Display shows “Lo Salt” or a salt icon, and an audible alarm may sound.

Safety first: No electrical hazard for checking salt, but avoid lifting heavy salt bags if you have physical limitations.

Check actual salt level:

• Open the brine tank lid and visually inspect the salt level. If it is low, add AO Smith-approved water softener salt (pellets or solar crystals as recommended).
• If the tank appears full but the alarm is on, probe the salt with a broom handle. If you hit a hard crust with empty space underneath, you have a salt bridge.

Break a salt bridge:

• Gently push the broom handle down through the crust in several places to break it up.
• Do not strike the sides of the tank hard; you can crack the brine tank.
• Remove large chunks of salt if necessary and discard any mushy, dirty salt at the bottom.

Check the salt sensor:

• If your AO Smith model has a salt level sensor in the brine well, remove and clean it of salt buildup.
• Ensure it is installed at the correct height per the manual.

After correcting the salt level and any bridging, clear the alarm on the control panel and monitor for recurrence.