GE GNSF35Z04, GNSF35Z03, GNSF35Z02, GNSF35Z01 Owner’s Manual
Safetg information ............. 2
installation Instructions ...s-12
Step-bg-step instructions ....... 6-12
Operating Instructions
Breaking a salt bridge ............. 14
Cleaning the nozzle and
venturi assemblg ................. 14
Features ......................... !5
Service .................... 13, 16-18
Water softener sgstem ........ 16-18
Care and Cleaning ............ 19
Troubleshooting Tips ...... 20-22
Consumer Support
Consumer Support ....... Back Cover
Parts list/catalog .............. 23-26
Warrantg ........................ 27
ge.com
Water Softening
Sgstem
Models GNSF35Z
Write the model and serial
numbers here:
Model #
Serial #
You can find them on the
back of the control head.
7289388 215Cl173P026 49-50181 07-06 JR
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
;i WARNING!
For your safety, the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of electric
shock, property damage or personal injurg.
SAFETYPRECAUTIONS
::Ji::Check and complg with gour state and local codes.
You must follow these guidelines.
::Ji::Use care when handling the water softening
sgstem. Do not turn upside down, drop, drag
or set on sharp protrusions.
?_:Water softening sgstems using sodium chloride
(salt) for recharge add sodium to the water.
Persons on sodium restricted diets should consider
the added sodium as part of their overall intake.
Potassium chloride can be used as on alternative
to sodium chloride in your softener.
?_:The water softening sgstem works on 24 volt-60 Hz
electrical power onlg. Be sure to use only the
included transformer.
iJi::Transformer must be plugged into an indoor
120 volt, grounded outlet onlg.
::Ji::Use clean water softening salts onlg, at least 99.5%
pure. NUGGET,PELLETor coarse SOLARsalts are
recommended. Do not use rock, block, granulated
or ice cream making salts. Theg contain dirt and
sediments, or mush and cake, and will create
maintenance problems.
::J_::Keep the salt hole cover in place on the softener
unless servicing the unit or refilling with salt.
WARN ING: DOnot use with water that
is microbiologicallg unsafe or of unknown qualitg
without adequate disinfection before or after the
sgstem.
PROPERINSTALLATION
This water softening system must be properlg installed and located in accordance with the
Installation Instructions before it is used.
?_:Install or store where it will not be exposed to
temperatures below freezing or exposed to ang
tgpe of weather. Water freezing in the sgstem will
break it. Do not attempt to treat water over 100°R
::Ji::Do not install in direct sunlight. Excessive sun or
heat mag cause distortion or other damage to
non-metallic parts.
?_:Properlg ground to conform with all governing
codes and ordinances.
!;_:Use onlg lead-free solder and flux for all
sweat-solder connections, as required bg
state and federal codes.
?_:Softener resins mag degrade in the presence of
chlorine above 2 ppm. If gou have chlorine in excess
of this amount, gou mag experience reduced life
of the resin. In these conditions, gou mag wish to
consider purchasing a GEpoint-of-entrg household
filtration sgstem with a chlorine reducing filter.
A WARNING: Discard all unused parts
and packaging material after installation. Small
parts remaining after the installation could be
a choke hazard.
Thewater softening sgstem requires a minimum
water flow of three gallons per minute at the inlet.
Maximum allowable inlet water pressure is 125 psi.
If dagtime pressure is over 80 psi, nighttime pressure
mag exceed the maximum. Usea pressure reducing
valve to reduce the flow if necessarg.
READAND FOLLOWTHISSAFETYINFORMATIONCAREFULLY.
SAVETHESEINSTRUCTIONS
nstructlons Model GNSF3SZ
iJns'a"a:ionIwaterso'tenin0systemI
I [_ Questions? Call 800.GE.CARES (800.432.2737) or Visit our Website at: ge.com I
WARNING: Read entire manual. Failure to follow all guides and rules could cause personal
injurg or propertg damage.
• Check with gour state and/or local public works department for plumbing codes. You must follow their
guides as gou install the Water Softening sgstem.
NOTE: Failure to complg with these installation instructions will void the product warrantg, and the
installer will be responsible for ang service, repair or damages caused therebg.
BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION
Read these instructions completelg and carefullg.
• IMPORTANT - savetheseinstructions
for local inspector's use.
• IN PORTANT - Observeallgoverning
codes and ordinances.
• Note to Installer- Besure to leave these
instructions with the Consumer.
• Note to Consumer- Keep these instructions
for future reference.
• Proper installation is the responsibility of the
installer.
• Product failure due to improper installation
is not covered under the Warranty.
• A shutoff valve must be available or added near
the installation point.
