Water softener

I opened the barrel on my softener to add more salt today and the water had a nasty film on it. Is it just algae? Anyway to clean it up without dumping the barrel?

You can try skimming it off but I usually clean out my tank annually by taking it in the bay and washing it out. Mush can accumulate below the grate and keep the brine valve from working properly.

Do you use Mortons? The last bags I bought looked like they had dirt mixed in with the pellets. They were brown and not bright white. I switched to Diamond Crystal that are still bright white. Maybe this is your issue?

You can read up on the thread I started last year, about 6 months ago. Last time I checked at Sams Club, the Mortons were still dirt colored.

(10) Mortons Clean and Protect Softener Salt | Car Wash Forum

Cleaning out the brine tank is a regular maintenance item if you own a softener. For residential situations we typically recommend once a year. For commercial applications where you process more water and go through more salt, once every 6 months may make sense. You'll figure out what frequency makes sense for you after you do it a few times.

Run your brine tank low on salt, and then pump it out or dump it if you can. Brush and hose it out. While it's empty, remove the brine valve and turn it upside down a few times to make sure you hear the little ball rolling inside the valve. Clean the intake on the valve. Reinstall making sure you have a leak free attachment of the brine tube to the top of the brine valve. Refill with salt and water to your normal levels and you're good to go.

Also don't forget to do the little bit of periodic maintenance needed on the softener valve.

Russ

I emptied and cleaned a few months ago for the same reason. I’ve always used diamond salt. Maybe i just got a dirty batch of salt. Thanks!

Are you using crystal salt or pellets?

I’ve always used the pellets with no problem until now.

I have seen a lot of the nastiest water come from infrastructure using cast iron mains.

Just completed a maintenance project on water treatment equipment at a university laboratory bldg. All that expensive high tech gear laid low by something as simple as... a salt bridge and some neglected maintenance on the softener.