GE Appliances Water Softeners Error Codes
Complete list of fault codes and troubleshooting guides. Use the search below to find your specific error.
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Add Salt
Display shows “Add Salt” and softener performance is reduced (water feels hard).
Low Salt Condition / Brine Concentration Too Weak
Err 1
Control display shows “Err 1” and softener will not start a regeneration cycle automatically.
Control Board Programming / Memory Error
Err 10
Display shows “Err 10” and the unit may overfill or underfill the brine tank.
Brine Refill Control Error
Err 2
Display shows “Err 2” and unit will not advance through regeneration steps.
Motor or Cam Position Fault
Err 3
Display shows “Err 3” and the softener may be stuck in one valve position (e.g., constant backwash or no soft water).
Rotor/Valve Position Error
Err 4
Display shows “Err 4” and the unit may not track water usage correctly (regenerates too often or not at all).
Turbine / Flow Sensor Error
Err 5
Display shows “Err 5” and the unit may not respond to button presses or may lock up intermittently.
Keypad / User Interface Error
Err 6
Display shows “Err 6” and the softener may not keep correct time or may lose settings frequently.
Power / Low Voltage Supply Error
Err 7
Display shows “Err 7” and the unit may not initiate regeneration based on time or usage.
Internal Clock / Timing Circuit Error
Err 8
Display shows “Err 8” and the unit may be stuck in regeneration or fail to complete a cycle.
Regeneration Sequence Fault
Err 9
Display shows “Err 9” and the softener may not detect or complete brine draw during regeneration.
Brine System / Suction Fault
Lo Salt
Display shows “Lo Salt” or “Add Salt” even when there appears to be salt in the tank.
Low Salt Detection / Salt Bridge Condition
Service
Display shows “Service” or “Call for Service” and softener may not operate normally.
General System Fault / Self-Diagnostic Alert
Symptom
Brine tank fills with water and does not drain after regeneration, leaving very high water level.
No Brine Drain / Restricted Drain Line
Symptom
Brine tank has strong rotten egg (sulfur) odor.
Bacterial Growth in Brine Tank
Symptom
Brine tank is completely dry; no water visible even after regeneration.
No Brine Refill
Symptom
Buttons on the control panel are unresponsive or require very hard presses.
Keypad Membrane Wear
Symptom
Display is dim, flickering, or segments are missing, but unit still operates.
Display / LCD Failure
Symptom
No water at faucets or very low pressure after installing or servicing the GE water softener.
Flow Restriction / Blocked Valve
Symptom
Softener appears to regenerate at the wrong time of day.
Incorrect Time-of-Day Setting
Symptom
Softener bypass valve is hard to turn or leaks when moved.
Bypass Valve Wear or Damage
Symptom
Softener causes noticeable drop in household water pressure only when in service (bypass restores pressure).
Internal Flow Restriction
Symptom
Softener causes water hammer or banging pipes during regeneration.
Rapid Valve Movement / High Flow Transients
Symptom
Softener display is blank; unit appears completely dead.
No Power to Control
Symptom
Softener does not regenerate automatically; only regenerates when manually started.
Timer / Demand Initiation Failure
Symptom
Softener does not use any salt; salt level in the brine tank never goes down.
No Brine Draw / No Regeneration
Symptom
Softener emits a constant humming noise but does not advance through cycles.
Stalled Drive Motor
Symptom
Softener installed on well water clogs frequently with iron or sediment.
Excessive Iron/Sediment Loading
Symptom
Softener makes loud clicking, grinding, or knocking noises during regeneration.
Drive Train / Gear Noise
Symptom
Softener regenerates too frequently, wasting salt and water.
Incorrect Capacity / Hardness Programming
Symptom
Softener resin tank sweats or has condensation, causing puddles around the base.
Condensation on Mineral Tank
Symptom
Water remains hard even though the GE water softener appears to run regenerations normally.
Exhausted or Fouled Resin Bed
Symptom
Water softener is stuck in regeneration and continuously runs water to the drain.
Valve Stuck in Backwash/Rinse Position
Symptom
Water softener leaks from around the control head or valve body.
Valve Head Seal or O-Ring Leak
Symptom
Water softener leaks from the brine tank or around the base of the brine well.
Brine Tank or Brine Line Leak
Symptom
Water tastes salty or has a salty aftertaste after regeneration.