IMPORTANT INSTALLATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
• In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Plumbing Code 248 CMR shall be adhered to.
Consult with your licensed plumber.
• Useonlg lead-free solder and flux for all sweat-
solder connections, as required bg state and
federal codes.
IMPORTANT INSTALLATION
RECOMMENDATIONS (CONT.)
• Use care when handling the softener. Do not
turn upside down, drop, drag or set on sharp
protrusions.
Maximum allowable inlet water pressure is 125
psi. If daytime pressure is over 80 psi, nighttime
pressure may exceed the maximum. Use a
pressure reducing valve if necessary. (Adding a
pressure reducing valve may reduce the flow.)
The softener works on 24 volt-60 Hz electrical
power onlg. Be sure to use the included
transformer. Be sure the electric outlet and
transformer are in an inside location to protect
from moisture.
• See Where to Install the Softener section
for more details.
AWARNI NG:Do not use with water
that is microbiologicall9 unsafe or of unknown
quality without adequate disinfection before or
after the system. The water should be tested
periodicallg to verifg that the system is
performing satisfactorily.
• Small parts remaining after the installation could
be a choke hazard. Discard safelg.
• Connect the softener to the main water supplg
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 120°F.
Installation Instructions
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
Be sure to check the entire softener for ang
shipping damage or parts loss. Also note damage
to the shipping cartons. Contact the transportation
compang for all damage and loss claims. The
manufacturer is not responsible for damages
in transiL
Small parts needed to install the softener are
packaged either in a bag or on a cardboard
sheet. To avoid loss of the small parts, keep them
packaged until gou are readg to use them. Be sure
not to discard components hidden in packaging.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
FOR INSTALLATION
• Pliers
Screwdriver
• Teflon tape
• Razor knife
o
Two adjustable wrenches
o
Additional tools may be required if modification
to home plumbing is necessarg.
In and out fittings included with the softener
are !" NPT male adapters. You should maintain
the same, or larger, pipe size as the water supplg
pipe, up to the softener inlet and outlet. Then,
use the necessarg adapters to connect the
water supplg to the !" NPT male adapters.
Use the included bgpass valve to install the
softener. The bgpass valve allows gou to turn off
water to the softener for servicing, but still have
water in the house pipes. The NPT male adapters
referred to above connect to the bgpass valve
with the included plastic clips.
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 bg
the warrantg.
Do not install the softener where it would block
access to the water heater or access to the main
water shutoff.
Putthe softener in a place where water damage
is least likelg to occur if a leak develops. The
manufacturer will not repair or pag for water
damage.
A &20-volt electric outlet is needed to plug in the
included transformer. The softener has a !0-foot
power cable. If the outlet is remote (up to !00
feet), use 18 gauge 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, gou must
take the steps necessarg 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 warrantg.
Keep the softener out of direct sunlight.
The sun's heat mag distort non-metallic
parts and mag damage the electronics.
Use appropriate fitting/pipe material (i.e., copper,
brass, galvanized or CPVC) to connect the !" NTP
plastic adapters to the house plumbing.
If additional drain hose is needed for valve and
salt tank drains, it can be ordered from GE Parts
at 800.626.2002, part number WS07X!0004.
If a rigid valve drain is needed to complg with
plumbing codes, gou can bug the parts needed
to connect a 1/2" copper tubing or plastic pipe
drain. See Step 4.
Clean nugget or pellet water softener salt is
needed to fill the brine tank. See Step 8.
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 gou will connect the softener.
Is the pipe soldered copper, glued plastic or
threaded galvanized2 What is the pipe size2
TYPICAL INSTALLATION ILLUSTRATION
Soft water
24V 120-volt
transformer outlet
SALT
GOES HERE
I
Brinewell --_
._ MAll
WA__. Hard
water
Hard
water to
_,_ 1" female outside
adapter (2) faucets
[_@ (not supplied)
{_'" 1" NPT male
_ adapter (2)
gs (2)
_s (2)
INLET
O-rings (2)
Salt hole
cover
removed
NOTE:See Drain
Hose Connections
section.
t
Fig. 1
from the left. Include single
water
From
softener t
outlet
CROSSOVER
Use if water supply flows
or 3-valve bypass.
Soft
water
To softener
inlet
-&WARNING: Use onlg lead-free solder and
flux to prevent lead poisoning.
See Typical Installation Illustration. Use this as a guide
when planning gour particular installation. Be sure
to direct the incoming hard water supplg to the
softener valve inlet fitting. The valve is marked
IN and OUT.
