How do I know if my water softener needs salt?

Lift the brine tank lid and look inside. If the salt is very low or you can see water above the salt, it is usually time to add more. Some newer systems also display a low-salt warning or send an alert through a connected app.

Do not wait for spotty dishes and stiff laundry to tell you the tank is empty. Check it monthly, and call for service if the tank contains plenty of salt but hard-water symptoms have returned. The problem may be a salt bridge or a system fault.