Brine Carryover into Service
| Error Code | Symptom | Fault Type | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add Salt |
Display shows “Add Salt” and softener performance is reduced (water feels hard).
|
Low Salt Condition / Brine Concentration Too Weak | View Details |
| Err 1 |
Control display shows “Err 1” and softener will not start a regeneration cycle automatically.
|
Control Board Programming / Memory Error | View Details |
| Err 10 |
Display shows “Err 10” and the unit may overfill or underfill the brine tank.
|
Brine Refill Control Error | View Details |
| Err 2 |
Display shows “Err 2” and unit will not advance through regeneration steps.
|
Motor or Cam Position Fault | View Details |
| Err 3 |
Display shows “Err 3” and the softener may be stuck in one valve position (e.g., constant backwash or no soft water).
|
Rotor/Valve Position Error | View Details |
| Err 4 |
Display shows “Err 4” and the unit may not track water usage correctly (regenerates too often or not at all).
|
Turbine / Flow Sensor Error | View Details |
| Err 5 |
Display shows “Err 5” and the unit may not respond to button presses or may lock up intermittently.
|
Keypad / User Interface Error | View Details |
| Err 6 |
Display shows “Err 6” and the softener may not keep correct time or may lose settings frequently.
|
Power / Low Voltage Supply Error | View Details |
| Err 7 |
Display shows “Err 7” and the unit may not initiate regeneration based on time or usage.
|
Internal Clock / Timing Circuit Error | View Details |
| Err 8 |
Display shows “Err 8” and the unit may be stuck in regeneration or fail to complete a cycle.
|
Regeneration Sequence Fault | View Details |
| Err 9 |
Display shows “Err 9” and the softener may not detect or complete brine draw during regeneration.
|
Brine System / Suction Fault | View Details |
| Lo Salt |
Display shows “Lo Salt” or “Add Salt” even when there appears to be salt in the tank.
|
Low Salt Detection / Salt Bridge Condition | View Details |
| Service |
Display shows “Service” or “Call for Service” and softener may not operate normally.
|
General System Fault / Self-Diagnostic Alert | View Details |
| – |
Brine tank fills with water and does not drain after regeneration, leaving very high water level.
|
No Brine Drain / Restricted Drain Line | View Details |
| – |
Brine tank has strong rotten egg (sulfur) odor.
|
Bacterial Growth in Brine Tank | View Details |
| – |
Brine tank is completely dry; no water visible even after regeneration.
|
No Brine Refill | View Details |
| – |
Buttons on the control panel are unresponsive or require very hard presses.
|
Keypad Membrane Wear | View Details |
| – |
Display is dim, flickering, or segments are missing, but unit still operates.
|
Display / LCD Failure | View Details |
| – |
No water at faucets or very low pressure after installing or servicing the GE water softener.
|
Flow Restriction / Blocked Valve | View Details |
| – |
Softener appears to regenerate at the wrong time of day.
|
Incorrect Time-of-Day Setting | View Details |
| – |
Softener bypass valve is hard to turn or leaks when moved.
|
Bypass Valve Wear or Damage | View Details |
| – |
Softener causes noticeable drop in household water pressure only when in service (bypass restores pressure).
|
Internal Flow Restriction | View Details |
| – |
Softener causes water hammer or banging pipes during regeneration.
|
Rapid Valve Movement / High Flow Transients | View Details |
| – |
Softener display is blank; unit appears completely dead.
|
No Power to Control | View Details |
| – |
Softener does not regenerate automatically; only regenerates when manually started.
|
Timer / Demand Initiation Failure | View Details |
| – |
Softener does not use any salt; salt level in the brine tank never goes down.
|
No Brine Draw / No Regeneration | View Details |
| – |
Softener emits a constant humming noise but does not advance through cycles.
|
Stalled Drive Motor | View Details |
| – |
Softener installed on well water clogs frequently with iron or sediment.
|
Excessive Iron/Sediment Loading | View Details |
| – |
Softener makes loud clicking, grinding, or knocking noises during regeneration.
|
Drive Train / Gear Noise | View Details |
| – |
Softener regenerates too frequently, wasting salt and water.
|
Incorrect Capacity / Hardness Programming | View Details |
| – |
Softener resin tank sweats or has condensation, causing puddles around the base.
|
Condensation on Mineral Tank | View Details |
| – |
Water remains hard even though the GE water softener appears to run regenerations normally.
|
Exhausted or Fouled Resin Bed | View Details |
| – |
Water softener is stuck in regeneration and continuously runs water to the drain.
|
Valve Stuck in Backwash/Rinse Position | View Details |
| – |
Water softener leaks from around the control head or valve body.
|
Valve Head Seal or O-Ring Leak | View Details |
| – |
Water softener leaks from the brine tank or around the base of the brine well.
|
Brine Tank or Brine Line Leak | View Details |
| – |
Water tastes salty or has a salty aftertaste after regeneration.
|
Brine Carryover into Service | View Details |
No matching codes found
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