Brine tank full of water but salt level does not drop over time; salt appears to form a hard crust.

Safety first: Unplug the unit before working in the brine tank. Wear gloves and eye protection.

Step-by-step:

• 1. Probe for a bridge: Push a broom handle down through the salt. If you feel a hard layer with empty space below, a bridge is present.
• 2. Break the bridge: Gently break up the crust so salt falls into the water. Remove large chunks if necessary.
• 3. Adjust salt level: Keep salt level between 1/3 and 2/3 full rather than topping off to the brim.
• 4. Improve environment: If the area is very humid, consider a dehumidifier or using solar salt crystals instead of pellets.
• 5. Run regeneration: After clearing the bridge, run a manual regeneration to restore softening capacity.