GE GXSHC40N Smart 40,000 Grain Water Softener Guide

Before you call for service

Troubleshooting Tips

Save time and money! Review the chart on this page 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—handle should be in the “OUT” (service) position.

• Hardness setting too low. Check hardness setting and adjust. Verify hardness of supply water—from local water company, water test or call the GE Appliances Answer Center (800-952-5039 in US).

• Salt Bridge—salt solidifies above water level so that brine water is not in contact with salt. See the Breaking a Salt Bridge section.

Problem

No soft water

Possible Cause

Faucet or fixture where sample was taken not plumbed to soft water. NOTE: Be sure sample is from a faucet that does not mix soft and hard water. For example, a single lever kitchen faucet, if the cold side is plumbed to hard water.

What to do

• To conserve salt, the installer may have isolated some fixtures (outside faucets, toilets, etc.) from soft water. From the outlet of the water softening system, trace the water flow path in the house plumbing. If soft water is not directed to a faucet or fixture where wanted, consult a plumber.

No salt in the brine tank or salt bridged

External power supply unplugged at wall outlet or power cable to softener not connected. Fuse blown or circuit breaker popped on circuit to electrical outlet.

Electrical outlet on a circuit that can continuously be switched off

• Check for a salt bridge or, if the tank is empty, refill with recommended salt. Press (for 3 seconds) the

RECHARGE button to start an immediate recharge and restore soft water supply.

• Check for a loss of electrical power to the water softening system, due to any of these conditions and correct as needed. With the power supply restored, observe the faceplate time display and read Programming the Control section. NOTE: the electrical outlet for the softener should be live so it cannot be accidentally switched off.

Manual bypass valve in bypass position

Blending valve in open position

Valve drain hose pinched, plugged, elevated too high or otherwise restricted

Nozzle and venturi dirty, incorrectly assembled or damaged

• Be sure the bypass valve stem is positioned properly, with the handle in the OUT position.

• Turn blending valve clockwise to closed position.

• Any restriction in the drain hose may prevent proper operation of the nozzle and venturi and reduce or prevent brine draw during recharge.

• Refer to Cleaning the Nozzle and Venturi Assembly instructions. With water pressure to the water softening system off, take the nozzle assembly apart. Inspect, clean and replace as needed. Any foreign particle(s), scratches, nicks, etc. in the passages can prevent operation. Be sure holes in the gasket are centered over holes in the housing.

28

Before you call for service

Problem

Water hard sometimes

Water feels slippery after installation of water softener

Water Softener not using any salt

Possible Cause

Using hot water while the water softening system is regenerating

What to do

• 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.

Control HARDNESS number setting too low

Grains of hardness in your water supply have increased

• Press MODE/SET button until arrow points to

HARDNESS. Be sure the number shown is the same as the actual grains per gallon hardness of your water supply. See Programming the Control section if a change in setting is needed.

• Water hardness can change over time, especially in well water. To check, have the water tested by a water analysis laboratory or call your local water department. Adjust the Hardness number setting as needed.

Absence of hardness minerals • This is normal. Hardness in water gives it the abrasive feel you may have been accustomed to.

The slippery feel is the clean feel of soft water.

• See the Adjusting your Water Hardness section.

Water softening system is a

“demand” unit

• Does not use much salt to regenerate - very efficient.

Possible salt bridge

Possible plugged nozzle and venturi

Acidic water in copper plumbing

• See the Breaking a Salt Bridge section .

• See the Cleaning the Nozzle and Venturi

Assembly section .

• Have the water tested at once.

Water is blue color after water softener was installed

Water softener not regenerating

Meter turbine stuck

Cloudiness on glassware

(automatic dishwashers)

Sensor wire not plugged into the control

No power to unit

Mechanical defect

Combination of soft water and too much detergent

• See the Manually Initiated Electronics

Diagnostics section for troubleshooting procedures.

• Call for service.

• See the Manually Initiated Electronics

Diagnostics section for troubleshooting procedures.