OPTIONAL 3-VALVE BYPASS
INSTALLATION ILLUSTRATION
Hard water
Soft water
24V Hard
transformer Inlet water
120-volt valve
outlet
O-rings (2)
INLET
ISalt hole
SALT _ _:.z:>y_ cover
GOES ,_- --, removed
HERE ' :
Fig. 2
from the left. Include single
Hard--.................::I-_T.
water
From
softener t
outlet
i
: _-- Brinewell
1
I
CROSSOVER
Use if water supply flows
or 3-valve bypass.
?Tn_e_°ftener
Clips (2)
Soft
water
to outside
Pip E faucets
1" NPT male
pter (2)
3-Valve Bgpass
Sgstem
For soft water
service:
• Open the inlet
and outlet
valves
Close the
bypass valve
For bypass hard
water:
• Close the inlet
and outlet
valves
• Open the
bypass valve
S
Installation Instructions
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
• Turn off the gas or electric supply to the water
heater, in the possibility that the water heater
may be drained while draining pipes.
• Turn off the water supply to pipes to be cut and
drain the house water pipes.
• Open both hot and cold faucets at the lowest
location possible.
NOTE: For easier installation, remove the top cover.
Release 2 clips at rear of cover. Rotate cover
forward and lift up.
I_1 INSTALL BYPASS VALVE
• Remove plastic shipping plug and wire from valve
outlet.
"'_ Valve outlet
• _J support
NOTE: Be sure the turbine and support are firmly
in place in the valve outlet. Blow into the valve port
and observe the turbine for free rotation.
• Push the bypass valve (lubricate o-ring seals with
silicone grease) into both ports of the valve as
shown.
Clips
Turbine
Turbine shaft and
_i _:_ Outlet . NPT
[_ MOVE THE SOFTENER ASSEMBLY
INTO INSTALLATION POSITION
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 5/4" thick (minimum)
plywood. Then, place shims under the plywood as
needed to level the softener. Slide softener into
position.
Drain fitti_ __q_ _-d--apl _p
ass
/
O-ring seal goes into the outer
groove only. The clip snaps into
the inner groove (see below).
• Snap the 2 large plastic clips in place, from the
top down, as shown.
SIDE Clip
VIEW END
VlEW
Valve bod, Bypass valve
inlet or (push all the way in)
• Push the NPT adapters (lubricate o-ring seals with
silicone grease) into both ports of the valve as
shown.
• Snap the 2 large plastic clips in place, from the
side, as shown. 6
Installation Instructions
131 PLUMB "IN" AND "OUT" PIPES
TO AND FROM SOFTENER
,CAUTION: Observe all of the following
cautions as gou connect inlet and outlet
plumbing. See Typical Installation Illustration.
• BE SURE INCOMING HARD WATER SUPPLY IS
DIRECTEDTO THE SOFTENER VALVEINLET PORT.
If house water flow is from the left, use a
plumbing crossover as shown in Tgpical
Installation Illustration. If house water flows up
from the floor level, turn the bgpass valve upside
down as shown.
Turn bypass
valve upside
down to
connect to
floor level
plumbing
tOUT
IN
• With the softener in place, determine the
correct length of piping required to connect the
household plumbing to the NPT male adapter.
141 CONNECT AND RUN THE VALVE
DRAIN HOSE
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 necessarg
length and use the remainder in Step 5.
Locate the other end of the hose at a suitable
drain point (floor drain, sump, laundrg tub, etc.)
that terminates at the sewer. Check and complg
with local codes.
IMPORTANT: If more drain hose is needed, it
should be ordered from GE Parts at 800.626,2002,
part number WS07X10004, The water softener
will not work if water cannot exit this hose
during recharge.
• Tie or wire the hose in place at the drain point,
High water pressure will cause it to whip during
the back-wash and fast rinse cgcles of recharge.
Also provide an air gap of at least 1-112"
between the end of the hose and the drain
point. An air gap prevents possible siphoning of
sewer water into the softener, if the sewer should
"back-up."
• Remove softener from installation space.
• If making a soldered copper installation, do all
sweat soldering before connecting pipes to the
NPT adapters and bypass valve. Torch heat will
damage plastic parts.
• When turning threaded pipe fittings onto plastic
fittings, use care not to cross-thread.
• Use Teflon Tape on all external pipe threads.
• Support inlet and outlet plumbing in some manner
(use pipe hangers) to keep the weight off of the
valve fittings.
• Slide softener back into position.
• Make final connections to the bgpass valve and
snap clips into place.
Be sure the clips for the bypass valve and NPT
adapters snap into place. Pull on the bypass valve
and NPT adapters to make sure the parts are held
securely in place.
