Water Softener clogged with salt

So for a few months I noticed the salt level in my water softener was not going down. Becoming concerned, I began the process of scooping out all the pellets.

I quickly realized they were all hardened together. So I used a crowbar to break them up a bit and continued removing the salt pellets/chunks.

After getting about halfway down the pellets completely disappeared and it appeared to be one large solid mass. I can break it up some, but the salt in now similar to sand you would find at the beach. I can no longer really scoop it out with my hands. I mean, I can, but I only get very little at a time and it is very tedious. Whats more is I can only reach into it so far. The water level is above the salt.

What are my options here? I have considered using a ladle to scoop out the rest, but that is even smaller than doing it by hand. It just seems so tedious. Or, who would I call to fix something like this for me? What woudl the cost involved be? Should I just get a new Water softener?

I would really like to get this resolved, as we now have very hard water, and it's causing spots, etc on our glass shower doors (among other annoyances).

Suggestions? Help?

 

I tell my customers to add 2 gallons of water daily to the brine tank and set the unit to regen daily. Once the salt is below the water level, stop adding the 2 gallons.

 

There is already at least 5 inches of water above the salt level.

 

What kind of system is it?
One with a salt tank that does not have the softener in it? or is it a Sears , GE type unit?

 

If the unit is able to draw the brine out, then by adding 2 gallons of water each day, you will be dissolving 6 lbs of salt a day. In 30 days the salt tank should be close to empty. You may want to be sure the unit draws brine first.

 

I will make sure it recharges daily form now on, but I feel hesitant to add more water as there has been several inches of standing water (water above the salt) for over a month now.

It is a Kenmore brand.

 

There is to be no water save for maybe a 1/2" at the bottom, if there is that much water in the brine tank or salt tank then there is a problem with the system pulling the brine water back out of the tank.

You need to check the manual and the injector or ventery to make sure that it is clean.
Also the age of the unit might be showing and it might need work within the valve.