The small plastic tank that sits next to the water softener in your water softening system is a crucial component of the whole softening process. In fact, without the salt in the brine tank, the ion exchange process that occurs in the water softening process would be impossible. Therefore, maintaining the brine tank appropriately is a vital part of taking care of your water softening system for the long term. Thankfully, there is a simple ABC rule set that you can use to help you maintain the brine tank of the water softening system you have in your home.

Always be alert to potential problems.

Using too much salt, tasting salt in your water, and even excess water in the brine tank are all potential signs of a problem with your tank. You should carefully monitor for any obvious signs that something is wrong with the brine tank because problems with the brine tank can lead to the entire water softening system failing.

Be careful to remove salt bridges and encrusted salt before adding new salt to the brine tank.

Each time that you add new salt to the water softener, whether it is in pellet, brine, or granular form, make sure you remove any excess salt buildup inside of the tank first. The salt will naturally form a crust through the ionization process and the crusting will continue to grow over time if it is not removed. Use warm water to break up large chunks of salt if they are difficult to remove.

Carefully follow manufacturer's instructions about tank maintenance.

Every water softening system comes with a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to brine tank maintenance. These guidelines are specifically developed for the model you have and how it is intended to work. Therefore, just because you have had a water softener in the past, it does not necessarily mean that the same maintenance rules will apply. Make sure you read over your owner's manual carefully and pay careful attention to details like:

• how often you should add salt to the tank
• the type of salt you should be using in your brine tank
• how to spot potential signs of problems with your brine tank

A water softener is one of the more beneficial ways to ensure that the water you have in your home is safe, clean, and not damaging to your pipes or appliances. If you would like to know more about the brine tank of your water softening system, be sure to talk to a technician for more information.