Turn the bypass valve back to “service” or “normal.” Find the timer or control panel on your softener (usually a small screen or dial). Press the “regen” or “regenerate” button. This tells the machine: “Hey, new salt is here! Start cleaning!”
You’ll hear a gurgling sound as the system flushes. That’s normal—the machine is having a little spa day. Let it do its thing. In about an hour, your water will be back to silky, soft perfection.