GE 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 may stop regenerating if ignored.
Low Salt Condition / Brine Concentration Fault
Err 1
Control display shows “Err 1” and softener will not start a regeneration cycle automatically.
Control Board Programming / Memory Fault
Err 2
Display shows “Err 2” and the unit will not complete regeneration; may stop mid‑cycle.
Motor / Cam Position Fault
Err 3
Display shows “Err 3”; softener may stay in one position (e.g., backwash or brine) and not advance.
Cam Position Switch / Position Sensor Fault
Err 4
Display shows “Err 4”; unit may not sense water flow correctly and may not regenerate at the right time.
Turbine / Flow Sensor Fault
Err 5
Display shows “Err 5”; softener may not draw brine or may stay in brine position too long.
Brine Valve / Venturi Assembly Fault
Err 6
Display shows “Err 6”; softener may not refill brine tank or may overfill it.
Brine Refill / Water Level Control Fault
Err 7
Display shows “Err 7”; unit may not sense salt level correctly or may show false low‑salt warnings.
Salt Level Sensor / SmartSensor Fault
Err 8
Display shows “Err 8”; time and settings may reset or the display may be blank intermittently.
Power Supply / Low Voltage Fault
Err 9
Display shows “Err 9”; softener may not keep correct time or may skip scheduled regenerations.
Clock / Timekeeping Circuit Fault
H0
Display shows “H0” or similar hardness error; water may feel hard even after regeneration.
Hardness Setting / Sensor Calibration Fault
Lo Salt
Display shows “Lo Salt” or “Add Salt” even when the brine tank contains salt.
Low Salt Detection / Sensor or Algorithm Fault
Service
Display shows “Service” or “Call for Service”; unit may not regenerate or may be stuck in one mode.
General System Fault / Multiple Possible Sub‑Faults
Symptom
Brine tank has no water before regeneration and the unit does not seem to refill the tank.
No Brine Refill
Symptom
Brine tank overfilling with water; water level rises near the top of the salt tank.
Brine Tank Overfill / Brine Valve Leak
Symptom
Buttons on the control panel are unresponsive or require very hard pressing.
Keypad / Button Failure
Symptom
Display is blank or very dim; softener does not respond to button presses.
No Display / Dead Control
Symptom
No water flow to the house when the softener is in service mode.
No Household Water / Blocked Valve
Symptom
Softener stuck in regeneration; continues to run water to drain and does not return to service mode.
Regeneration Stuck / Motor or Cam Jam
Symptom
Softener will not start regeneration automatically at the programmed time.
No Automatic Regeneration
Symptom
Softener will not start regeneration manually when the REGEN button is pressed.
Manual Regeneration Start Failure
Symptom
Water remains hard even though the GE water softener appears to run regenerations normally.
Ineffective Softening / Resin Capacity Loss
Symptom
Water softener allows resin beads into household plumbing (small amber beads at faucets or aerators).
Resin Migration
Symptom
Water softener causes noticeable drop in water pressure throughout the house.
Pressure Drop / Flow Restriction
Symptom
Water softener continuously drains water even when not in regeneration.
Continuous Drain Flow
Symptom
Water softener display shows flow even when no water is being used in the house.
False Flow Indication
Symptom
Water softener emits a strong salty or musty odor from faucets.
Brine Carryover / Bacterial Growth
Symptom
Water softener is leaking from the brine tank or around the brine well.
Brine Tank Leak
Symptom
Water softener is leaking from the top valve area.
Valve Head External Leak
Symptom
Water softener makes a constant humming noise from the control head.
Motor Stalled / Transformer Hum
Symptom
Water softener makes loud clicking or grinding noises during regeneration.
Noisy Valve Operation
Symptom
Water softener never regenerates, even after long periods of water use.
No Regeneration at All
Symptom
Water softener regenerates at the wrong time of day.
Incorrect Regeneration Time
Symptom
Water softener regenerates too frequently, even with low water usage.
Over‑Frequent Regeneration
Symptom
Water softener uses salt much faster than expected.
Excessive Salt Consumption
Symptom
Water softener uses very little or no salt over time.
