Get Rid of Water Softener Salt Clog Once and for All in 3 Quick and Easy Steps

[@julies1ify]

You the man Gary !! Tried the stick., no cigars. Put hot water in & waited 15 minutes, you could see the salt had dropped a lot telling me there was a bridge or clog. Regenerated & working like a champ. In my previous house (pre KZbin) had the same problem & had to take the heavy salt tank outside & beat the heck out of it, real pain in the butt. Thank God for You & KZbin !

[@TealaHooper]

Thank you! I put 2 gallons of hot water in my brine tank and waited 15 minutes. It broke up the salt clog beautifully.

[@Darwisha52]

Thank you Gary for your helping video . I called the technician ,he did not know how to fix it and after watching your video I solved the problem Thank you again .

[@water_estore]

Glad to hear!! Please share with friends and family.

[@Plenty_for_Twenty]

Found video after fix but still subscribed. 3am pump running woke me up. On for 4 seconds off for 3 minutes. Found brine tank full of salt but bone dry. Filled it up and back to normal ops. Stuff truly only breaks in the middle of the night and raining sideways - currently in tropical storm Debby from Venice, FL.

[@water_estore]

Glad to hear you found the video helpful, please share with friends and family.

[@rosiecortes1984]

Thank you. I did the hot water & it worked.

[@water_estore]

Excellent! Please share with friends and family.

[@alanferrara7204]

Great training. It solved our problems, thanks

[@water_estore]

Glad to hear it worked for you. Please share with friends and family!

[@sharonroberts6753]

Thank you Gary!!!! It is now all clean!!

[@water_estore]

Glad it worked! Please share video with friends and family!

[@KatieRobertson-k3w]

Thanks for the video! I followed the steps and got the water softener working again. Test strips said we had soft water again. Days later it was hard again. I removed the salt from the tank again etc. and again got it working properly. But then days later we have hard water again! There is still salt in the tank, maybe about 1/4 full, I didn't fill up more than this the last time as I'm afraid of dealing with another clog, so I can't understand how it has stopped working again. Using the Windsor Clean & Protect pellets.... Any ideas/suggestions? The unit is new and was installed only two years ago.

[@water_estore]

You need to add 5 gallons of water and enough salt so the salt is above the water, let it sit for one day to allow the water to absorb the salt and then regenerate.

[@KatieRobertson-k3w]

Thanks so much!!

[@tombruce9438]

Garry after I loosen the clog and the remaining salt moves around freely should I shop vac that out? Also should I refill the tank partially with salt and then try another regeneration or refill half way?

[@water_estore]

No you do not need to remove all of the salt as long as it has been loosened up. I would not refill with salt too much until you are sure that it is working.

[@laurendill5572]

As I do this, I can see that my brine tank is slowly filling up and not draining. I have a pole stuck in and marked to tell water level. when I regen, it fills up just slightly.

[@Ricken2022]

I have a question I hope you will reply to ....I have an old softener that stopped using salt..I found it was a salt bridge .. it was nearly half way up the tank, and probably building up over the years. It took me many hours to get it cleaned out , but I cannot reach behind the resin tank.. it’s the type that’s all in one.. So I put some hot water it in to take care of the rest of it... My question is , the wet salt I took out , the consistency of wet snow , can I reuse it .. Our should I put new Windsor pellets back in ... Also how much water do you put in the tank...I am starting fresh again , so can I just pour a number of gallons in the tank.. Thankyou..

[@water_estore]

Good questions! I would get rid of the old salt and start with new, but if you alternate some with the new salt very carefully you can use it up. Restart with about 3 gallons of water and then regenerate.

[@ettaschnauffer8351]

Is the brine well and brine float assembly suppose to be covered in a layer of salt where I can't even see the parts in there and will this cause salty water and air in the water faucets

[@water_estore]

The brine well should not have any salt in it whatsoever.

[@Ricken2022]

We been having problems, last night I regenerate it , the next day the water from tap had salt in it , I went down and the brine tank was filled up with water , half way .. I took a broom handle , and felt no bridge but as I got through the top salt pellets , it started to fill like going through wet sand , so I think the brine tank is blocked . One thing I notice for awhile , it was not automatically regenerating .. I would feel the water not as soft and went down and manually did it .. we are on a well.. can you tell me what part is causing it not to regenerate automatically.. thanks ..

