First, open your softener’s brine tank—that’s the big plastic bin usually next to the main filter tank. If it looks like a swamp with salt crystals, do not panic. That’s normal. But if you see a solid block of salt that could double as a paperweight, you’ve got a “salt bridge,” and my heart goes out to you. Break that up with a broom handle before adding new pellets.
Now, check the water level. It should be a few inches above the salt, not below it. If it’s dry, your softener is basically performing interpretive dance instead of filtering water. You need moisture to make the brine solution that does all the chemical wizardry.
