Your water softener needs salt to regenerate—it’s its fuel. Open the brine tank and check the salt level. If it’s below the water line, or if you see a solid salt bridge (a hard crust on top), the system can’t do its job.
A simple test: tap the side of the tank. If it sounds hollow or you see a crusty layer, break it up with a broom handle. Most systems regenerate on a timer, so missing a cycle means you’re back to hard water within days.
Cultural reference: Think of it like your Nespresso machine running out of pods. The machine is there, but the magic is gone.
