Kinetico softener’s brine tank has a thick, mushy sludge at the bottom and salt does not dissolve properly.

Safety first: Wear gloves and eye protection when handling salty sludge.

Clean brine tank:

• Bypass the softener and disconnect the brine line.
• Remove remaining salt and sludge from the brine tank with a scoop and wet/dry vacuum.
• Rinse the tank thoroughly with clean water.

Refill properly:

• Use high-purity solar or pellet salt instead of rock salt.
• Do not overfill; leave space at the top and periodically allow the salt level to drop before refilling.

Resolution: Reconnect the brine line, refill with salt and water as specified, and run a manual regeneration. Regular brine tank cleaning (every 1–2 years) will prevent recurrence.