Bottom of brine tank full of thick, slushy salt mush and debris; softener performance is poor.

Safety first: Unplug the unit and place it in bypass. Be prepared for heavy lifting and wet cleanup.

• Remove salt mush: Scoop out the mushy salt and sludge into buckets. Dispose of it according to local regulations.
• Clean brine tank: Remove the safety float and brine well. Rinse the tank thoroughly with clean water, scrubbing the sides and bottom.
• Clean brine well and float: Disassemble and clean the safety float assembly. Ensure all moving parts are free of buildup.
• Refill with quality salt: Reinstall components and add fresh, high-purity pellet salt. Add water to the tank per Hellenbrand instructions.
• Run regeneration: Put the unit back in service and run a manual regeneration to restore proper brine strength and resin capacity.