How-to · 5 min
Water softener salt and maintenance basics
Keep the brine tank topped up, break salt bridges, and schedule occasional checkups so hardness stays under control.
- Author
- WaterFilterHelp Editorial Team
- Canadian home-water research and consumer education
- Reviewed by
- WaterFilterHelp Standards Review
- Fact-checked against official Canadian guidance and certification sources
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-23
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Salt habits
Keep salt above the water line in the brine tank. Use pellet or cube salt recommended for your unit. Avoid mixing random rock salt that leaves mud.
Salt bridges
A hard crust can float above brine so the softener thinks it is regenerating. Carefully break bridges and check after humid summers.
When to call a pro
Hard water returns, endless regeneration, error codes, or iron fouling of resin. A local tech can clean, resize or add pretreatment.
Next step
Request a service quote, or run the wizard if you are still choosing your first softener.