Many folks who have hard water go to open the brine tank of their water softener, and they discover it empty or nearly so. A brine tank empty of salt won’t be effective at removing the hard minerals from your water, leaving it tasting metallic and causing calcium deposits to build up on your pipes, appliances, and other surfaces in your water system.
The Short Answer
You should fill the salt container of your brine tank with salt once a month. That way, you can keep your water clear and tasting great.
The Long Answer
There are couple of things for which you must be prepared, however. One is a salt bridge. If such a bridge forms on the inside of your brine tank, then it won’t be cleaning the minerals out of the water even if the tank is full of salt. There are three ways to ensure that you don’t develop salt bridges:
- Keep your brine tank half full of salt.
- Install the brine tank in a low-humidity section of your property.
- Make sure that you always use first-rate salt.
By doing these three things, you can ensure the most efficient running of your brine tank.
Additionally, check the inside of your brine tank periodically even if you haven’t planned to add salt. If the salt is dry and flaky, then the tank is low on water. Add water until the tank is roughly halfway full. If the level of salt is below the water, or the salt looks tacky and clumpy, then the tank is low on salt. Add salt until the salt is just above the water line.
It’s also important to remember that not all salt for your water softener is the same. Your water softener’s manufacturer will list the right kind of salt in your owner’s manual. Consult this before buying salt. Never buy salt that’s not recommended by the manufacturer. In many cases, the recommendation will be for one brand of salt pellets or another. Pellets form the fewest bridges and cause the least amount of other problems.
With more than three decades in the plumbing business, along with an A+ rating and full accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, we’re exceptionally qualified to handle any problems with your water softener. So, if you need to install a water softener or have your existing water softener serviced, then give us a call at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to make an appointment today.