GE GXSF35E, Owner'S Manual & Installation Instructions

Page: 14 / 64

14
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.
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. The following is the
best way to check for a salt bridge.
Salt should be loose all the way to the bottom
of the tank. Take a broom handle or like tool,
and carefully push it down into the salt,
working it up and down. If the tool strikes
a hard object (be sure it’s not the bottom or
sides of the tank), it’s most likely a salt bridge.
Carefully break the bridge with the tool.
Do not
pound on the walls of the tank.
If the wrong kind of salt made the bridge, take
it out. Then fill the tank with nugget or pellet
salt only. In humid areas, it is best to fill with
less salt, more often to prevent a salt bridge
from forming.
A clean nozzle and venturi is needed for the
water softening system to work properly.
This
small unit makes the suction to move brine
from the salt storage area to the 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 the screen support and screen, then the
nozzle and venturi. Wash and rinse the parts in
warm water until clean. If needed, use a small
brush to remove iron or dirt. Also check and
clean the gasket.
NOTE:
Some models have a small flow plug
located in the nozzle and venturi, and/or
a small cone shaped screen in the housing.
Be sure to check and clean these parts,
if your model is so equipped.
Carefully replace all parts in the correct order.
Lightly lubricate the o-ring seal with clean
silicone grease or petroleum jelly and place in
position.
Install and tighten the cap, by hand only.
Do not overtighten the cap.
Cleaning the Nozzle and Venturi Assembly
Push tool into salt
bridge to break
Pencil
mark
Broom
handle
Salt
Salt
bridge
Water level
1
″
–2
″
IMPORTANT: Be sure small holes in the gasket are
centered directly over the small holes in the nozzle and
venturi housing.
*Install with numbered side up, concave side down.
Cap
O-ring seal
Screen support
Screen
Screen
Nozzle & Venturi
Nozzle & Venturi
housing
Gasket
*Flow plug
*Flow plug