GE GXSF23Z01 Water System User Manual


 
5
About the water softener system.
Customer ServiceTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions
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.
However, you should avoid using HOT water because
the water heater will fill with the hard water.
Fill Brine Rinse
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.
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.
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
Salt storage
tank (salt
not shown)
Brine
valve
Hard water
IN
Resin
tank
Resin
bed
Soft water
OUT
Hard water
IN
Salt storage tank
Fill water
Brine
valve
Hard water
bypass OUT
Nozzle &
venturi
Hard water
IN
Brine
valve
Brine
Drain
Drain
Drain
Resin bed
lifted and
expanded
Hard water
bypass OUT
Hard water
IN
Soft water
OUT
Hard water
IN
A video describing important use and care instructions has been included with the product for your use.