GE PNSF39Z01 Owner's Manual page 8

About the water softening system.
Hard water
bypass OUT
Nozzle &
venturi
Brine
valve
Brine
Hard water
bypass OUT
Soft water
OUT
8
Brining
Hard water
IN
During brining, brine travels from the salt storage
Drain
area into the resin tank. Brine is the cleaning agent
needed to remove the hardness minerals from the
resin beads. The hardness 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. Hardness minerals and
brine flush from the resin tank to the drain.
Backwash
Hard water
IN
During backwash, water travels up through the resin
Drain
tank at a fast flow rate, flushing accumulated iron,
dirt, and sediments from the resin bed and to the
drain.
Resin bed
lifted and
expanded
Fast Rinse
Hard water
IN
Backwash is followed by a fast flow of water
Drain
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.