Occasionally, you may need to clean the salt tank and brinewell. Often times this is done after a long vacation, or if you experience a salt bridge. Let's go through the steps below to get yours cleaned up!
Click on Your Model Below
Your serial number identifies your model. You can find the Serial Number printed on the inside rim of the tank, under the salt lid hinges. Your Model number is the first seven digits of your serial number.
Step 1 - Empty the Tank
1. Confirm the salt in the tank is soft and movable. If the salt is solidified, follow our Salt Bridge instructions first to soften the pellets or crystals.
2. Remove the existing salt from the tank with a wet/dry vacuum, or manually with container or shovel. Any clean, dry, individual pellets or crystals can be stored to reuse again.
3. Bypass the unit by pushing the handle in on the back of the unit. This will stop water from coming in or out of the softener while you work.
4. Remove the top cover.
- On the back of the unit, unhook the two clips that hold the cover onto the tank below (see photo below). Flex/pull the cover out and away from the softener at these clips.
- There are two similar clips holding the front of the cover on as well. Slide the cover towards you to release these clips. Be careful not to disconnect any wires. It's normal for the plastic cover to produce some noise as it shifts and bends.
5. Now, you'll disconnect the Brine hose. Identify yours below.
- If yours has a white nut attached to the Venturi: unscrew the nut by twisting it counter-clockwise and pull the hose off.
- If your hose doesn't have that white nut, you have the 'push to connect' type. For this type, you'll need to push the small collet piece in and pull the hose out at the same time to remove.
6. Inside the tank, you'll find the brinewell (the black numbered tube). Notice where it's secured both inside the rim and on the bottom of the tank.
7. Right under the rim, squeeze the brinewell to release it from the clips. This will allow you to pull the entire brinewell up and out. Inside the brinewell will also be the brine valve float assembly (pictured below), which will come out with it. You can set both of these to the side while you work.
Brine Valve Float Assembly (2 types)
Step 2 - Clean the Tank and Refill
1. Now you'll want to wipe the tank out with a damp towel, making sure all dirt and salt is removed.
2. Place the brinewell tube back in the tank through the hole in the rim. Make sure it's seated in the plastic mold at the bottom of the tank and that the top of the brinewell is snapped into the rim securely.
3. Reattach the brine hose to the venturi.
- Either screw the white nut back on by twisting it clock-wise:
- Or insert the hose into the collet. You'll need to make sure to push it in until it you notice some resistance. Then push it in a little further. The hose should be in about 5/8 of an inch.
4. Pull the bypass handle back out to allow water flow to resume. Check the brine hose to make sure it was secured tightly enough and there's no leaking.
5. Place the top cover back on, snapping the front and then back in securely.
6. Lastly, you'll want to fill the tank with 3 gallons of fresh water and then add your salt. We recommend filling the tank with salt no higher than 4 or 5 (halfway) to reduce salt bridging in the future. You can allow the salt to drop to level 2 before refilling.
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Step 1 - Empty the tank
1. Confirm the salt in the tank is soft and movable. If the salt is solidified, follow our Salt Bridge instructions first to soften the pellets or crystals.
2. Remove the existing salt from the tank with a wet/dry vacuum, or manually with a container or shovel. Any clean, dry, individual pellets or crystals can be stored to reuse.
3. Bypass the unit by pushing the handle in on the back of the unit. This will stop water from coming in or out of the softener while you work.
4. Now you're going to open the salt lid and remove the brinewell tube. To do this, you'll need to remove the top lid off the tube and then unscrew the hardware holding the tube to the side of the tank. Set the screw and wingnut aside.
5. After removing the screw and wingnut, you should be able to lift the brinewell tube up and out of the tank. The brinewell is a hollow tube, so any salt in the bottom should fall out when it is lifted up. Remove any residual salt from the tank. Inside the brinewell will also be the brine valve float assembly, which will come out with it. You can set the brinewell tube and the brine valve float assembly to the side while you work.
Brine Valve Float Assembly inside (2 types)
Step 2 - Clean the Tank and Refill
1. Now you'll want to use a damp cloth to wipe out the inside of the tank. Continue to wipe it down until it's clean. Great work!
2. Go ahead and put the brinewell back into the salt tank. Reconnect the tube to the side of the tank using the screw and the wingnut you removed earlier. Keep the float assembly in there and reattach the cap on top of the tube. The brinewell should sit on the bottom of the tank.
3. Lastly, fill the tank with 3 gallons of fresh water and then add your salt (do NOT add any salt into the brinewell tube). We recommend filling the tank with salt no higher than 4 or 5 (halfway) to reduce salt bridging in the future. You can allow the salt to drop to level 2 before refilling.
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