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Installation instructions.

Plan How You Will Install the Softener

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?

WARNING: 

Use only lead-free

solder and flux to prevent lead poisoning.

See

Typical Installation Illustration,

Fig. 1. Use 

this as a guide when planning your particular
installation.

Be sure to direct the incoming hard

water supply to the softener valve inlet fitting. 

The valve is marked 

IN

and

OUT.

See illustration

on page 5 to help you prepare.

Where to Install the Softener

Place the softener as close as possible to a
sewer drain, or other acceptable drain point
or standpipe.

It is recommended to keep outside faucets
on hard water to save soft water and salt.

Do not install the softener in a place where it
could freeze.

Freeze damage is not covered by 

the warranty.

Do not install the softener where it would
block access to the water heater or access to
the main water shutoff.

Put the softener in a place where water
damage is least likely to occur if a leak
develops. The manufacturer will not repair
or pay for water damage.

A 220 - 240-volt electric outlet is needed to plug 
in the included transformer. The softener
has a 2 m  power cable. If the outlet is
remote (up to 30 meters), use 0.8 mm2 wire 
to connect. 

Be sure the electric outlet and

transformer are in an inside location, to protect
from wet weather. 

Be sure the outlet is

unswitched to prevent accidental shutoff.

If installing in an outside location, you must
take the steps necessary to assure the softener,
installation plumbing, wiring, etc., are as 
well protected from the elements (sunlight,
rain, wind, heat, cold), contamination,
vandalism, etc., as when installed indoors.

Outdoor installation is not recommended, and
voids the warranty.

Keep the softener out of direct sunlight. 

The sun’s heat may distort non-metallic 
parts and may damage the electronics.

In and out fittings included with the softener
are 1

.

You should maintain the same, or larger,
pipe size as the water supply pipe, up to the
softener inlet and outlet.

Use the included bypass valve to install the
softener. The bypass valve allows you to turn
off water to the softener for servicing, but
still have water in the house pipes. 

Use copper, brass or galvanized pipe and
fittings. Some codes may also allow CPVC
plastic pipes.

If additional drain hose is needed for valve
and salt tank drains, it can be ordered from 
GE Parts.

If a rigid valve drain is needed to comply
with plumbing codes, you can buy the parts
needed to connect a 1/2

copper tubing or

plastic pipe drain.

Clean nugget or pellet water softener salt is
needed to fill the brine tank, see 

Step 8

in

the

Step-by-Step Installation Instructions.

Tools and Materials Required for Installation

Summary of Contents for GXOF18G

Page 1: ...Tips 18 20 Consumer Support Parts list 87 www GEAppliances com 30500 General GXOF18G Euro Version 10 04 Write the model and serial numbers here Model ____________________________ Serial ____________________________ To find these numbers lift the cover and look on the rim below the control panel GXOF18G Owner s Manual Installation Instructions System tested and certified by NSF International agains...

Page 2: ...NS PROPER INSTALLATION Install or store where it will not be exposed to temperatures below freezing or exposed to any type of weather Water freezing in the system will break it Do not attempt to treat water over 37 C Do not install in direct sunlight Excessive sun or heat may cause distortion or other damage to non metallic parts Properly ground to conform with all governing codes and ordinances U...

Page 3: ...er connections as required by state and federal codes Connect the softener to the main water supply pipe before or ahead of the water heater DO NOT RUN HOT WATER THROUGH THE SOFTENER Temperature of water passing through the softener must be less than 49 C Use care when handling the softener Do not turn upside down drop drag or set on sharp protrusions Maximum allowable inlet water pressure is 8 6 ...

Page 4: ... m power cable If the outlet is remote up to 30 meters use 0 8 mm2 wire to connect Be sure the electric outlet and transformer are in an inside location to protect from wet weather Be sure the outlet is unswitched to prevent accidental shutoff If installing in an outside location you must take the steps necessary to assure the softener installation plumbing wiring etc are as well protected from th...

Page 5: ...ll out for soft water service Push in for bypass Nut 2 not supplied Copper tube 3 4 2 not supplied Washer 2 not supplied Installation adapter 2 see above INLET Union not supplied 2 Optional 3 Valve Bypass Installation Illustration Adapters for this installation are not supplied with the softener Fig 1 CROSSOVER Use if water supply flows from the left Include single or 3 valve bypass Hard water Fro...

Page 6: ...shown in Fig 1 page 5 If house water flows up from the floor level turn the bypass valve upside down as shown in Fig 3C If making a soldered copper installation do all sweat soldering before connecting pipes to the bypass valve Torch heat will damage plastic parts When turning threaded pipe fittings onto plastic fittings use care not to cross thread Use pipe joint compound on all external pipe threads...