[@water_estore]

Likely the meter has stopped working. This video will help you kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGGaq3lpob59mJY

[@Ricken2022]

@@water_estore I got more of an insight into the operation .We have a Kenmore ultra 150 , bought it along time ago but just installed it a couple years ago. So it has a metre, I set the display to 000 and run the hot water tap and the numbers moved .So I guess that tells me the electronic part is working and the impeller is working , and turning and not seized. So I never see the display flash regen on it . And if I don’t manually do the regenerate , we end up with hard water...doesn’t make sense.

[@garylester8621]

Thanks Gary 👍 for the help

[@water_estore]

Happy to help. Please share video with friends or family.

[@2Turtl3GAm1nG1]

I appreciate the explanation Gary.

[@water_estore]

Glad to help! Please share with friends and family.

[@matthewdoyle4476]

Love You Gary. Thank you.

[@stevecollins306]

I have the WaterBoss model 700 and need to refill the brine tank manually with a bucket of hot water. That is, it doesn't refill by itself. Any suggestions?

[@water_estore]

Did you make any changes to the settings lately? If not, somewhere in the brine system there is a problem, could very well be a stuck brine piston. This video will help with that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYmnlYSwmteEgrs

[@marleelay474]

Hey Gary, I think I may have a salt clog with my water boss. What is worrying about adding hot water to mine is that my brine tank is already very full with water. I have now tried the broom stick method, the water is still high. I'm afraid of hitting regenerate is it may over flow. 😕 any suggestions? Thank you!

[@water_estore]

Yes, you can scoop out, or pump out the excess water and proceed from there.

[@reneeredner1874]

I would like to remove my water softener completely and install a different one safely, how do I remove the air from the tank

[@water_estore]

Great question! The tank is pressurized, so just start a regeneration cycle to release the pressure and shut off the water before the water softener and you are good to go.

[@danielabel4203]

We are on well water. When you talk of testing and then adjusting Hardness setting from there, are you testing untreated water from the well into the softener or water that has been thru the softener being tested? Where should I be taking my test sample from for appropriate hardness setting? Thanks.

[@water_estore]

Raw water before the water softener.

[@jesusmiranda7094]

As a new whole house softener owner, you have great advice, but I own Ec5 rain soft unit, Do you have any videos on this type?

[@water_estore]

No, I don't make videos on products that I ahve no experience with.

[@sharonroberts6753]

Hi Gary Our water softner. I do not have the option to use a hose. I have used the hot water and it is breaking up the salt. But I fear that is very deep in the salt tank. It seems to be slowly going down. Can I just use the hot water method and wait?? I have a Water Right softner. While that is going on can I check for other blockages you suggested. I also can seem to regenerate manually but am going to check the regenerate video. Thanks

[@water_estore]

Yes, the hot water method used many times over will work.

[@JJJJ-ze4zq]

Thanks Fella! Wish you were in my area. Battle creek, MI

[@manzini9396]

I am dealing with mine here in Battle Creek , MI.

[@Bigbacon]

how much water should there be in the brine tank normally?

[@water_estore]

It depends on a number of factors. If it is a standard or high efficiency water softener, the size of the media tank, the hardness settings, how much salt is in the brine tank, pre or post fill water softener, etc. You need to make sure the settings in the water softener are correct and the water softener valve will determine the correct amount of water to add to the salt.

[@karenbaird7809]

Hi - I have a WaterBoss Model 700 (installed June 2003), and noticed low water pressure this summer. I bypassed the water softener and the pressure is fine. Is there perhaps a clogged filter or something else I can check for this issue? Thanks.

[@water_estore]

Likely the water softener has become clogged over the years. You can try using a water softener cleaner as shown in this KZbin video of mine as it might help kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWm0fIyoaKdjaKs

[@Jason_Wheeler]

Hi Gary my softener has filled with water and also when I tried to recharge the system it’s jammed and doing a repeated clicking sound like it’s jammed or stuck.its a kenmore Any recommendations?

