Salt forms a hard crust (bridge) in the brine tank; softener stops using salt.

Safety: Wear gloves and eye protection when breaking salt bridges. Do not strike the tank aggressively.

• Identify bridge: Tap the side of the brine tank and listen for a hollow sound. Push a broom handle down into the salt; if it suddenly drops, a bridge was present.
• Break bridge: Gently break up the crust so salt falls into the water below. Remove large chunks if necessary.
• Adjust salt type: Use high-purity pellet or solar salt recommended by Pentair to reduce bridging.
• Fill level: Avoid filling the tank more than about 2/3 full with salt to reduce compaction.