• Call for service.

• Check the circuit breaker or fuses.

• Call for service.

• This is called etching and is permanent. To prevent this from happening, use less detergent if you have soft water. Wash glassware in the shortest cycle that will get them clean.

29

Before you call for service

Problem

Excessive/high level of water in brine tank

Salty tasting or brown/yellow colored water after installation

Possible Cause

Valve drain hose pinched, plugged, elevated too high or otherwise restricted

What to do

• A restriction in this drain hose may prevent proper operation of the nozzle and venturi and reduce or prevent brine draw during recharge.

Drain lines connected together

Nozzle and venturi dirty, incorrectly assembled or damaged.

Unit not sanitized

Low water pressure

• Separate drain lines.

• Refer to Cleaning the Nozzle and Venturi

Assembly instructions. With water pressure to the water softening system off, take the nozzle assembly apart. Inspect, clean and replace as needed. Any foreign particle(s), scratches, nicks, etc. in the passages can prevent operation. Be sure holes in the gasket are centered over holes in the housing

• Complete Sanitization Procedures.

• At completion of recharge cycle (approx. 2 hours), run water from faucets to purge the salty water.

Check pressure:

• Drain height 8’ or less, pressure should be minimum 20 psi.

• Drain height above 8’, pressure should be minimum 50 psi.

Restricted drain hose • Clean and reconnect hose.

• Check for kinks in drain line

Unit was idle for a period of time • Complete the Sanitization Procedures.

Brown/yellow colored water

Resin beads showing up in drinking water

Sounds you might hear

Water has air bubbles and is cloudy

Blue light

Flashing

When power applied to the system

If “DAYS TO

EMPTY” is flashing

Cracked distributor or unit plumbed backwards

• Check softener “IN & OUT” plumbing is correct.

• Call for service.

Running water from the unit into a drain during recharge

Air in system after installation

• This is normal.

• Will go away after it runs for a while.

Control needs to be programmed

(a power outage may have occurred)

• See the Programming the Control section.

Low salt level, less than 15 days • Fill with salt.

• Reset salt level.

30

Before you call for service

Problem

Error Codes 1,3,4,5 on Control

Error Codes 6,7,8 on

Control

Possible Cause

Wiring may have worked loose in the control

Issue with Water Shutoff valve

What to do

• Unplug external power supply.

• 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 8 minutes for Error Code to reappear.

• If error Code reappears, call for service.

• Unplug external power supply.

• Replace the water Shutoff valve.

• Check for loose/incorrect wiring connections to electronic board.

Reconnect as required.

• Reassemble control cover.

• Plug in Transformer.

– When the Error 6,7 or 8 is displayed, press and hold the

Recharge button for 5 seconds.

• Wait 2 minutes for Error Code to reappear.

• If error Code reappears, call for service.

• Call for service.

If “Err” in display Electrical problem with system

Advanced troubleshooting for service

AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC

DIAGNOSTICS

This water softener has a self-diagnostic function for the electrical system (except into power and/or water meter).

The water softener monitors electronic components and

Call for Service

Figure 18 circuits for correct operation. If a malfunction occurs, an error code appears in the display.

While an error code appears in the display, all buttons are inoperable except the MODE/SET button. MODE/SET remains operational so the service person can perform the Manual Advanced

Diagnostics, see below, to further isolate the problem.

Procedure for removing error code from display:

1. Unplug transformer from electrical outlet.

2. Correct problem.

3. Plug in transformer.

4. Wait 8 minutes. The error code will return if the problem was not corrected.

MANUAL INITIATED ELECTRONIC

DIAGNOSTICS

Use the following procedures to advance the water softener through the regeneration cycles to check operation.

Lift off the Salt Hole Cover, remove the top cover by unlocking the tabs in the back and rocking forward, to observe cam and switch operation during valve rotation.

1. Press and hold MODE/SET for 3 seconds until the Set low salt alarm display appears, next press the MODE/SET button two addition times until “000” shows in the display, then release, see Figure 15.

