Water softener emits a strong salty or musty odor from faucets.

Safety first: If you suspect bacterial contamination, consider using bottled water until the system is sanitized.

• Step 1 – Check settings: Ensure the salt dosage and rinse times are set according to the GE manual. Avoid excessive salt settings.
• Step 2 – Sanitize brine tank: Empty the brine tank of old salt and sludge. Clean the tank with a mild bleach solution, rinse thoroughly, and refill with fresh salt.
• Step 3 – Sanitize resin bed: Follow GE’s instructions to sanitize the softener using a recommended sanitizer (often a small amount of household bleach added to the brine well before regeneration).
• Step 4 – Run multiple regenerations: Perform two or three consecutive regenerations to flush out residual odors.
• Step 5 – Adjust rinse if needed: If your model allows, slightly increase the final rinse time to ensure all brine is flushed.