system Water Softening ge.com Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Installation Instructions . . .3–12 Step-by-step instructions . . . . . . .6–12 Water Softening System Operating Instructions Breaking a salt bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Cleaning the nozzle and venturi assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13, 16–18 Water softener system . . . . . . . .
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING. WARNING! For your safety, the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of electric shock, property damage or personal injury. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ■ Check and comply with your state and local codes. You must follow these guidelines. ■ Use care when handling the water softening system. Do not turn upside down, drop, drag or set on sharp protrusions.
Installation Instructions Water Softening System Model GNSF35Z Questions? Call 800.GE.CARES (800.432.2737) or Visit our Website at: ge.com WARNING: Read entire manual. Failure to follow all guides and rules could cause personal injury or property damage. • Check with your state and/or local public works department for plumbing codes. You must follow their guides as you install the Water Softening system.
Installation Instructions UNPACKING AND INSPECTION WHERE TO INSTALL THE SOFTENER Be sure to check the entire softener for any shipping damage or parts loss. Also note damage to the shipping cartons. Contact the transportation company for all damage and loss claims. The manufacturer is not responsible for damages in transit. • Place the softener as close as possible to a sewer drain, or other acceptable drain point or standpipe.
Installation Instructions PLAN HOW YOU WILL INSTALL THE SOFTENER WARNING: Use only lead-free solder and flux to prevent lead poisoning. You must first decide how to run in and out pipes to the softener. Look at the house main water pipe at the point where you will connect the softener. Is the pipe soldered copper, glued plastic or threaded galvanized? What is the pipe size? See Typical Installation Illustration. Use this as a guide when planning your particular installation.
Installation Instructions BEFORE YOU BEGIN 2 MOVE THE SOFTENER ASSEMBLY INTO INSTALLATION POSITION • Turn off the gas or electric supply to the water heater, in the possibility that the water heater may be drained while draining pipes. Before sliding softener in position, be sure the installation surface is level and smooth. Sharp objects under the tank may puncture it. If needed, place the tank on a section of 3/4″ thick (minimum) plywood.
Installation Instructions 3 PLUMB “IN” AND “OUT” PIPES TO AND FROM SOFTENER 4 CONNECT AND RUN THE VALVE DRAIN HOSE CAUTION: Observe all of the following • Use the provided drain hose (20′ length included) to attach to the valve drain fitting. To keep water pressure from blowing the hose off, use supplied spring clamp to secure in place. Cut the necessary length and use the remainder in Step 5. cautions as you connect inlet and outlet plumbing. See Typical Installation Illustration.
Installation Instructions 4 CONNECT AND RUN THE VALVE DRAIN HOSE (CONT.) 5 INSTALL THE BRINE TANK OVERFLOW FITTINGS AND HOSE • Elevating the drain hose may cause back pressure that could reduce the brine draw during recharge. If raising the drain line overhead is required to get to the drain point, measure the inlet water pressure to the softener first. For inlet pressures between 20 and 50 psi, do not raise higher than 8′ above the floor.
Installation Instructions 6 INSTALL GROUNDING CLAMP 7 FLUSH PIPES, EXPEL AIR FROM SOFTENER AND TEST YOUR INSTALLATION FOR WATER LEAKS (CONT.) DANGER: Failure to properly attach ground clamp could result in electrical shock. If plumbing is metal, to maintain electrical ground continuity in the house cold water piping, install the included ground clamp as shown. • Place bypass valve in the “service” position EXACTLY as follows. KEEP SOFT WATER FAUCETS OPEN.
Installation Instructions 9 CONNECT TO ELECTRICAL POWER To gain access to the transformer/power cord assembly, remove the salt hole cover from the softener. Unclip the tabs on the rear of the top cover and rotate the cover upward to remove. DO NOT PULL OR DISCONNECT WIRING. • The softener works on 24 volt-60Hz electric power. The included transformer changes standard 120-volt AC house power to 24 volts. Plug the transformer into a 120-volt outlet only.
Installation Instructions SET WATER HARDNESS NUMBER (CONT.) OPTIONAL CONTROL SETTINGS 3. When the display shows your water hardness (in grains per gallon), press SELECT to accept. The controller display has several options and features. NOTE: If there is clear water iron in your water supply, you will need to increase the hardness setting by 5 for each 1 ppm of clear water iron in your water supply.
Installation Instructions SANITIZING PROCEDURES 4. If, after sanitization, water from the house faucet tastes salty or has a slight color, this is a preservative from the resin tank. Turn on the cold soft water faucets and drain for a few minutes or until clear. To complete the installation, do the following sanitizing procedures. Care is taken at the factory to keep your water softener clean and sanitary.
