How to Break a Salt Bridge in Water Softener

If your water softener doesn't seem to be working even though it runs through a cycle fine, a salt bridge may have formed in the brine tank. This is a hard crust of salt that develops over water at the bottom of the tank and is usually hidden by loose salt on top. Loose salt then cannot reach the water to make brine. High humidity or using the wrong kind of salt can cause this problem.

Things You'll Need

• Wood or metal rod
• Clean plastic scoop or dish

Instructions

1. Grab a broom or mop handle, or a metal rod with a round or smooth end. Push it down into the salt. If you meet resistance with a hard object before reaching the bottom of the tank, you've found a salt bridge.

2. Unplug the softener and turn off water to the softener with the bypass valve.

3. Remove loose salt from the top with a clean plastic scoop or dish.

4. Break up the salt bridge carefully with the pole. Stay away from the sides of the tank and don't pound on the hardened salt so that you hit the bottom of the tank with the pole.

5. Remove all chunks of salt from the tank and dispose of them.

6. Add new salt to the tank. Plug the softener back in and re-establish the water connection. Then run the softener through a regenerating cycle.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use a pointed or sharp-edged object to break up the salt bridge. These could puncture the brine tank.

References

• Windsor System Saver: Breaking a Salt Bridge