Keeping your water softener running smoothly starts with something simple:
storing your salt the right way.

It sounds obvious, but improper storage is one of the biggest reasons customers run into issues like salt bridging, mush, or even a softener that suddenly stops softening.

Here’s how to avoid all that — and keep your system happy.

1️⃣ Keep Salt in a Dry Place (This Is the Big One)

Salt is highly sensitive to moisture. If your bags are stored:

• in a damp garage

• on a concrete floor

• beside a laundry sink

• or anywhere humidity collects

…the salt can clump, harden, or partially dissolve inside the bag before it even reaches your softener.

Best practice:
Store bags on a shelf, pallet, or even a thick piece of cardboard.
Anywhere off the floor and away from humidity.

2️⃣ Don’t Overfill the Brine Tank

More salt does not mean better performance.

We recommend only adding 1–2 bags at a time, unless you're a large household that goes through a lot of water.

Why?

• Too much salt can sit for too long

• Old salt absorbs moisture

• Moisture leads to bridging or creating one giant “salt boulder”

Underfilling is actually healthier for the softener.

3️⃣ Keep the Tank Lid On 

Leaving the lid open invites:

• moisture

• dust

• laundry lint

• humidity

All of these can interfere with how the softener dissolves the salt properly.

Just keep the lid closed — easy.

4️⃣ Use the Right Salt for Your Home

Most homes in Waterloo Region do great with:

• High-purity pellets

• Rock salt 

Avoid solar salt  — it contains more dirt and can clog injectors.

5️⃣ Break Up Crust or Bridges as Soon as You Spot Them

Open the tank and see:

• a hollow space under the salt?

• a hard layer on top?

That’s a salt bridge.

Gently poke it with a broomstick handle to loosen it.
Do not stab downward — you don’t want to damage the float.

Regular quick checks prevent big problems later.

6️⃣ Add Salt When the Level Gets Low — Not on a Schedule

Every household uses water differently, so salt usage varies a lot.
A large family might go through several bags a month, while a single person might only need one or two small bags a year — and that’s completely normal.

What you should look for is:

• Salt sitting in the tank but not going down at all for many months and

• Water hardness returning in the home

If both happen together, it may be a sign of a:

• salt bridge

• blocked injector

• or brine-draw issue

If the salt level is staying the same and your water is still soft, your system is simply running efficiently — nothing to worry about.

🛒 Where to Buy Softener Salt in Waterloo Region

You don’t need to store large amounts of salt at home — most homeowners simply buy it as needed. Softener salt is easy to find locally at:

• hardware stores

• grocery stores

• big box stores

• many gas stations

There are also independent salt delivery companies in the region if you prefer home delivery.
(Ontario Soft Water does not sell salt or provide salt delivery.)

🧂 Final Thoughts

Storing softener salt properly is simple, but it makes a big difference.
By keeping the bags dry, avoiding overfilling, and checking for bridging, your softener will run efficiently for years.

Have questions about water treatment in Waterloo Region? We’d be happy to help.
We install high-quality North American water softeners and reverse osmosis systems, and we’ve been serving local homes for over 30 years. CONTACT US