GE GNSH45E - Manual (Page 16)

16
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