[@water_estore]

Yes, your piston is stuck inside the valve and the valve needs to be rebuilt or replace the whole water softener. This one is a good choice waterestore.com/products/hum-metered-water-softener-45-000-grain-capacity-free-shipping

[@DOLRED]

Fortunately I have a 3 foot hose with sprayer and a laundry sink next to the softener. I sprayed a blast of hot water into the brine tank, in several locations. likely about 3 gallons total. The other problem I discovered is the brine refill cycle on the softener is not doing its job. As a result, the brine rinse lasts about 1 minute resulting in no soft water. The softener setting for salt was adjusted but it should not have to be... This Fleck has been nothing but trouble.

[@water_estore]

It sure sounds like it!

[@charlesmiller7861]

Strange situation...Our water is pretty good except for tannin smell.We have a tannin filter that uses salt, like a softener. Tho it works pretty good, off and on you can smell the tannin in the house. My niece started working for a Pool Installation company. Most pools in Florida have changed over to salt water pools. I told her to pick up some bags of salt, she gets a discount. She brought home 2 bags, I went to put in the tannin and softener brine tanks, and said, wait this dosent look like normal salt, it was almost like table salt, but I poured it in there anyway. I thought being so fine it would just dissolve away, but it didnt. That was months ago and the tannin smell has completely gone away, and I mean completely. The system is working better then it did when new, Not sure whats going on, but it seems to work. I talked to old old guy who owns the pool company, and he told me its the only salt he ever uses. Dont think you have to use pool salt all the time, I have now used maybe 10 bags since using the pool salt and everything is great, maybe dump a bag in there a couple times a year.

[@water_estore]

Great info. Can you let me know the brand and model number of this salt?

[@charlesmiller7861]

@@water_estore I will ask her to call and find out, she has since quit working there, she found a job making 4 bucks a hour more. I can take my PVC pole and touch the bottom of the tank, I can still feel it on the bottom. I will let you know, shes not home at the moment.

[@charlesmiller7861]

@@water_estore I rarely ask her to do anything for me, I asked her to call and find out this info, she said no problem, well guess what, she forgot maybe Monday. Wish I had not chucked the bags !. Received my RO yesterday, great packaging!.

[@HeRacesTheSun]

Should have a salt shelf in it that keeps the salt about 4" to 6" above the bottom of the tank, this way there is only water around the brine tank well vents, never salt that can clog it. I put a new salt tank, salt shelf, brine well & float for my 17 years old softener. But first I did 2 treatments of 'Iron Out' that cleaned the resin beads because I was no longer getting any soft water, after doing 2 strong treatments of Iron Out for just $9, I now have very soft water again, almost too soft!

[@water_estore]

I have seen hundreds of water softeners with totally clogged "salt shelfs" When clogged, those make cleaning out the brine tank brytal. I don't recommend them.

[@garyo4057]

Very informative, thank you

[@water_estore]

Glad it was helpful! Please share video with friends and family!

[@AW-vs8je]

I have no water in my tank at all it’s all hardened salt all the way to the bottom and no water in my brine tank. And no flow water indicator. Any ideas?

[@water_estore]

Yes, the meter has likely stopped working and as a result the water softener has stopped regenerating causing the salt clog.

[@darkholiday2001]

Sir, I followed your steps to add 2-3 gallons of water and it did break up the salt clog and tried regeneration but nothing happens. The water is still there and I have changed the Venturi filter but still the issue continues. Please help.

[@water_estore]

Your salt clog is a result of a larger problem. Likely your water softener is not drawing the brine out of the brine tank during regeneration. You can try digging down through the salt to get to the bottom to make sure the slots in the brine well are not clogged. More hot water to dissolve the salt might help.

[@darkholiday2001]

@@water_estore Thank you, I have done that and will try again today.

[@johnrvt]

Pour the hot water directly into media tank OR the brine tank portion?

[@water_estore]

Brine tank.

[@percyflores7517]

​@@water_estore can anybody tell me this i can't find no videos of sings (inside the house ) of having this water softener problem since i run the water pump to the water softener ( i was completed fine now I'm getting a lot pressure and fells like air in the pipes ( it happened right after it was filled out with salt ( i m not sure if is coincidental or the water softener is the problem i also smell the water is different is not salt on it ? im lost thank you

[@infoguy1234]

Great videos, Gary. After scooping out as much salt as I could, I'm left with a salty sludge near the bottom of my GE water softener. I followed your advice and used hot water, then a paint stirrer on a drill to break up any bridge. At what point is it safe to add salt pellets and hope it works again?

