Home Page Have questions? Just Ask! Explanations for frequently used water treatment terms. Fast answers to common questions! Need help finding your way? Check the alphabetical and categorized list of subjects. Shop at SEARS.com for Kenmore Water Treatment Products!
Having trouble deciding what your water problem is? Look here for symptoms, explanations, and Kenmore Water Solutions...
An online catalog of Kenmore Quality Water Products, with descriptions, prices, purchasing instructions...
Troubleshooting and installation guides, manuals, and online customer support...
Information on SEARS FREE water test, YOUR city's water and water quality...
MORTON POTASSIUM CHLORIDE PELLETS
An alternative to sodium based salt.
How the product works and troubleshooting info with a colorful, interactive animation...
Morton Potassium Chloride Pellets
 
 

Morton® Potassium Chloride Pellets soften your water while adding potassium to it. Morton® Potassium Chloride Pellets are 99% sodium-free, therefore reducing sodium levels in your softened water and reducing chlorides discharged into the environment.

This product also provides the essential plant nutrient potassium to the ecosystem. 40-lb. Morton® Potassium Chloride Pellets come in a convenient, easy-open bag.
 

Performance Data

We have received numerous requests from dealers and customers about the use of potassium chloride (s/b KCl) as a regenerant for water softeners. As a result, we set up two identical water softeners and regenerated one with sodium chloride and one with potassium chloride. Both units were exhausted with 13-gpg hard water. From the capacity data we obtained, it appears that potassium chloride can be substituted directly for sodium chloride in a water softener with no loss of capacity.

Experiments conducted in homes indicate consumers noticed no difference in taste between sodium or potassium regenerated softeners. There was also no noticeable change in the feel of the water softened by either regenerant.

The potassium chloride was supplied to us in a granulated form and the sodium chloride was furnished as pellets. Caking experiments showed granular potassium chloride was much more prone to caking and salt bridging than was sodium chloride. We also found that the solubility of potassium chloride fluctuates with temperature whereas the solubility of sodium chloride does not. In areas of the country where outside installations subject the brine tank to wide fluctuations in temperature the use of potassium chloride could result in brine draw fouling.

Sodium Based Salt vs. Potassium Based Pellets

The Kenmore 420 Series and 370 Series water softeners have both sodium chloride and potassium chloride settings programmed into their memory. Customers who own any of the other Kenmore water softeners need to adjust the hardness setting on their control panel 20% higher if they are using potassium chloride (i.e., if a customer’s softener is set at 25 gpg with sodium pellets, they need to adjust the hardness to 30 gpg if they switch to potassium chloride). Normal Sodium and Potassium Consumption The FDA recommends that the average American consume approximately 2400 mg of sodium per day and 3500 mg of potassium per day. The following are samples of common food items and their approximate sodium and potassium content in milligrams:
 
Baked Potato
240 mg sodium
533 mg potassium
 Slice of Bread
150 mg sodium
 

If the water hardness is 20 grains per gallon, the softener will add 150 milligrams of sodium to each quart of water. 150 milligrams of sodium is equal to the sodium in one slice of white bread.

Salt Added To Softened Water

Water Hardness

Sodium Added (mg) per one quart
Potassium Added (mg) per one quart

10 gpg

78.70
126
15 gpg
118 .00
189.5
20 gpg
157.30
252
25 gpg
196.70
315
30 gpg
236.00
378


Home Water Softeners
     Kenmore Elite 420 Series
     Kenmore 370 Series
     Kenmore 350 Series
     Kenmore 300 Series
     How To Choose, Comparison Chart
     The Benefits of Soft Water
     Morton System Saver II Pellets
     Morton Potassium Chloride

Central Water Filtration

Reverse Osmosis Systems

Easy-Install Drinking
Water Systems

Whole House Water Filters

Specialty Water
Treatment Equipment

Water Filter Cartridges

Maintenance Supplies

 

HOME         ASK US!         GLOSSARY         FAQ's         SITE INDEX         SEARS.COM
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS         PRODUCT LIST         CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE         FACTS & TESTING
VIEW PRODUCT & TROUBLESHOOTING ANIMATIONS

© EcoWater 2008. The Sears and Kenmore trademarks are registered and used under license from Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Please review our Privacy Policy.