Page 7: ...VATE this hose higher than the elbow on the brine tank IMPORTANT DO NOT TEE OVERFLOW HOSE TO VALVE DRAIN HOSE NOTE This drain is for safety only If the cabinet brine tank should over fill with water the excess is carried to the drain 6 INSTALL GROUNDING CLAMP not included DANGER Failure to properly attach ground clamp could result in electrical shock If plumbing is metal to maintain electrical grou...

Page 8: ...rains per gallon press MODE to accept 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 You can get the grains per gallon gpg hardness of your water supply from a water analysis laboratory If you are on a municipal supply call your local water department To calculate the gpg hardness fr...

Page 9: ...NALS If there is an error code detected the blue indicator light will flash 4 times every second the display will flash Err and the alarm will beep every 30 seconds from 8 00 AM to 8 00 PM to signal that the softener requires service The alarm can be turned off by pressing any button but the blue indicator light and display will continue to flash See page 14 for information to assist in troubleshooti...

Page 10: ...diate recharge RECHARGE begins to flash in the display The bleach will be drawn through the water softener and out the drain This process takes approximately 2 hours 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 NOTE When the above sanit...

Page 11: ...heater will fill with the hard water Automatic Hard Water Bypass During Recharge 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 Brining During brining brine travels from the salt storage area into the resin tank Brine is the cleaning agent needed to remove hard m...

Page 12: ...he resin tank during recharge If it becomes plugged with sand dirt etc the water softening system will not work and you will get hard water To get to the nozzle and venturi remove the water softening system top cover Be sure the water softening system is in service cycle no water pressure at nozzle and venturi Then while holding the nozzle and venturi housing with one hand remove the cap Lift out ...

Page 13: ...ystem begins an immediate recharge and when over in about two hours you will have a new supply of soft water Once started you cannot cancel this recharge Feature Optional Recharge Controls Feature Memory If electrical power to the water softening system is interrupted the control display is blank and the blue indicator light is off but the control keeps correct time for about 6 hours When power is...

Page 14: ... Time Features and Service If you are not getting soft water and an error code is not displayed use the procedures below to find the problem First make the following visual checks VISUAL CHECKS 1 Is there electrical power to the outlet the water softening system transformer is plugged into 2 Is there sufficient salt in the storage tank 3 Is the softener bypass valve directing water for soft water ...

Page 15: ...e the by pass valve and disconnect by pass valve from valve body Check turbine for binding or restriction due to debris If this does not correct the problem the Timer Sensor or Turbine may require replacement 4 Historical data about the softener is available Press and hold the UP button to display the number of days this control has had electrical power applied Press and hold the DOWN button to di...

Page 16: ...m contacting salt See Care and cleaning of the water softening system section If the water softening system does not draw brine check nozzle and or venturi dirty or defective defective nozzle and venturi seal nozzle and venturi not seated properly on gasket other inner valve defect rotor seal rotor and disc wave washer etc restricted drain check drain fitting and hose NOTE If water system pressure...

Page 17: ...e water softening system resin clean it may also release corrosive fumes that weaken and shorten the life of some water softening system parts Checking the Salt Storage Level and Refilling Your water softening system takes hardness minerals calcium and magnesium out of the water Also it can control some see the Specification Guidelines section clear water iron With clear water iron water from a fa...

Page 18: ...on a circuit that can NOTE The electrical outlet for the softener should be continuously be switched off live so it cannot be accidentally switched off Manual bypass valve in bypass position Be sure the bypass valve stem is positioned properly with the knob in the OUT position Observe instructions on the decal at the end of the stem Check the position of bleed screw Valve drain hose pinched plugge...

Page 19: ...Water Softener System section page 12 Water is blue color Acidic water in copper plumbing Have the water tested at once after water softening system was installed Water softening system Meter turbine stuck See the Service Manually Initiated Electronics Diagnostics not regenerating section for troubleshooting procedures page 15 Call for service Sensor wire not plugged into See the Service Manually ...

Page 20: ... air bubbles Air in system after installation Will go away after it runs for a while and is cloudy Error Code on control Wiring may have worked loose See page 14 for details in the control Unplug transformer Remove control cover release clips on side Check for loose incorrect wiring connections to electronic board or switch Reconnect as required Reassemble control cover Plug in Transformer Wait si...

Page 21: ...softener s capacity Use clean water softening salts only at least 99 5 pure For best results use nugget pellet or coarse solar salts This system is not intended for treating water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after the system Refer to Use and Care Manual for further details on installation and maintenance user s responsibilities par...

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