Posted by Ray francis cwd/cpi on November 29, 1999 at 17:43:34:

In Reply to: Re: Water Softner posted by Corbin Elle, Water Quality Tech. on November 29, 1999 at 15:36:13:

: When adding salt you do not want to add so much that you actually have salt crystals. A saturated salt solution (salt and water) should be used. Saturation is the point at which the water can hold no more dissolved salt. If more salt is added it will cystalize. If salt cystals are present, you are correct in saying they will clog the machine.

: As for the brine tank, it should never be completelty full. Remember brine is waste from the softening process and should be kept at a low level. If you have a lot of brine being produced this simply means that your water has a higher hardness. The brine tank should never go over half full and is usually at about 1/4. Why I don't really know; I think it is just an industry guideline that will reduce chances of overflowing.

The water that is in the brine tank is there to absorb salt. When the softner regenerates it draws the salt water into the softning media. This salt brine rinse causes the hardness to detach from the media and then get flushed down the drain. Then the media bed is flushed with fresh water down the drain. The media bed is now ready to remove hardness again at this point the unit should put just the right amount of fresh water back into the brine tank to absorb salt again. This amount of water is just right to rinse the bed the next time and is determined by the hardness of the water and the holding capacity of the media. The proper amount of salt to put in a softner that is working correctly is anything as long as its above the water level. If you see water in the brine tank add salt.(after we know it is working right) Again go to the site I suggested before. They're a knowledgable bunch of guys when it come to this kind of thing.

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