What are expert tips for water softener maintenance?

Buy salt when the tank is half full, not when it's empty. Running out means hard water hits your entire system. If your softener has a vacation mode, use it when you're away for more than a few days -- it skips unnecessary regeneration cycles and saves salt. Monitor your water bill after a softener install. If usage spikes, the softener may be regenerating too frequently -- adjust the settings. A water hardness test kit ($10) lets you verify the softener is actually working. Test the raw input and the softened output.

What mistakes should I avoid with water softener maintenance?

Using rock salt to save money -- the impurities create sludge that eventually clogs the system. Ignoring a salt bridge and wondering why the water feels hard again. Never cleaning the brine tank -- sludge buildup reduces brine concentration and softening effectiveness. Setting the regeneration cycle too frequently, which wastes salt and water. Set it based on your actual hardness level and water usage.

Water Softener Maintenance | The Plumbing Directory

Overview

A water softener that's properly maintained runs quietly for 15-20 years, saving your plumbing, appliances, and fixtures from hard water damage. One that's neglected develops salt bridges, resin fouling, and eventually stops softening -- and you won't notice until the white scale comes back on everything. Monthly checks take 5 minutes. Here's the full maintenance routine.

What to Know

Salt Level and Type

Check the brine tank monthly. Keep the salt level at least one-third full. Use high-purity salt -- evaporated salt pellets are best (99.9% pure). Rock salt is cheaper but contains insoluble minerals that build up in the brine tank as sludge. Solar salt is a good middle ground. Never mix salt types in the same tank.

Salt Bridges

A salt bridge is a hardened crust of salt that forms across the top of the brine tank, creating a gap between the salt and the water below. The salt looks full from the top, but the brine solution underneath is depleted and the softener can't regenerate. Tap the side of the brine tank with a broom handle -- if it sounds hollow in the middle, you have a bridge. Break it up carefully with the broom handle.

Brine Tank Cleaning

Clean the brine tank once a year. Remove all remaining salt, scoop out any sludge or sediment at the bottom, scrub the walls, and rinse thoroughly. This prevents mushing (salt dissolving into a thick paste at the bottom) and keeps the brine solution clean.

Resin Bed Maintenance

The resin beads that actually soften the water last 10-20 years. Iron and manganese in your water can foul the resin over time, reducing its capacity. Run a resin cleaner (like Iron Out or Res-Up) through the system every 3-6 months if you have iron in your water. The cleaner goes into the brine tank before a regeneration cycle.

Pro Tips

Buy salt when the tank is half full, not when it's empty. Running out means hard water hits your entire system.
If your softener has a vacation mode, use it when you're away for more than a few days -- it skips unnecessary regeneration cycles and saves salt.
Monitor your water bill after a softener install. If usage spikes, the softener may be regenerating too frequently -- adjust the settings.
A water hardness test kit ($10) lets you verify the softener is actually working. Test the raw input and the softened output.

Mistakes to Avoid

Using rock salt to save money -- the impurities create sludge that eventually clogs the system.
Ignoring a salt bridge and wondering why the water feels hard again.
Never cleaning the brine tank -- sludge buildup reduces brine concentration and softening effectiveness.
Setting the regeneration cycle too frequently, which wastes salt and water. Set it based on your actual hardness level and water usage.

When to Call a Pro

If the softener stops softening despite proper salt levels and no bridge, the resin may be exhausted and need replacement ($200-$400) or the control valve may be malfunctioning. If you see resin beads in your faucet aerators, the resin tank screen is broken and needs professional repair.

Bottom Line

Check salt monthly, break salt bridges when they form, clean the brine tank yearly, and run resin cleaner quarterly if you have iron in your water. A well-maintained softener runs for 15-20 years and protects every water-using fixture and appliance in your home.

Water Softener Maintenance