s separate from the media tank, don’t fall for the upsell; crystals perform just fine at a better price. Already loaded with pellets? Pour our crystals right on top—they’ll mix and cycle through no problem. Still set on pellets for your setup? Jot it in the sign-up comments, and we’ll make it happen. (Quick note: They’re $1 more per 40 lbs, just like at the store.)
How Pure Is Our Salt, Anyway? Our Diamond Crystals deliver 99.7% purity—one of the top marks available. Spot those blue bags at big box stores? That’s us: solar-evaporated salt, naturally harvested by pumping seawater into shallow ponds. Over months, the sun and wind evaporate it down to concentrated crystals with minimal impurities (just trace sea minerals). We go the extra mile by inspecting every batch ourselves before it lands in your bucket—screened for quality, no shortcuts, just dependable soft water. Got system questions? Hit us up—we’ve seen thousands and love sharing what works.
Do you carry any “Rust Out” or “Iron Defense” products?
If iron is your issue, it’s essential to note that your only effective option is an iron filter/curtain. The reality is the salt is not going to be your answer. What other brands don’t want you to know is that all they do is add citric acid to a batch of regular salt and then charge $2-3 more per bag. The worst part is that it’s unknown whether this actually has a positive impact on your water or water softener. Water softening occurs through an ion exchange between sodium and magnesium/calcium— that’s it. While you’re free to add various products to your tank to enhance its longevity, when it comes to softening hard water, simplicity with the purest and cleanest salt available is the key.
Do the crystals dissolve faster than the pellets?
No, but great question! When people switch from pellets to crystals, they often notice that their tank doesn’t seem as full right away. What they are seeing is a result of the difference in bulk density between the two types of salt- the closer the crystals pack together, the less volume they occupy, giving rise to the perception that the salt is dissolving faster. However, salt can only dissolve to the extent that it produces a saturated brine (26.4% by weight), regardless of what type of salt is used. When the brine is saturated with respect to salt, no more salt can dissolve. Therefore, salt usage is the same regardless of the type or form of salt that is used. That was a long way of saying: 40 pounds of salt is 40 pounds of salt!
What if I need a lot of salt right away (say, 120 lbs) and then only 40 lbs a month after that to keep it topped off?
Great question! (and a very common scenario). A lot of people, like us, have neglected their salt tank for years. Therefore, we needed a fresh fill up right away to get our levels right. After that, we were able to simply add 40 lbs a month to maintain that level. There are 3 of us in our house. If this sounds like your situation, you would simply sign up for whatever you think you need initially (80 or 120), then send us an email after your first fill indicating you would like to reduce the monthly amount delivered to 40 lbs. Or, simply put that in the comments section when you sign up. Easy!
Does salt ever get into your drinking water?
No, it does not. Salt (or Sodium Chloride’s) sole purpose in your water softener is to regenerate the resin beads that actually take the hardness out of your water. Simple Ion exhange. This exchange does not make your water taste salty or significantly increase your sodium intake.
Do you service the machines?
No, we do not. While we have extensive knowledge of the process and the ins and outs of water conditioning, we chose to stick to just salt; the food source for your machines if you will:) Please send us a message and we would be happy to point you in the direction of a trusted service business in your area.
What if my Salt Day falls on a holiday?
No worries, on major holidays we will send you a text indicating that your Salt Day will be moved to either the day before or after the holiday.
What if I am not home, but I want you to fill my tank (Full Service)?
No problem at all – If no one is home during the day to let us in, please leave instructions for entering the premises in the comment section when you sign up (i.e., garage door code, back door is unlocked, etc.). Keep in mind we always text you the day before for any last minute clarications or instructions for delivery/filling.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes, there is no contractual period or continuing obligation. Simply send us an email, and we will remove you from our route. We just ask that you place your containers out for us to pick up following your last scheduled salt day. However, if you are not 100% satisfied, we would love the opportunity to make things right, so please reach out to us before deciding to cancel.
What if I forget to put out my bucket(s)?
Not a big deal, we get it! We will still deliver to you on your Salt Day. If we go another month without seeing a bucket to exchange, we will send you an email. And if you start collecting our containers every month after that, we may have to make a house call to see what you have been using them for 🙂
How much salt does a family, or a person, typically need each month?
The best answer is “it depends.” Most families with an updated energy efficient water softener typically go through 40-80 pounds per month. Other larger families go through 80-120 pounds per month. Single households or empty nesters may only need 40 pounds a month. Other factors include the age and type of water softener, appliance usage, if your sprinkler system runs through your main water line, etc. However, after a few months in our program, we think you will be able to find the “sweet spot” for the amount of salt you need each month.
Can I change the amount of salt I get every month?
Absolutely! You may contact us at any time to adjust the amount of salt you want delivered to your door or to your tank. We understand that it may take a couple months to figure out how much salt you actually need per month. A lot of our customers who head south for the winter only need a limited amount delivered while they’re gone or have their service temporarily suspended. And families with kids home from college for the summer also tend to go through more salt in the summer months, go figure!
Is there such thing as too much salt in my water softener?
Yes, too much salt can cause salt bridging or a buildup and solidification of regenerant. We recommend always keeping your brine tank at least one quarter full of salt but no more than six inches below the top of the brine tank.
What if I need more than 120 lbs/mo.?
No problem at all. Every additional 40 lbs will be only $8.99 still!