Brine tank contains a thick, muddy sludge at the bottom and emits a foul odor.

Safety first: Unplug the softener and place it in BYPASS. Wear gloves and eye/respiratory protection when cleaning sludge.

Step-by-step:

• 1. Remove salt and water: Scoop out salt and pump or bail out brine into suitable containers for disposal.
• 2. Clean tank: Remove the brine grid and safety float assembly. Scrub the inside of the AquaHouse brine tank with warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly.
• 3. Sanitize: Optionally sanitize with a dilute bleach solution (follow AquaHouse guidelines), then rinse again.
• 4. Reassemble: Reinstall the grid and float. Add fresh high-purity solar or pellet salt and 2–3 gallons of water.
• 5. Run regeneration: Return to SERVICE, restore power, and run a manual regeneration to flush the system.