Insufficient Salt Usage / No Brine Draw
| Error Code | Symptom | Fault Type | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add Salt |
Display shows “Add Salt” and softener may stop regenerating if ignored.
|
Low Salt Condition / Brine Concentration Fault | View Details |
| Err 1 |
Control display shows “Err 1” and softener will not start a regeneration cycle automatically.
|
Control Board Programming / Memory Fault | View Details |
| Err 2 |
Display shows “Err 2” and the unit will not complete regeneration; may stop mid‑cycle.
|
Motor / Cam Position Fault | View Details |
| Err 3 |
Display shows “Err 3”; softener may stay in one position (e.g., backwash or brine) and not advance.
|
Cam Position Switch / Position Sensor Fault | View Details |
| Err 4 |
Display shows “Err 4”; unit may not sense water flow correctly and may not regenerate at the right time.
|
Turbine / Flow Sensor Fault | View Details |
| Err 5 |
Display shows “Err 5”; softener may not draw brine or may stay in brine position too long.
|
Brine Valve / Venturi Assembly Fault | View Details |
| Err 6 |
Display shows “Err 6”; softener may not refill brine tank or may overfill it.
|
Brine Refill / Water Level Control Fault | View Details |
| Err 7 |
Display shows “Err 7”; unit may not sense salt level correctly or may show false low‑salt warnings.
|
Salt Level Sensor / SmartSensor Fault | View Details |
| Err 8 |
Display shows “Err 8”; time and settings may reset or the display may be blank intermittently.
|
Power Supply / Low Voltage Fault | View Details |
| Err 9 |
Display shows “Err 9”; softener may not keep correct time or may skip scheduled regenerations.
|
Clock / Timekeeping Circuit Fault | View Details |
| H0 |
Display shows “H0” or similar hardness error; water may feel hard even after regeneration.
|
Hardness Setting / Sensor Calibration Fault | View Details |
| Lo Salt |
Display shows “Lo Salt” or “Add Salt” even when the brine tank contains salt.
|
Low Salt Detection / Sensor or Algorithm Fault | View Details |
| Service |
Display shows “Service” or “Call for Service”; unit may not regenerate or may be stuck in one mode.
|
General System Fault / Multiple Possible Sub‑Faults | View Details |
| – |
Brine tank has no water before regeneration and the unit does not seem to refill the tank.
|
No Brine Refill | View Details |
| – |
Brine tank overfilling with water; water level rises near the top of the salt tank.
|
Brine Tank Overfill / Brine Valve Leak | View Details |
| – |
Buttons on the control panel are unresponsive or require very hard pressing.
|
Keypad / Button Failure | View Details |
| – |
Display is blank or very dim; softener does not respond to button presses.
|
No Display / Dead Control | View Details |
| – |
No water flow to the house when the softener is in service mode.
|
No Household Water / Blocked Valve | View Details |
| – |
Softener stuck in regeneration; continues to run water to drain and does not return to service mode.
|
Regeneration Stuck / Motor or Cam Jam | View Details |
| – |
Softener will not start regeneration automatically at the programmed time.
|
No Automatic Regeneration | View Details |
| – |
Softener will not start regeneration manually when the REGEN button is pressed.
|
Manual Regeneration Start Failure | View Details |
| – |
Water remains hard even though the GE water softener appears to run regenerations normally.
|
Ineffective Softening / Resin Capacity Loss | View Details |
| – |
Water softener allows resin beads into household plumbing (small amber beads at faucets or aerators).
|
Resin Migration | View Details |
| – |
Water softener causes noticeable drop in water pressure throughout the house.
|
Pressure Drop / Flow Restriction | View Details |
| – |
Water softener continuously drains water even when not in regeneration.
|
Continuous Drain Flow | View Details |
| – |
Water softener display shows flow even when no water is being used in the house.
|
False Flow Indication | View Details |
| – |
Water softener emits a strong salty or musty odor from faucets.
|
Brine Carryover / Bacterial Growth | View Details |
| – |
Water softener is leaking from the brine tank or around the brine well.
|
Brine Tank Leak | View Details |
| – |
Water softener is leaking from the top valve area.
|
Valve Head External Leak | View Details |
| – |
Water softener makes a constant humming noise from the control head.
|
Motor Stalled / Transformer Hum | View Details |
| – |
Water softener makes loud clicking or grinding noises during regeneration.
|
Noisy Valve Operation | View Details |
| – |
Water softener never regenerates, even after long periods of water use.
|
No Regeneration at All | View Details |
| – |
Water softener regenerates at the wrong time of day.
|
Incorrect Regeneration Time | View Details |
| – |
Water softener regenerates too frequently, even with low water usage.
|
Over‑Frequent Regeneration | View Details |
| – |
Water softener uses salt much faster than expected.
|
Excessive Salt Consumption | View Details |
| – |
Water softener uses very little or no salt over time.
|
Insufficient Salt Usage / No Brine Draw | View Details |
No matching codes found
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