Should you buy a Morton water softener system for your house? What are the things you need to know before purchasing one of their softening products? You’ll find our more about this as you continue reading this article.
How Morton Found Its Way Into The Water Softening Industry?
As we all know, salt is an essential component for most water softeners to run properly. This natural occurring mineral is responsible for softening water by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions through a process called ‘Ion Exchange’. And since the company recognized the high demand of salt for water softening, they started manufacturing their line of water softening salts to eliminate hard water problems and effectively paved the way for them to enter into the softening industry in 1951. But they did not stop there because seeing that hard water can be a “disaster” to our homes, the company envisioned in offering a complete range of water softening solutions for every family. And this idea gave birth to their line of water softeners which were introduced to the public in 2002.
Since then, the company has able to maintain stable sales in their softening devices and are often included as one of the top water softeners in several featured yearly reviews over the internet.
The Different Types Of Morton Water Softener Systems
Currently, Morton offers several different types of water softeners that you can install according to the type of household you are living in and these devices are also referred to as Morton System Saver. For small households with a family of 4 members, the best product to use is the M20 while for medium to large sized residence you can opt for the M27, M30, or the MSD30D. If you are living on a large house with a high level of water hardness or just having a big family, the best Morton device we can recommend are the M34, MSD45E, and the MSD34C.
And based on our expertise, we highly recommend these softening products for you to check:
- Morton M30 Model Water Softener
- PRICE: $$$
- Prominent Feature: LOOK AHEAD TECHNOLOGY
- Capacity: 30,000 Grains
- Additional Notes: Also Includes Demand Initiated Regeneration, Recharge Tonight/Recharge Now features.
- Morton MSD34C Model Water Softener
- PRICE: $$
- Prominent Feature: LOOK AHEAD TECHNOLOGY
- Capacity: 34,000 Grains
- Additional Notes: Also Includes Demand Initiated Regeneration feature.
- Morton MSD45E Model Water Softener
- PRICE: $$$$
- Prominent Feature: LOOK AHEAD TECHNOLOGY
- Capacity: 45,000 Grains
- Additional Notes: Also Includes Demand Initiated Regeneration, Recharge Tonight/Recharge Now, and Water Management System features.
Morton M30 Model Water Softener – This device is specifically made for medium to large houses or business establishments with very serious hard water problems. Cleverly designed to save more on floor space, the M30 is also one of the most popular models in the company’s water softener line die to its high efficiency rating.
Here are some of the useful features you can enjoy with the Morton M30 Model Water Softener:
- The device is designed as a whole house water treatment/filtering system without the need of water filters.
- It has a 30,000 grain capacity for removing more hard water elements in medium to large houses.
- Very high efficient as it only uses half the amount of salt compare to other devices from leading brands.
- Has a “Look Ahead” feature which enables the water softener to learn more on the pattern of water usage in a particular household and adjust effectively to predict all your soft water needs in the future.
- Also includes a Demand Initiated Regeneration which enables to device to eliminate all the hard elements in water and effectively saving salt & water.
- Has a “Recharge Tonight/Recharge Now” option so you can adjust your water softener to go along with your heavy soft water usage.
- Effortless DIY installation (with kit) and easy to follow instructions.
- 1 Year Limited Warranty on the device covering parts and labor, 10 Years Warranty on the tank
- 120/24 V AC Adapter
- A bypass valve
- 20 foot drain tube
- Conversion nuts, bolts, washers, and copper connectors to allow connection from up to 1 inch internal dimension of the bypass valve to 3/4 inch of the copper plumbing.
Why We Recommend It: Aside from being popular among consumers, you also get more features to enjoy without paying more.
Morton MSD34C Model Water Softener – By far, this is the second most popular water softener under the Morton Banner. It was even included in the top rated water softeners of 2015 that we have published here about a week ago. The MSD34C model stands out due to its 34,000 grain capacity in removing hardness in water. And although it has a relatively large size and slightly heavier compared to other Morton softening appliances, it does compensate this obstacle by having an outstanding flow rate of about 8 GPM.
Here are the other benefits you can get after installing the Morton MSD34C Model Water Softener:
- Product Dimensions: 18.2” x 13.2” x 48”
- Weight: 91 lbs.
- Has a “Look Ahead” feature which enables the water softener to learn more on the pattern of water usage in a particular household and adjust effectively to predict all your soft water needs in the future.