About the water softener system. ge.com 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.
About the water softener system. 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. Push tool into salt bridge to break 1″–2″ 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.
ge.com Normal Operation, Control Displays During normal operation, the present time of day and AM or PM show in the control display area. When the demand computer determines a recharge is needed, a regeneration (recharge) begins at the next recharge start time. During a recharge, RECHARGE NOW flashes until the recharge is over. Feature: Optional Recharge Controls Sometimes, a manually started recharge may be desired or needed.
About the water softener system. Service: Electronic Demand Time Features and Service ERROR CODE DISPLAYED ERR 01 POSSIBLE DEFECT ERR 02 ERR 03 ERR 04 • Motor inoperative •Position switch •Motor inoperative or wiring harness •Position switch or wiring harness • Wiring harness or connection to switch •Control •Control •Control ERR 05 •Control • Position switch • Control To remove an error code: 1. Unplug transformer. 2. Correct defect. 3. Plug transformer in. 4. Wait for at least 6 minutes.
ge.com Service: Manually Initiated Electronics Diagnostics 1. To enter diagnostics, press and hold the SELECT button until (000 – –) shows in the display. A The first 3 digits indicate water meter operation as follows: ■ 000 (steady) = soft water not in use…no flow through the meter. Turbine Switches OR Water Switch (B) Meter (A) —OPEN A NEARBY SOFT WATER FAUCET— ■ 000 to 199 (continual) = repeats display for each gallon of water passing through the meter.
About the water softener system. Service: Manually Advance Regeneration Check This check verifies proper operation of the valve motor, brine tank fill, brine draw, regeneration flow rates and other controller functions. First, make the initial checks and the Manually Initiated Electronics Diagnostics. NOTE: The control display must show a steady time (not flashing). 1. Press the TOUCH OR HOLD button and hold in for three seconds.
Care and cleaning of the water softening system. ge.com Checking the Salt Storage Level and Refilling Brine (salt dissolved in water) is needed for each and every recharge. The water for making brine is metered into the salt storage area by the water softening system valve and control. However, you must keep the tank supplied with salt. When to refill with salt: Check the salt level a few weeks after you install the water softening system and every week after that.
Before you call for service… Troubleshooting Tips Save time and money! Review the chart on the following pages first and you may not need to call for service. NO SOFT WATER – Most Common Problems: Check the following before calling for service: • Not enough salt—should be at least 1/3 full. • Bypass valve in “Bypass” position—knob should be in the “OUT” (service) position. • Hardness setting too low. Check hardness setting and adjust.
ge.com Problem Possible Causes What To Do Water hard sometimes Using hot water while the water softening system is regenerating • Avoid using hot water during water softening system recharge because the water heater will refill with hard water. See Automatic Hard Water Bypass During Recharge section, page 13. Control HARDNESS number setting too low • Press the MODE button until arrow points to HARDNESS.
Before you call for service… Troubleshooting Tips Problem Possible Causes What To Do Salty tasting or brown/yellow colored water after installation Unit not sanitized • Complete the Sanitization Procedures on page 12. • At completion of recharge cycle (approx. 2 hrs), run water from faucets to purge the salty water. Low water pressure Check pressure. • Drain height 8′ or less, pressure should be minimum of 20 psi. • Drain height above 8′, pressure should be minimum of 50 psi.
Parts list. ge.
Parts list.
Parts catalog. ge.com GENERAL ELECTRIC PARTS CATALOG G N S F 3 5 Z REF. NO. PART NO.
Parts catalog. GENERAL ELECTRIC PARTS CATALOG G N S F 3 5 Z REF. NO. PART NO.
GE Water Softening System Warranty. All warranty service provided by our SmartWater™ Authorized Servicer Network. To schedule service, call 800.952.5039 (U.S.) or 866.777.7627 (Canada). Please have serial number and model number available when calling for service. Staple your receipt here. Proof of the original purchase date is needed to obtain service under the warranty.
Consumer Support. GE Appliances Website ge.com Have a question or need assistance with your appliance? Try the GE Appliances Website 24 hours a day, any day of the year! For greater convenience and faster service, you can now download Owner’s Manuals or order parts online. Schedule Service ge.com Expert GE repair service is only one step away from your door. Schedule your service at your convenience by calling 800.GE.CARES (800.432.2737) during normal business hours. Real Life Design Studio ge.