Recharge Guide for the Upgraded Shower Water Softener System
Once you’ve been using the system, you’ll notice the difference between hard and soft water by how “slippery” it feels in the shower. When the water no longer feels soft, simply use the included test strips to check the hardness. After you confirm hard water, follow our step-by-step recharge guide here.
- Add 2 lbs of water softener salt to 1.3 gallons of water 1–2 days before recharging. Wait until the salt is fully dissolved before starting the recharge. ⚠️ Do not use or sea salt.
- Attach the recharge hoses to the valve fittings on both ends of the softener.
- Turn the vertical valves OFF and the horizontal valves ON.
- Take out the water pump from the kit, connect one end to the softener outlet, and plug the pump into a portable power bank.
- Allow the salt solution to circulate for 4–5 hours.
- Disconnect the hoses from the adapters and rinse the pump with clean water.
- Turn the vertical valves ON and the horizontal valves OFF.
- Let the softener sit for at least 5 hours or overnight.
- Turn on the shower and let the water run for 3 minutes to flush. The recharge is complete.
- For future recharges, you can connect the recharge hoses directly without removing the main setup — quick and easy.
Note: Some types of salt, such as sea salt, may damage the resin inside the softener. For the safest and most reliable recharge, we recommend using water softener salt only. Please prepare the salt water 1–2 days ahead of time because water softener salt takes longer to dissolve.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at service@softwatercare.com.
Recharge & Maintenance FAQ
1. Do I need to recharge before first use?
1. Do I need to recharge before first use?
No recharge needed at first! Just turn the valve on and let water flow through the system for about 3 minutes. You might see yellow water at the beginning—don’t worry, that’s completely normal. It means the resin is flushing out initial dust and particles from manufacturing, which confirms your system is brand new. After that, the water will run clear and soft.
2. What kind of salt should I use?
2. What kind of salt should I use?
You can use either of the following:
- Non-iodized table salt – dissolves quickly and is easy to use
- Water softener salt pellets – more affordable, but takes longer to dissolve
Tip: To speed up pellet salt, mix it with boiling water and wait 1–2 hours for it to dissolve. Be sure to let the water cool to room temperature before recharging.
3. What powers the pump? Can I plug it in?
3. What powers the pump? Can I plug it in?
The pump is powered via USB and is not designed to be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
Doing so is extremely dangerous and can damage the pump or cause serious safety issues.
Always use a portable USB power bank when recharging the system.
4. What if the pump stops working?
4. What if the pump stops working?
Sometimes during your second recharge, the pump may get stuck due to salt residue. Here’s how to fix it:
- Soak the pump in clean water for half a day or a full day.
- If it still doesn’t work, try opening the pump and soaking it again.
👉 Watch how to open the pump
To prevent this, rinse the pump with clean water after every recharge.
If soaking the pump doesn’t fix the issue, you can buy a replacement pump kit here.
Recharge Guide for the Original Shower Water Softener System
- Add 2 lbs of water softener salt to 1.3 gallons of water 1–2 days before recharging. Wait until the salt is fully dissolved before starting the recharge. ⚠️ Do not use or sea salt.
- Unscrew the hoses on both sides of the water softener, lay it flat, and drain the water from the softener.
- Take out the water pump from the kit and connect one end to the outlet of the water softener.
- Place the pump in the salt solution and connect it to a portable charger.
- Allow the salt solution to circulate through the water softener system for at least 3 hours.
- Reinstall the shower water softener and let it sit for one night.
- Turn on the shower, let the water run for 3 minutes, and the recharge is complete.
If you want to upgrade your system, we also provide an upgrade kit (see details) that gives you the option to upgrade and makes recharging easier. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at service@softwatercare.com.
To recharge the softener, we use a brine container and pump to circulate concentrated saltwater through the system.
Traditional softeners typically fill only half the space with resin, leaving the rest open for soaking in brine during recharge. While this works, it reduces space efficiency and lowers the initial soft water capacity. By moving the brine to a separate container for circulation, we maximize the space inside the softener, filling it with more resin to increase the initial soft water capacity. Additionally, brine circulation is a more efficient recharging method, resulting in a greater amount of soft water after each recharge.
To recharge the softener, we use a brine container and pump to circulate concentrated saltwater through the system.
Traditional softeners typically fill only half the space with resin, leaving the rest open for soaking in brine during recharge. While this works, it reduces space efficiency and lowers the initial soft water capacity. By moving the brine to a separate container for circulation, we maximize the space inside the softener, filling it with more resin to increase the initial soft water capacity. Additionally, brine circulation is a more efficient recharging method, resulting in a greater amount of soft water after each recharge.