WS brine tank refill . . .

Pre refill two hours before.

It has worked since the first control valve that offered it was made, at least 20+ years ago; maybe 30 years ago.

It has a number of advantages and none of the disadvantages of Post refill.

It keeps the brine tank much cleaner and prevents frequent cleaning which usually causes problems with the softener. There is minimal water left in the tank between regenerations to wick up into pellets or block salt to cause more build up in the bottom of the brine tank and possible recrystallization of potassium chloride (salt substitute) which both displaces water causing more build up and recrystallization to occur and more brine tank cleaning.

Some people say no to Pre brine refill.

They say things like "it takes a week for the salt to fully dissolve, you won't get full strength brine in 2 hours..." blah blah blah on'on.

But if you think about it.... If they were right no alternating twin tank type residential, commercial and industrial softeners that sometimes regenerate like 3-4 times PER DAY would work, nor would any of the many brands of regular two tank softeners or, the one piece big box store brands, OR ANY SOFTENER that regenerated sooner than once a week!!

A pre-regeneration brine fill is best, but post fill works fine if you use block salt.

Old school Example:
The old RainSoft Q fills (metered) the brine tank and sits for 2 hours before use.
The old RainSoft mechanical valve used a brine solution that was made at the end of the last regeneration.

Modern High Tech example:
EcoWater use a flash brine rinse with pellets. A small measured amount
of H2O is added to the salt. It sits for a very short amount of time before
the brine tank is sucked dry during regeneration. This method rewards
owners with the most efficient use of H2O and salt in the industry.

HTH ~

No brine tank is ever sucked dry, it's impossible for any control valve to do that.

It does not matter what type of salt is used but solar crystal is best. IMO block salt is the worst choice and that's why it is not very common.

There is always a few inches of 100% salt brine left in the bottom of the tank of all softeners regardless if they use Pre or Post refill.

Your not exactly correct in your assumptions.

The EcoWater softener does in fact suck out all of the brine water - the brine tank will have little if any water sitting in the tank between regenerations.
This keeps the brine tank fresh and clean thus reducing maintenance.

If it does not matter what type of salt you use why is solar crystal is best?

It all depends on the system you have and what type of salt it is designed to use - old RainSoft systems work best with block salt.

Which is it, sucks it ALL or.. leaves a little? IF it's more than you'd care to breath, the tank ain't dry, nor did the unit suck it dry.


Solar crystal salt causes the fewest if any salt related problems for a softener. Other types of salt, like pellets and block can/will cause problems. Solar is also usually, if not always, the least expensive.


All cation softening resins are made in the sodium form. The chloride part is not used in any way.

So resin couldn't care less what type or brand of salt it is fed as long as it gets the sodium it needs.

The same applies to potassium chloride, salt substitute, and all cation softening resins can use it instead of sodium chloride (salt) although it is not as efficient so in many cases, dependent on the salt efficiency setting of the softener, you have to use more of it (set the salt dose higher); up to 27-30% more OR... you have to set the capacity to that much less than if using sodium chloride.

Dry.

The Solar Crystal salt I have seen is not clean.

You can use any type salt you want in most system, but some of them are designed to work best with a certain type of salt ~ block, pellet, other...
Old RainSoft system were made to use 50 lb. blocks, EcoWater systems are designed to use pellets.

Yeah, Rainsoft used a small square brine tank that would barely hold a square 50 lb block. Whoopee do!!

And what part of an Ecowater softener's design is due to making pellet type salt the best type for it?

BTW, in case you don't know, Purolite makes their resin, and like I said, the resins don't care what type salt is used.

The RainSoft brine tank holds 4 50 pound salt blocks.

As I previously stated: The EcoWater system uses flash brine mode.

Resin has nothing to do with the discussion.

Yes I know, stacked one on top the next and it was barely wide enough to get them in the tank. So that's special and does what for the operation of a softener?


Oh wow, flash brine mode.... what is that, a light bulb is turned off and on very quickly! Or don't you know what it is or how it is special?


LOL neither does a brine tank shape to hold a stack of 50 lb blocks of salt or this mention of an Ecowater extra special super duper "flash brine mode" that somehow makes pellet type salt the best for their softener. All sales hype BS.

GS is clueless
Please put your crack pipe down and step away from your computer.

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