Operating Instructions - GE GXSF23Z01 Owner's Manual

About the water softener system.
A video describing important use and care instructions has been included with the product for your use.
Hard water
Soft water
IN
OUT
Service
Salt storage
tank (salt
When the water softening system is providing soft water, it is called "Service." During service, hard
not shown)
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
Resin
through the bed, each bead attracts and holds the hard minerals. This is called ion-exchanging. It is
tank
much like a magnet attracting and holding metals. Water without hard minerals (soft water) flows
Resin
from the water softening system and to the house pipes.
Brine
bed
valve
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 the
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.
Hard water
Soft water
IN
OUT
Salt storage tank
Brine
valve
Fill water
Hard water
Hard water
bypass OUT IN
Nozzle &
Drain
venturi
Brine
valve
Brine
However, you should avoid using HOT water because
the water heater will fill with the hard water.
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
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
OUT
.
IN
Drain
Resin bed
lifted and
expanded
Hard water
IN
Drain
5