GE GXOF18G Owner's Manual And Installation Instructions
Water Softening
system
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . .2
Installation Instructions . .3–10
Step-by-step instructions . . .6–10
Operating Instructions
Breaking a salt bridge . . . . . . .12
Cleaning the nozzle and
venturi assembly . . . . . . . . . . .12
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . .11, 14–16
Water softener system . . . .11–16
Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . .17
Troubleshooting 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 against
NSF/ANSI Standard 44 for softener performance
and the reduction of barium and radium 226/228.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.
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.
■ Water softening systems 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 an alternative to
sodium chloride in your softener.
■
The water softening system works on 24 volt-50 Hz
electrical power only. Be sure to use only the
included transformer.
■ Transformer must be plugged into an indoor
220 - 240 volt, grounded outlet only.
■ Use clean water softening salts only, at least
99.5% pure. NUGGET, PELLET or coarse
SOLAR salts are recommended. Do not use rock,
block, granulated or ice cream making salts.
They contain dirt and sediments, or mush and
cake, and will create maintenance problems.
■ Keep the salt hole cover in place on the softener
unless servicing the unit or refilling with salt.
WARNING:Do not use with water that is
microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality
without adequate disinfection before or after
the system.
READ AND FOLLOW THIS SAFETY INFORMATION CAREFULLY.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
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.
■ Use only lead-free solder and flux for all sweat-
solder connections, as required by state and
federal codes.
■
The water softening system requires a minimum
water flow of 11 litres per minute at the inlet.
Maximum allowable inlet water pressure is 8.6 Bar.
If daytime pressure is over 5.5 Bar, nighttime
pressure may exceed the maximum. Use a pressure
reducing valve to reduce the flow if necessary.
■
Softener resins may degrade in the presence of
chlorine above 1 ppm. If you have chlorine in
excess of this amount, you may experience
reduced life of the resin. In these conditions,
you may wish to consider purchasing a GE
point-of-entry household filtration system with
a chlorine reducing filter.
WARNING:Discard all unused parts
and packaging material after installation.
Small parts remaining after the installation
could be a choke hazard.
This water softening system must be properly installed and located in accordance with the Installation
Instructions before it is used.
2
For your safety, the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of electric shock,
property damage or personal injury.
WARNING!
3
CAUTION: Certain plumbing skills are needed for installation. If you are unsure about
any part of the installation of this product, consult a professional plumber.
Installation instructions.
Unpacking and Inspection
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.
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 you are ready to use them.
Be sure not to discard components hidden in
packaging.
■ Before you begin installation, read these
Installation Instructions completely. Then,
obtain all the materials and tools you will
need to make the installation. Failure to
properly install the softener voids the
warranty.
■ Check local codes. The installation must
conform to them.
■ Consult with your licend local plumber, if
you have questions on the Plumbing Code
■ Use only lead-free solder and flux for all
sweat-solder 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 Bar. If daytime pressure is over 5.5 Bar,
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-50 Hz
electrical power only. 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.
WARNING:Do not use with water
that is microbiologically unsafe or of
unknown quality without adequate
disinfection before or after the system.
The water should be tested periodically
to verify that the system is performing
satisfactorily.
■ Small parts remaining after the installation
could be a choke hazard. Discard safely.
Important Installation Recommendations
Read entire manual. Failure to follow all guidelines and rules could cause personal injury or
property damage.
4
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
5
Typical Installation Illustration
Soft water
Hard water to
outside faucets
MAIN WATER PIPE
Hard water
NOTE: See Drain Hose Connections section.
24V transformer
220 -240 volt outlet
Bypass valve
Hard water to
outside faucets
Inlet valve
Outlet valve
3-Valve Bypass System
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
SALT
GOES HERE
Brinewell
INLET
Washer (2) (not supplied)
Copper tube, 3/4″ (2) (not supplied)
Installation nut (2) (not supplied)
Bypass Valve
• Pull 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
From softener
outlet
Soft water
To softener
inlet
Fig. 2
CROSSOVER
Use if water supply flows from the left.
Include single or 3-valve bypass.
Hard water
From softener
outlet
Soft water
To softener
inlet
MAIN WATER PIPE
Hard water
Soft water
220 - 240 volt outlet
24V
transformer
Brinewell
SALT
GOES HERE
Drain
(not shown)
Drain
(not shown)
Salt hole
cover
Salt hole
cover
6
Step-by-step installation instructions.
■ 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 (Figure 3).
cover forward and lift up.
