Planning And Location; Tools And Materials Required - GE GXSS20H Owner's Manual & Installation Instructions

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:
and flux to prevent lead poisoning.
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.
Tools and Materials Required for Installation
• In and out fittings included with the softener are
3/4" nominal copper sweat tubes. To maintain
full valve flow, 1" pipes to and from the softener
fittings are recommended. You should maintain
the same, or larger, pipe size as the water supply
pipe, up to the water 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. The in and out fittings
referred to above connect to the bypass valve with
the included nuts and washers.
• Use copper, brass or galvanized pipe and fittings.
Some codes may also allow CPVC plastic pipes.
4
Use only lead-free solder
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 6 to help you
prepare.
• A 120-volt electric outlet is needed to plug in the
included transformer. The softener has a 10'
power cable. If the outlet is remote (up to 100
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, 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.
• Keep the softener out of direct sunlight. The sun's
heat may distort non-metallic parts and may
damage the electronics.
• If additional drain hose is needed for valve and
salt tank drains, it can be ordered from GE Parts
at 800.626.2002.
• If a rigid valve drain is needed to comply with
plumbing codes, you can buy the parts needed
(Fig. 4A) 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.