2. The 3 digits indicated water meter operation as follows: If you don’t get a reading on the display, with faucet open, pull the sensor from the valve outlet port. Pass a small magnet back and forth in front of the sensor. You should get a reading in the display. If you get a reading, shut off water supply, unhook the in and out plumbing and check the turbine for binding.

Motor

Position switch

Valve outlet

Sensor housing

Turbine

Turbine support and shaft

31

Advanced troubleshooting for service

MANUAL INITIATED ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS

3. Symbols in the display indicate POSITION switch operation, (see Figure 19).

Switch is open Switch is closed

6. Press and hold the MODE/SET button until the mode code (H40 for GXSHC40N) shows in the display (see Figure 20). This code identifies the softener mode. If an incorrect model code is displayed, the softener will operate on incorrect configurations data.

7. To change the code number, press the

Water Meter

Figure 19

4. Use RECHARGE button to manually advance the valve into each cycle and check correct switch operation. NOTE: Be sure water is in contact with salt, and not separated by a salt bridge (see Breaking a

Salt Bridge section).

5. While in this diagnostic screen, the following information is available and may be beneficial for various reasons. This information is retained by the computer from the first time electrical power is applied to the electronic controller.

a. Press the UP button to display the number of days this electronic control has had electrical power applied.

b. Press the DOWN button to display the number of regenerations initiated by the electronic control since the code number was entered.

Figure 20

UP or DOWN button until the correct code shows.

8. To return to the present time display, press the MODE/SET button.

9. Press the MODE/SET button to return to the present time display. If the code was changed, make all the timer setting.

NOTE: If the control is left in a diagnostic display or a flashing display when setting times or hardness, present time automatically returns if a button is not pressed within four minutes.

32

Advanced troubleshooting for service

Service: Manually Advance Recharge Check

NOTE: The control display must show a steady time (not flashing).

1. Press the RECHARGE button and hold in for three seconds. RECHARGE begins to flash as the water softening system enters the fill cycle of recharge. Remove the brinewell cover and, using a flashlight, observe fill water entering the brine tank. If water does not enter the tank, look for an obstructed nozzle, venturi, fill flow plug or brine tubing.

See Care and Cleaning of the Water

Softener System section.

2. After observing fill, press the RECHARGE button to move the water softening system into brining. A slow flow of water to the drain will begin. Verify brine draw from the brine tank by shining a flashlight into the brinewell and observing a noticeable drop in the liquid level over an extended period of time (is to

20 minutes).

NOTE: Be sure a salt bridge is not preventing water from 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 is low, an elevated drain hose may cause back pressure, stopping brine draw.

3. Again, press the RECHARGE button to move the water softening system into backwash. Look for a fast flow of water from the drain hose. A slow flow indicates a plugged top distributor, backwash flow plug or drain hose.

4. Press the RECHARGE button to move the water softening system into fast rinse. Again look for a fast drain flow. Allow the water softening system to rinse for a few minutes to flush out any brine that may remain in the resin tank from the brining cycle test.

5. To return the water softening system to service, press the RECHARGE button.

Position Markers

(valve in service)

Cam

Figure 21

Valve Positions:

Motor

Position Function

S Service

F

BR

BW

R

Fill

Brine Fill

Back Wash

Rinse

33

Exploded View

11

4 16

12

41

146

40

42

13

2

999

6

3

7

8

56

56

10

9

17

19

29

5

23

8

7

6

5

20

22

23

30

24

26

34

Exploded View

139

101

103

105

124

106

109

110

111

112

113

114

116

115

Wear Strip

Seal

Cross-section

View

117

118 120

146

119

130

121

141

137

138

136/140

132

153

130

107

125

108

145

130

130

123

122

148

148

152

151

143

152

35

Parts List

Reference

No.