1. INSTALL BYPASS VALVE ( Actual bypass may differ from drawing)
• Remove top cover (fi gure 3) and remove plastic shipping plug and wire from valve outlet .
• Push the bypass valve (lubricate o-ring seals with silicone grease) into both ports of the
valve as shown in Fig. 3A.
• Snap the 2 large plastic clips in place, from the top, down as shown in Figures 3A and 3B.
Be sure they snap into place. Pull on the bypass valve to make sure it is held securely in place.
Make sure to read the the hardness bleed screw settings on page 91 of this manual
2. MOVE THE SOFTENER ASSEMBLY INTO INSTALLATION 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 2 cm thick (minimum) plywood.
Then, place shims under the plywood as needed to level the softener.
3. PLUMB “IN” AND “OUT” PIPES TO AND FROM SOFTENER
CAUTION:
Observe all of the following cautions as you connect inlet and
outlet plumbing. See illustrations on page 5.
• BE SURE INCOMING HARD WATER SUPPLY IS DIRECTED TO THE SOFTENER
VALVE INLET PORT. If house water fl ow is from the left, use a plumbing crossover as
shown in Fig. 1, page 5. If house water fl ows up from the fl oor 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 fi ttings onto plastic fi ttings, use care not to
cross-thread.
• Use pipe joint compound on all external pipe threads.
• Support inlet and outlet plumbing in some manner (use pipe hangers) to keep the
weight off of the valve fi ttings.
4. CONNECT AND RUN THE VALVE DRAIN HOSE
IMPORTANT: If you want to attach the drain fi tting to a rigid tube, see Step 4A .
• Assemble drain fi tting as shown in Fig. 4.
• Use the provided drain hose to attach to the valve drain fi tting. To keep water
pressure from blowing the hose off, use a hose clamp to secure in place. Cut
the necessary length and use the remainder in Step 5.
• Locate the other end of the hose at a suitable drain point (fl oor drain, sump, laundry
tub, etc.) that terminates at the sewer. Check and comply with local codes.
IMPORTANT: If more drain hose is needed, it should be ordered from GE Parts.
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 cycles of recharge. Also provide an air gap of at least
4cm 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.”
• If raising the drain hose overhead is required to get to the drain point, do not raise
higher than 2 m above the fl oor. Elevating the hose may cause a back-pressure that could
reduce brine draw during recharge.
8. ADD WATER AND SALT TO THE BRINE TANK
• Lift the salt hole cover. Add about 11 litres of water into the
tank. Do not add into the brinewell.
• Fill tank with NUGGET, PELLET or 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
Maximum salt storage capacity is approxilately 45Kg.
Keep the salt hole cover closed unless servicing the unit or
refi lling with salt.
NOTE: If the softener is installed in a humid basement or other damp
area, it is better to fi ll the tank with less salt, more frequently. 25 Kg.
of salt will last for several months, depending on water hardness,
family size and water softening system model.
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 upwards to remove. DO NOT PULL
OR DISCONNECT WIRING.
• The softener works on 24 volt-50Hz electric power. The included
transformer changes standard 220 - 240 -volt AC house power to
24 volts.
Plug the transformer into a 220 - 240-volt outlet only. Be sure the
outlet is always live so it can not be switched off by mistake.
• Replace the top cover.
• Replace the salt hole cover.
7
4A. CONNECTING A RIGID VALVE DRAIN TUBE
To adapt a copper drain tube to the softener, buy a compression fi tting (garden hose thread x
1/2” O.D. tube) and needed tubing from your local hardware store.
5. INSTALL THE BRINE TANK OVERFLOW FITTINGS AND HOSE
• Insert the rubber grommet into the 2 cm diameter hole in the brine tank sidewall as shown
in Fig. 5.
• Push the end of the hose adapter elbow into the grommet as shown in Fig. 5.
• 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 ELEVATE 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-fi ll 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 ground continuity in the house cold water piping, install
the ground clamp (not included) as shown in Fig. 6.
• Clean pipe with emery paper in the area where the clamp is to be installed.
• Install grounding clamps as shown, making sure clamps fi t 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.
7. FLUSH PIPES, EXPEL AIR FROM SOFTENER, AND TEST YOUR INSTALLATION FOR
WATER LEAKS
CAUTION:
To avoid water or 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.
• Fully open the house main water pipe shutoff valve. Observe a steady fl ow from both faucets
opened in step A, above.
• 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 fi x 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.
Loading...