Salt Bridge; Care Of Your Water Softener - Kenmore 300 Series Owner's Manual

SALT BRIDGE

Sometimes, a hard crust or salt bridge forms in the salt
storage tank. It is usually caused by high humidity 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 water 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. 41. 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.
If the wrong kind of salt made the bridge, take it out. Then
fill the tank with nugget or pellet salt only.
28

Care Of Your Water Softener

Questions? Call The Kenmore Water Line 1-800-426-9345
SALT BRIDGE
Push tool into
salt bridge to break
1" - 2"
Pencil Mark
Broom Handle
Salt
Salt Bridge
empty space
Water Level
FIG. 41