Brine tank is full of solidified salt; water does not move freely and the softener is not using salt.

Safety first: Unplug the unit. Wear gloves and eye protection when breaking up salt and handling brine.

• Identify salt bridge: Tap the side of the brine tank with a rubber mallet. A hollow sound near the top with solid resistance below indicates a salt bridge.
• Break the bridge: Insert a broom handle or similar tool into the salt and gently push down to break the crust. Avoid damaging the sides or bottom of the tank or the brine well.
• Remove salt mush: If the bottom of the tank is filled with a thick, slushy salt mush, scoop or vacuum it out. Rinse the tank with warm water to remove residue.
• Refill correctly: Refill with high-purity water softener salt pellets, keeping the level between 1/3 and 3/4 full. Avoid overfilling.
• Run regeneration: After restoring normal salt and water levels, run a manual regeneration to re-establish proper brining.