[@water_estore]

Once you are confident that what remains will be dissolved in water and used up in future regenerations.

[@champagnepete3386]

Thanks Gary!

[@water_estore]

You are very welcome! Please share video with friends and family!

[@johnerwin2778]

okay, I saw your salt bridge video. I want more in a brine tank solution. Is there an auto load salt device to a level? Is there like a better brine tank, with a circulation pump on a timer to go off every week or so? A salt mixer in tank to stir the salt once a week? Come on, there has to be a permanent solution to never get a salt bridge.

[@water_estore]

Great questions, but no, there really is not. You are correct that this end of the water softening process is a bit of a bottleneck when it comes to ease of use but no real solution on the horizon that I know of.

[@suecasey4586]

Does my water softener affect my ice maker???

[@water_estore]

The only way that I can think of is it will keep scale from forming inside the ice maker.

[@SuperReddog17]

i have a waterboss 900, it's at least 20 years old, the problem i'm having is excess salt coming out of my faucets, taste is salty and when boiling water the pot turns very white, and a film on top of water, what should i do. hard to wash salt out of pot

[@water_estore]

this video should help you kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXi0iKOnobF1ptU

[@estiempodefe3066]

What happens when you have no water in salt tank ?

[@water_estore]

When removing a salt clog you need to add water.

[@estiempodefe3066]

What happens it's that I cleaned the tank, I didn't have any salt clog, I just clean the tank and put new salt one it and also add water until it was halfway, but when it regenerate it completely drained all the water in the salt tank, and it seems that it's no it sending water to the salt tank

[@water_estore]

Likley to have a pre fill water softener kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZbHfqWrgcuLnrs

[@Hankman23]

This happened to my 8 month old Whirlpool, you'd think they'd be better designed. Nothing indicated on my screen that there was an issue, salt stopped moving!

[@water_estore]

This video will help minimize the chances of getting a clog kzbin.info/www/bejne/ene4ipSVfMRsgZI

[@jonrb28]

My softner system works for a few min, then no water. Why?

[@water_estore]

You mean that when your water softener is in service you get good flow for a few minutes and then the flow slows down to nothing, is that correct? If so your water softener's media tank is clogged.

[@jonrb28]

Also my ro system doesnt fill up my tank. Why? Ive emptied the tank checked the empty tank psi and its at 6psi. Why will the tank not get filled?

[@water_estore]

@@jonrb28 When was the last time the filters and membrane were changed?

[@jonrb28]

@@water_estore about 1yr

[@water_estore]

@@jonrb28 Disconnect the tank and run the system into a bucket to see if it is producing any water. It should produce about a gallon of water an hour.

[@bmfilmnut]

Water Boss water softeners are a nightmare. The design is insane. Mine failed after a year and I contacted Water Boss. I contacted their technical support but they never responded. I then called and a girl refused to answer any questions but I finally got her to transfer the call to a repair guy. He said he had received my questions but said he didn't have to answer! I asked him why and he said, "I don't have to." (I'm not making this up and you can find other reviewers who had virtually the same thing happen. One guy, an older man, said in his review that it was the worst experience he ever had with any company. After a prolonged exchange with Water Boss I finally returned it. I could list the absolutely terrible design flaws of this machine but it would take too long and I probably can't remember them all now. But look for review sites and you should be able to find my reivew as well as reviews by other people who describe the incredibly dumb design problems with these water softeners. It's amazing that someone actually designed them. They must never have even tested their designs before putting them into production. I'm a retired engineer and I've never seen anything so poorly designed and manufactured in my life. Literally! And to add insult to injury, the Water Boss's customer service was an absolute nightmare. They were unbelievably rude and nasty and they made it clear that they didn't give a damn about the customer at all.

[@water_estore]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with your WaterBoss. We have hundreds of customers who are very happy with theirs. We handle all of the technical issues ourselves so we rarely need to contact the manufacturer. Most of our customers have had theirs over 10 years and some over 20.