- Also includes a Demand Initiated Regeneration which enables to device to eliminate all the hard elements in water and effectively saving salt & water.
- Effortless DIY installation (with kit) and easy to follow instructions (usually finished within 30 minutes).
Why We Recommend It: Fairly priced but is capable of handling tough hard water problems for medium to big sized families without fail (based on current performance reviews).
Morton MSD45E Model Water Softener (Demand Controlled) – This device is Morton’s answer to very serious hard water problems regardless the size of the area you are living in. The MSD45E has a 45,000 grain capacity which is perfect for dealing high level of hardness in water and it also removes iron deposits up to 12 PPM. Aside from that, here some of the impressive features the Morton MSD45E model water softener:
- Cleverly designed to save floor space
- The device is designed as a whole house water treatment/filtering system without the need of water filters.
- Has a built-in self cleaning feature which filters dirt sediments from the water without using any filter.
- Also includes a Demand Initiated Regeneration which enables to device to eliminate all the hard elements in water and effectively saving salt & water.
- Has a “Look Ahead” feature which enables the water softener to learn more on the pattern of water usage in a particular household and adjust effectively to predict all your soft water needs in the future.
- Very high efficient as it only uses half the amount of salt compare to other devices from leading brands.
- Has a salt indicator light that blinks whenever the device is running out of salt and is needed to be refilled.
- Has a “Recharge Tonight/Recharge Now” option so you can adjust your water softener to go along with your heavy soft water usage.
- Includes a Water Management System feature which displays the average gallons that is being consumed daily, the current flow rate, and the percentage of the remaining softening capacity. In addition to this, the display is backlighted for easy visibility.
- The valve system is oversized to maximize the flow of water and maintain the pressure of the supply for your own convenience.
- Effortless DIY installation (with kit) and easy to follow instructions (usually finished within 30 minutes).
- 1 Year Limited Warranty on the device covering parts and labor, 3 years warranty on the electronic parts, and 10 Years Warranty on the tank
- 120/24 V AC Adapter
- 20 foot drain tube
- Connections going out of the device are standard 1 inch male pipe threads
Kit Includes:
Why We Recommend It: Cool Features For A Compact Sized Water Softener. Aside from that, we commend on their warranty coverage for this particular device since the company was generous in providing another 3 years warranty for the electrical components which you don’t normally get after purchasing other water softener models.
The Different Water Softener Salts That Go Along With Their Softening Devices
Morton is well-known for their high quality salt products. And obviously you will need to buy a softening salt after purchasing and water softener system. Here are the different kinds of softening salt you can use to for softening hard water:
Morton System Saver II Patented Water Softening Pellets – This specific product not only contains salt to soften hard water but also includes cleaning additives which prevents any mineral deposits such as dirt and iron from building up in your brine tank. The System Saver II is the only softening salt that has the Good Housekeeping Seal for its ability to improve the performance of the softening system while avoiding any messy clean up.
Key Feature: One of the most recommended products for all water softener systems, the System Saver II actually prolongs the life of your device every time you use it. The product is available in 25, 40, 50, and 60 pound bags to go along with your salt usage.
Morton Extra Coarse Solar Salt Crystals (Quality 98) – This type of salt is one of the purest minerals you can use in softening water with 99.8% salinity rate. The extra coarse solar salt product is carefully harvested and kiln dried to ensure no amount of dirt and moisture is found in every crystal. This salt product is specifically made for water softening and each bag is hygienically packed with no additives guaranteed.
Key Feature: As mentioned in one of our previous guides, solar salt has a high solubility rate. Meaning, it won’t harden the moment you place it inside the brine tank. Hence, we recommend this product for water softener systems that have already experienced salt bridging issues. The product is available in 40, 50, and 60 pound bags to go along with your salt usage.
Morton Rust Remover Softening Salt Pellets – This product is specifically designed to remove all traces of iron residues in water which might cause rusting and eventually damage the entire system.
Key Feature: This Rust Remover product is ideal for areas with high volume of iron deposits in supplied water as it can remove over 15 times more iron that a conventional softening salt as per regeneration cycle based on lab testing. However, this is only available in 40 lbs. bags.
Morton Potassium Chloride Pellets – This product is a great alternative to sodium based salts as potassium can also effectively soften hard water without increasing the sodium level in the water.
