GE GXSF27B GNSF35Z GXSF39B Care and cleaning of the water softening system

About the water softener system.

Service: Manually Advance Regeneration Check

This check verifies proper operation of the valve motor, brine tank fill, brine draw, regeneration flow rates and other controller functions. First, make the initial checks and the Manually Initiated Electronic Diagnostics.

NOTE: The control display must show a steady time (not flashing).

1	Press the TOUCH or HOLD button and hold in for three seconds. RECHARGE NOW begins to flash as the water softening system
	enters the fill cycle of regeneration. Remove the brinewell cover and, using a flashlight, observe fill water entering the brine

tank. If water does not enter the tank, look for an obstructed nozzle, venturi, fill flow plug or brine tubing. See Care and cleaning of the water softener system section.

2 After observing fill, press the TOUCH or HOLD button to move the water softening system into brining. A slow flow of water to the drain will begin. Verify brine draw from the brine tank by shining a flashlight into the brinewell and observing a noticeable drop in the liquid level over an extended period of time.

NOTE: Be sure a salt bridge is not preventing water from contacting salt. See Care and cleaning of the water softening system section.

If the water softening system does not draw brine, check:

■nozzle and/or venturi dirty or defective.

■nozzle and venturi not seated properly on gasket.

■restricted drain (check drain fitting and hose).

■defective nozzle and venturi seal.

■other inner valve defect (rotor seal, rotor & disc, wave washer, etc.).

NOTE: If water system pressure is low, an elevated drain hose may cause back pressure, stopping brine draw.

3 Again, press the TOUCH or HOLD button to move the water softening system into backwash. Look for a fast flow of water from the drain hose. A slow flow indicates a plugged top distributor, backwash flow plug, or drain hose.

4 Press the TOUCH or HOLD button to move the water softening system into fast rinse. Again look for a fast drain flow. Allow the water softening system to rinse for a few minutes to flush out any brine that may remain in the resin tank from the brining cycle test.

5 To return the water softening system to service, press the TOUCH or HOLD button.

Care and cleaning of the water softening system.

Checking the Salt Storage Level and Refilling

Brine (salt dissolved in water) is needed for each and every regeneration. The water for making brine is metered into the salt storage area by the water softening system valve and control. However, you must keep the tank supplied with salt.

When to refill with salt: Check the salt level a few weeks after you install the water softening system and every week after that. Refill when the brine tank is from 1/3 to 1/2 full. In humid areas it is best to fill with less salt more often. Never allow the water softening system to use all the salt before you refill it. Without salt, you will soon have hard water.

Use clean water softening salts only, at least 99.5% pure. NUGGET, PELLET or coarse SOLAR salts are recommended. Do not use rock, block, granulated or ice cream making salts. They contain dirt and sediments, or mush and cake, and will create maintenance problems.

CAUTION: Water softening salt with iron removing additives: Some salts may have an additive to help the water softening system handle iron in the water supply. Although this additive may help to keep the water softening system resin clean, it may also release corrosive fumes that weaken and shorten the life of some water softening system parts. GE recommends using only Diamond Crystal® Red•Out® brand salt.

Cleaning Iron Out of the Water Softening System

Your water softening system takes hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) out of the water. Also, it can control some (see Specification Guidelines section) “clear water” iron. With clear water iron, water from a faucet is clear when first put into a glass. After 15 to 30 minutes, the water begins to cloud or turn rust colored. A water softening system will not remove any iron that makes the water cloudy or rusty as it comes from the faucet (called red water iron). To take red water iron out of water, or over the maximum of clear water iron, an iron filter or other equipment is needed.

GE recommends using only Diamond Crystal® Red•Out® brand salts with Iron Fighter® additive to help keep the resin bed clean of clear iron. If your water supply has clear water iron, periodic resin bed cleaning is needed. GE recommends using Super Iron Out® brand resin bed cleaner to thoroughly clean your resin bed if your iron content is high. Clean the bed at least every six months, or more often if iron appears in the soft water between cleanings.

IMPORTANT: It is important to mix the resin bed cleaner with water (following the manufacturer’s instructions), pour it into the brinewell tube (see page 6) and regenerate the softener immediately. Do not pour the resin bed cleaner in with the salt, as it will not be as effective in cleaning the resin, and can cause damage to the softener if it is left in the brine tank for an extended period due to the corrosive gases that are formed.

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