Operating Instructions; About The System; Service; Water Bypass - GE GXSS17Z01 Installation And Owner's Manual

About the water softener system.
Soft water Hard water
OUT IN
Salt storage
tank (salt
not shown)
Resin
tank
Brine
valve
Resin
bed
Hard water
Soft water
IN
OUT
Salt
storage
tank
Brine
valve
Fill
water
Hard water Hard water
IN
bypass OUT
Nozzle &
Drain
venturi
Brine
valve
Brine
12

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 .
Automatic Hard Water Bypass During Regeneration
For emergency needs, hard water is available
to the home during the regeneration cycles.
Fill
Salt dissolved in water is called brine. Brine
is needed to clean the hard minerals from
resin beads. To make the brine, water flows
into the salt storage area during the fill stage
as shown.
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.
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
.
However, you should avoid using HOT water
because the water heater will fill with the
hard water.
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
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 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
Drain