Breaking A Salt Bridge; Cleaning Nozzle And Venturi Assembly - GE GXSS20H Owner's Manual & Installation Instructions

Breaking a Salt Bridge

Sometimes, a hard crust or salt bridge forms in the salt
storage area. It is usually caused by high humidity or the
wrong kind of salt. When the salt bridges, an empty space
forms between the water and salt. Then salt will not
dissolve in the water to make brine.
If the brine tank is full of salt, it is hard to tell if you have
a salt bridge. Salt is loose on top, but the bridge is under
it. The following is the best way to check for a salt
bridge.
Salt should be loose all the way to the bottom of the tank.
Take a broom handle or like tool, and carefully push it
down into the salt, working it up and down. If the tool
strikes a hard object (be sure it's not the bottom or sides
of the tank), it's most likely a salt bridge. Carefully break
the bridge with the tool. Do not pound on the walls of the
tank.
If the wrong kind of salt made the bridge, take it out.
Then fill the tank with nugget or pellet salt only. In
humid areas, it is best to fill with less salt, more often.
Cleaning the Nozzle and Venturi Assembly
A clean nozzle and venturi is needed for the water softening
system to work properly. This small unit makes the suction
to move brine from the salt storage area to the resin tank
during regeneration. If it becomes plugged with sand,
dirt, etc., the water softening system will not work and
you will get hard water.
To get to the nozzle and venturi, remove the water
softening system top cover. Be sure the water softening
system is in service cycle (no water pressure at nozzle and
venturi). Then, while holding the nozzle and venturi
housing with one hand, remove the cap. Lift out the
screen support and screen, then the nozzle and venturi.
Wash and rinse the parts in warm water until clean. If
needed, use a small brush to remove iron or dirt. Also
check and clean the gasket.
NOTE: Some models have a small flow plug located in the
nozzle and venturi, and/or a small cone-shaped screen
in the housing. Be sure to check and clean these parts,
if your model is so equipped.
Carefully replace all parts in the correct order. Lightly
lubricate the o-ring seal with clean silicone grease or
petroleum jelly and place in position. Install and tighten
the cap, by hand only. Do not overtighten the cap or housing.
Push tool into salt
bridge to break
1"–2"
Pencil
mark
Broom
handle
Cap
O-ring seal
Screen support
Screen
Nozzle & Venturi
Gasket
*Fill Flow plug
Nozzle & Venturi housing
IMPORTANT: Be sure small holes in the gasket are
centered directly over the small holes in the nozzle
and venturi housing.
*Install with numbered side up, concave side down.
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Salt
Salt
bridge
Water level
Screen
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