Installation Instructions
F_ CONNECT AND RUN THE VALVE
DRAIN HOSE ICONTJ
• Elevating the drain hose mag 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. For inlet pressure
above 50 psi, the drain line mag be raised to a
maximum height of 14'.
Valve drain hose _ ["]
P
STANDPIPE
g __
on valve t
/ LAUNDRY TUB '
//Tie or
[_ INSTALL THE BRINE TANK
OVERFLOW FITTINGS AND HOSE
• Insert the rubber grommet into the 3/4" diameter
hole in the brine tank sidewall as shown.
• Push the end of the hose adapter elbow into the
grommet as shown.
• Attach a length of hose (use remaining hose from
Step 4) to the hose adapter elbow. Use a hose
clamp to hold it in place.
• Locate the other end of the hose at the drain
point. DO NOT ELEVATEthis hose higher than the
elbow on the brine tank.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT TEE OVERFLOW HOSE TO
VALVE DRAIN HOSE.
NOTE: This drain is for safetg onlg, If the cabinet
(brine tank) should over-fill with water, the excess is
carried to the drain.
\/
Hose
adapter
11/_" air gap
FLOOR DRAIN
CONNECTING A RIGID VALVE DRAIN TUBE
To adapt a copper drain tube to the softener, use
a hacksaw to cut the barbed end from the drain
fitting as shown. Rotate the drain fitting so the
cutting blade clears the valve housing to prevent
damage to valve. Bug a compression fitting (1/4"
female pipe thread x 1/2" O.D. tube) and needed
tubing from gour local hardware store.
1/4" NPT
threads
!
_'t_i,,,_ / Barbs 1/2" O.D. copper
Cli_:-_€'p / tube (not provided)
Cut barbs from
drain fitting
Compression fitting
1/4" NPT x 1/2" O.D.
tube (not provided)
Grommet
Overflow ---_
drain hose
,.___i Hose
clamp
Do not connect
to valve drain
hose.
To acceptable
_, drain
8
Installation Instructions
16] INSTALL GROUNDING CLAMP
-ADANGER: Failure to properlg attach
ground clump 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.
* Clean pipe with emery paper in the area where
the clamp is to be installed.
* Install grounding clamps as shown, making sure
clamps fit freely around pipe.
• Make sure lock washer is in place.
* Handtighten screw, then one more full turn with
screwdriver.
NOTE: When replacing an existing softener, also
replace grounding clamps. If removing softener
completely, hard-plumb the water line with same
type of pipes as the original to assure plumbing
integrity and ground continuity over the life of
the home.
To valve inlet
171 FLUSH PIPES, EXPEL AIR FROM
SOFTENER AND TEST YOUR
INSTALLATION FOR WATER
LEAKS ICONT.)
• Place bypass valve in the "service" position
EXACTLY as follows. KEEP SOFT WATER FAUCETS
OPEN.
SLOWLY pull or slide the valve stem (out) toward
the service position, pausing several times to
allow the softener to pressurize slowly.
After about 3 minutes, open a HOT water faucet
for 1 minute, or until all air is expelled, then
close. NOTE: If water appears cloudy or has salty
taste, allow to run for several more minutes, or
until clear.
• Close all water faucets.
Check your plumbing work for leaks and fix
right away if any are found. Be sure to observe
previous caution notes.
Turn on the gas or electric supply to the water
heater. Light the pilot, if applicable.
Ground
clamp
From valve
outlet
171 FLUSH PIPES, EXPEL AIR FROM
SOFTENER AND TEST YOUR
INSTALLATION FOR WATER LEAKS
-ACAUTION: Toavoidwateror air
pressure damage to softener inner parts, be
sure to do the following steps in exact order.
• Fully open 2 cold soft water faucets nearby
the softener.
• Place bypass valve in "bypass" position by
pushing the stem inward.
I_ ADD WATER AND SALT TO THE
BRINE TANK
• Lift the salt hole cover. Add about 3 gallons of
water into the tank. Do not add into the brinewell.
Fill tank with NUGGET, PELLETor coarse SOLAR
water softener salt with a purity of 99.5% or
higher. Do not use rock, block, granulated and ice
cream-making salts, or salt with iron-removing
additives (except for Diamond Crgstal® Red•Out ®
brand salt). Maximum salt storage capacitg is
approximately 200 Ibs. Keep the salt hole cover
closed unless servicing the unit or refilling
with salt.
NOTE: If the softener is installed in a humid
basement or other damp area, it is better to fill the
tank with less salt, more frequently. Eightg to 100
Ibs. of salt will last for several months, depending on
water hardness, familg size and water softening
sgstem model.
• Fully open the house main water pipe shutoff
valve. Observe a steady flow from both faucets
opened above.
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