The golden rule: Keep the salt level at least 6 inches below the top of the tank, but always above the water level. If you can see the water, you’re safe. If you can’t see anything but salt, you’ve probably overdone it.
Most pros recommend filling the tank about half to three-quarters full during each refill. That way, you’ve got room for the salt to dissolve, the water to flow, and your conscience to stay clean. Think of it as Goldilocks for plumbing—not too little, not too much, but just right.
And here’s a free pro tip: Use solar salt or evaporated salt pellets, not rock salt. Rock salt has impurities that can gunk up your resin. It’s like feeding your car low-grade fuel because it’s cheaper—sure, it runs, but it’s grumpy about it.
What If You Already Overfilled It?
First, don’t panic. Grab a plastic cup, a spatula, and your patience. Scoop out the excess salt until you see the water level. If it’s a solid bridge, gently tap it with a broom handle until it cracks. Then remove the chunks.
If the water tastes salty, run a few regeneration cycles manually. That will flush out the extra brine. Your taste buds will thank you before you’ve even made your second cup of tea. And never, ever use pool salt or table salt in your softener—they’ll either corrode the system or turn your water into a science experiment.