Key Feature: Basically, this product is perfect for health conscious people who are having issues with the use of salt in softening water. Plus, you also get potassium which is an essential nutrient to keep our bodies healthy.
Moreover, the sodium levels in water softener discharge is significantly decreased and also minimize the negative effects of waste water as supposedly caused by sodium chloride. This product is only available in 40 lbs. bags.
Morton White Crystal Rock Salt – This product is derived from salt minerals which are mined from natural salt deposits found underground.
Key Feature: Commercial grade softening salt product. No special feature being mentioned in particular except this product is only available in 40 lbs. bags.
Are Their Water Softeners Reliable?
No negative reviews – All of the reviews we have gathered only say encouraging things about their products maybe because not many customers have shared their reviews as of yet or no serious issues have been discovered so far. Nevertheless, this is a clear sign that these products are well accepted by all their customers.
One or two of their softening devices have been included in top 10 lists – Amazingly, Morton water softener systems are also recognized by experts (including us) because they are constantly included in certain lists of top rated water softeners ever since manufacturing. And this is an obvious indicator that the company creates no nonsense products right from the start, from their salt products to their softening systems.
You get 95% of the benefits – Aside from being reasonably priced, we also noticed that a lot of reports highlight the outstanding benefits you get if you choose one of their water softeners like the demand metered regeneration feature, high harness coverage, extended warranties, and etc. and mentioned only 1 of the disadvantages and that is the need for electricity which is not really an issue as compared to other water softeners.
What Are The Advantages Of Having A Morton Water Softener?
- Their device is salt-based which is a proven technology for softening water.
- Nearly effortless operation which can deliver tangible savings.
- They also include a demand initiated regeneration similar to other top water softeners.
- Resin tank is made of fiber glass
- High hardness coverage
- Extended warranty coverage by providing another 3 years warranty for the electrical components which you don’t normally get after purchasing other water softener models.
- Space saving design and more…
Again, the only disadvantage of using a Morton water softener is that it would require electricity during operation. And though some customers see this setback as something impractical, this necessity can be justified with the inclusion of the emergency battery and the “Look Ahead” feature which is one of the most impressive features of all Morton softening appliances.
What Are The Common Issues We Can Expect While Using A Morton Water Softener?
The type of softening devices that they have – Most of us are aware of the ongoing issues with regards to using salt-based water softeners and we honestly think that their softening devices are no exception to this. While there is no problem with the product’s specifications, certain problems will arise especially in areas where the use of salt-based devices are highly regulated or strictly prohibited. So it would be best to consult a local plumber and discuss on the possibility of installing a Morton water softener if it’s in accordance with the existing laws of the state.
Electrical-related issues – Most houses who own an electrically operated softening device usually complain about the incorrect setting of the device and this happens normally after experiencing a power outage because the timing of the device will be reset back to the default time. We believe that Morton systems are also prone to this issue one way or the other.
Salt bridging problems – We can safely conclude that Morton water softeners are bound to experience salt-bridging as 99% percent of the softeners we have reviewed also have this same problem.
How Do Morton Softening Systems Fare Over Its Competitors?
In our opinion, Morton softeners have what it takes to compete against the biggest names in water softening. In fact, they have these very cool features (Look Ahead, Demand Initiated Regeneration, Recharge Tonight/Recharge Now, Water Management System) which can help every consumer to make water softening chores less of a hassle. We are so excited about their System Saver products and we can expect a lot of customers to feel the same way.
Who Do I Contact If I Have Issues With Any Of Their Softener Devices?
You actually have 2 options to do if ever you encounter any issues with Morton Water Softeners:
- You can contact a local plumber and ask them to assist you with any problems or queries
- You can go ahead and visit their website and look for their contact page. All you need to do is to enter certain details in order to help you more efficiently. Moreover, you can also call them at 1-800-725-8847 or send them an email through this address: saltinfo@mortonsalt.com.
- that you have.
Where Can I Secure A Morton Water Softener Replacement Manual?
Simply go to their softener manual page and locate the type of water softener model that you own. Download a copy of the service manual in .pdf format and save it in your PC.
Where Can I Buy A Morton Water Softener?
Visit their website and locate the where to buy page then enter the required information so they direct you to the nearest store in your area. You can also check Menards as this store is one of the authorized retailers of Morton water softener system products. Furthermore, you can also go to Amazon and locate the desired Morton softener appliances there along with the company’s salt products which they are also selling in discounted prices.