Common Water Softener Fixes: Why am I Getting Hard Water?
Finding yourself with hard water despite a full brine tank? You might be dealing with a "salt bridge." This common issue occurs when a hard crust forms in the brine tank, creating an empty space between the salt and the water. When this happens, the salt cannot dissolve to create the brine needed to regenerate your water softener.
Here is how you can diagnose, check, and fix a salt bridge to get your system back in top shape.
How to Diagnose and Check for a Salt Bridge
A salt bridge is often a "hidden" problem because the tank may still look full of salt. You should check for a bridge if you notice your water feels hard or if your salt level hasn't gone down in several weeks.
To check for one:
The Visual Test: Look for a "fallen area" or a dip in the salt at the corner of the tank.
The Touch Test: Reach into the tank and press down on the salt. If the top layer feels like a solid, unmoving mass rather than loose pieces, a bridge has likely formed.
How to Fix a Salt Bridge
If you've confirmed there is a bridge, you can break it up with a few simple household tools.
What You’ll Need:
A rubber mallet or hammer.
A small tool with a long handle, such as a small garden shovel or a kid’s play shovel.
Steps to Fix It:
Be Gentle: Carefully use the handle of your shovel or a similar tool to probe the salt.
Break the Crust: Gently tap the salt mass to break it into smaller, loose pieces.
Protect the Grid: Be very careful not to push too hard against the bottom. Many brine tanks have a plastic grid at the base that can be damaged if you strike it with too much force.
Confirm Movement: Continue breaking the salt until you can easily move it around the bottom of the tank again.
Pro-Tip for Prevention
Salt bridges are most common in homes with lower water usage or milder water hardness. The primary cause is often the weight of too much salt—specifically, having 200+ pounds of salt pressing down on the bottom.
To prevent future bridges, only add about three bags of salt at a time. Keeping your brine tank roughly half-full instead of topping it off completely is the best way to ensure the salt remains loose and functional.
