The answer to how to maintain a water softener is to regularly clean and service it. This helps ensure the softener continues to effectively remove minerals from your home's water supply.
Start by checking the salt level in the brine tank monthly and refilling it when the level drops below 1/3 full. You should also clean the brine tank and resin bed annually to remove any buildup. This can be done by running a cleaning cycle or manually flushing the system. Additionally, test the water hardness periodically to make sure the softener is working properly and adjust the settings if needed.