GE Appliances

Part. No

0101

0103

0105

0106

0107

0108

0109

0030

0040

0041

0042

0056

0022

0023

0024

0026

0029

0013

0016

0017

0019

0020

0008

0009

0010

0011

0012

0002

0003

0004

0005

0006

0007

WS34X10025

WS02X10088

WS32X10032

WS22X10063

WS15X10077

WS35X10063

WS35X21981

WS01X21982

WS21X21983

WS28X10078

WS02X10023

WS31X10003

WS02X10024

WS31X10013

WS03X10034

WS26X10010

WS19X10010

WS31X10051

WS35X10001

WS35X21986

WS07X10004

WS31X10044

WS14X10002

WS14X10005

WS01X10002

WS32X10011

WS31X10052

WS34X10021

WS35X21984

WS26X22083

WS31X10053

WS33X21987

WS33X10024

Part Description

BACK COVER, ELECTRONICS

O-RING SEAL KIT

DECAL, FACEPLATE

HOSE, DRAIN, 20 FT.

FILTER SCREEN

DISTRIBUTOR, TOP

DISTRIBUTOR, BOTTOM

RESIN, 1 CU. FT.

TANK, RESIN, 9 X 40

COVER, TOP

FACEPLATE

MAIN CONTROL BOARD KIT

EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY WITH POWER CORD

COVER, SALT HOLE WITH LABELS

RIM

COVER, BRINEWELL

BRIN EWELL

SCREW KIT, BRINE TANK

TANK, BRINE

OVERFLOW ADAPTER KIT

BRINE VALVE ASM.

FLOAT, STEM & GUIDE

WIFI MODULE KIT

HOLDER, WIFI MODULE

CABLE ASM., WIFI MODULE

TANK NECK CLAMP KIT

SCREW, #4-24 X 3/4”

SWITCH

SCREW, #10 X 2-5/8”

COVER, VALVE

WASHER. WAVE

ROTOR & DISC ASM.

CAP

36

8

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Quantity

GXSHC40N

Parts List

Reference

No.

GE Appliances

Part. No

Part Description

WS03X10011

WS19X10005

WS03X10013

WS22X10036

WS08X10008

WS03X10073

WS22X10021

WS03X10017

WS15X10034

WS03X10018

WS03X10019

WS15X10025

WS03X10020

WS22X10029

WS15X10046

WS03X10043

WS35X10020

WS22X10065

WS26X21821

WS26X10009

WS26X10023

WS02X10028

WS02X10058

WS60X10011

WS60X10008

WS28X10018

WS26X10030

WS15X10078

WS03X10072

WS15X21985

WS35X10065

Manual Online

0122

0123

0124

0125

0130

0117

0118

0119

0120

0121

0110

0111

0112

0113

0114

0115

0116

0141

0143

0145

0146

0148

0151

0132

0136/140

0137

0138

0139

0152

0153

0998

0999

SEAL, O-RING, 1.125 X 1.37

SUPPORT, SCREEN

SCREEN

FLOW PLUG, .15 GPM

GASKET, NOZZLENENTURI

CONE SCREEN

PLUG, FILL FLOW, .30 GPM

NUT, FERRULE

NOZZLENENTURI BODY

RETAINER

SEAL, O-RING, 1/4" X 3/8"

BODY, VALVE

SPRING

PLUG, DRAIN SEAL

NOZZLENENTURI ASM.

WAVE SPRING BEARING

SEAL KIT

DRAIN HOSE ADAPTER KIT

MOTOR, CAM & GEAR KIT, 1"

BEARING

PLATE, MOTOR

SCREW, #6-20 X 3/8"

SCREW, #8-32 X 1"

ADAPTER, NPT THREAD, 1" VALVE

CLIP

WIRE HARNESS, SENSOR ASM

TURBINE & SUPPORT ASSEMBLY*

BYPASS ASM

SEAL, O-RING

WATER SHUTOFF VALVE

INSTALLATION KIT

OWNER’S MANUAL

* Includes 2 each of REF. NO. 145 (CLIP) & REF. NO. 152 (O-RING)

37

Quantity

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

GXSHC40N

1

1

4

1

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

4

1