GE FNSF31Z01 About the water softener system, Safety Instructions, Operating, Service, Fill

About the water softener system.

Soft water	Hard water
OUT	IN
Salt storage
tank (salt
not shown)
	Resin
	tank
Brine	Resin
	bed
valve

A video describing important use and care instructions has been included with the product for your use.

Service

When the water softening system is providing soft water, it is called “Service.” During service, hard water flows from the house main water pipe into the water softening system. Inside the water softening system resin tank is a bed made up of thousands of tiny, plastic resin beads. As hard water passes through the bed, each bead attracts and holds the hard minerals. This is called ion-exchanging. It is much like a magnet attracting and holding metals. Water without hard minerals (soft water) flows from the water softening system and to the house pipes.

After a period of time, the resin beads become coated with hard minerals and they have to

be cleaned. This cleaning is called regeneration, or recharge. Regeneration is started at 2:00 AM (factory setting) by the water softening system control, and consists of five stages or cycles. These are FILL, BRINING, BRINE RINSE, BACKWASH and FAST RINSE.

Safety Instructions

Automatic Hard Water Bypass During Regeneration

For emergency needs, hard water is available to	However, you should avoid using HOT water because
the home during the regeneration cycles.	the water heater will fill with the hard water.

Operating

Fill

Salt dissolved in water is called brine. Brine is needed to clean the hard minerals from the resin beads. To make the brine, water flows into the salt storage area during the fill stage as shown.

Soft water	Hard water
OUT	IN

Salt storage tank

Brine valve

Fill water

Brining

During brining, brine travels from the salt storage area into the resin tank. Brine is the cleaning agent needed to remove hard minerals from the resin beads. The hard minerals and brine are discharged to the drain.

The nozzle and venturi create a suction to move the brine, maintaining a very slow rate to get the best resin cleaning with the least salt.

Hard water	Hard water
bypass OUT	IN

Nozzle &	Drain
venturi
Brine
valve
Brine

Brine Rinse

After a pre-measured amount of brine is used, the brine valve closes. Water continues to flow in the same path as during brining, except for the discontinued brine flow. Hard minerals and brine flush from the resin tank to the drain.

Backwash

During backwash, water travels up through the resin tank at a fast flow rate, flushing accumulated iron, dirt, and sediments from the resin bed and to drain.

Hard water	Hard water
bypass OUT	IN

Drain

Resin bed

lifted and

expanded

Fast Rinse

Backwash is followed by a fast flow of water down through the resin tank. The fast flow flushes brine from the bottom of the tank, and packs the resin bed.

After fast rinse, the water softening system returns to soft water service.

Soft water	Hard water
OUT	IN
	Drain

Instructions

Troubleshooting Tips

Customer Service

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