Water Doctor Plus LLC

Frequently one reason your water softener is not using salt is because of what we call a "SALT BRIDGE".

A salt bridge is the situation that occurs when the moisture in the brine tank or salt compartment moistens the salt. If the salt is there for an extended period of time, it can harden all the way across the diamiter of the brine tank or compartment and form a ledge or shelf. Once the salt has hardened, it will not drop down to the bottom of the salt compartment. It comes to a point in time when the water that is added to the salt compartment can no longer physically touch the salt, so it cannot desolve the salt. From now on you will look into the salt compartment and the salt will not be dropping down.

What can you do about this problem?

An easy solution is to have a RUBBER MALLET available.

Periodically, once a month or so, you can take the rubber mallet and gentlely tap on the lower portion of the brine tank area, about 10-15" up from the bottom of the tank.

When you do this, if the salt has bridged, you will notice it dropping down to fill in the bottom of the salt compartment. This will get you back on track with providing the needed salt to clean or refresh the resin in the water softener.

If you find this has happened to your water softener, you should start a manual regeneration or cleaning cycle at least two days in a row or succession.

If you have any questions, you may feel free to give me a call at 1-800-456-1016.