Kenmore 625.388180 Owner's Manual page 14

SECTION3 CARE OF YOUR WATER SOFTENER
A. SALT: ADDING TO STORAGE TANK, SALT BRIDGE
S
C
T
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WHEN TO ADD SALT: Check the
salt level a few weeks after you
install the softener and every
week after that. Refill when the
storage tank is about 1/3 full (see
note on page 1-6). Never let the
softener use all the salt before re-
filling. Without salt, you will soon have hard water.
Note:
You will have a loss in softening capadty and may
get partly hard water if less than 10 inches of salt is
in the storage tank.
PLEASE SEE PAGE 1- 6 FOR DIRECTIONS ON ADDING SALT.
SALT BRIDGE
Sometimes, a hard crust or salt bridge forms in the
salt storage tank. It is usually caused by high hu-
midity or the wrong kind of salt. When the salt
bridges, an empty space forms between the water
and salt. Then salt will not dissolve (melt) in the wa-
ter to make brine. Without brine, the resin bed does
not regenerate and you will have hard water.
If the storage tank is full of salt, it is hard to tell if you
have a salt bridge. Salt is loose on top, but the bridge
is under it. The following is the best way to check for
a salt bridge.
Salt should be loose all the way to the bottom of the
tank. Hold a broom handle, or like tool, up to the
softener as shown in FIG. 10. Make a pencil mark on
the handle, 1" or 2" below the top height of the rim.
Then, carefully push it straight down into the salt.
If a hard object is felt before the pencil mark gets to
the top of the tank, it's most likely a salt bridge.
Carefully push into the bridge in a few places to
break it. Do not try to break the salt bridge by
pounding on the outside of the salt tank. You may
damage the tank.
Salt Bridge
push tool into salt
bridge to break
s_
salt bridge
water level
If the wrong kind of salt made the bridge, take it out.
Then fill the tank with nugget or pellet salt only.
3-1
Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line