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GE water softener error codes
These error code explanations can help you diagnose a problem with your GE water softener. For repair how-to help, visit the PartsDirect repair help section, which includes repair help for water softeners, other major appliances, lawn and garden equipment, garage door openers, vacuum cleaners and more. Search for your model number to find a complete list of replacement parts for your water softener.
Error Code
Condition
DIY advice
E1, E3 or E4
Valve motor failure
Check/Repair
If the valve motor doesn't run, unplug the water softener and check the valve motor wire harness for damage or a loose connection. Reconnect the valve motor wire harness if disconnected. Replace the valve motor wire harness if damaged. If the motor runs but the rotor valve doesn't move, the problem could be a defective motor or a locked-up rotor valve. Replace the valve motor if defective. Replace the rotor valve if it's locked up. If the motor runs and spins the rotor valve constantly, the position switch may be defective. Replace the position switch if it doesn't detect the rotor valve position.
How-to help
Possible parts
Valve motor, Wire harness, Position switch, and Rotary valve
E5
Defective timer
Check/Repair
Unplug the water softener for 1 minute and then reconnect power to reset the timer. If the error code returns, unplug the water softener and reconnect any loose wires on the timer. Replace the wire harness if damaged. Replace the timer if the wire harness is okay.
Symptoms for water softeners
Choose a symptom to see related water softener repairs.
Main causes: clogged drain hose, faulty rotor valve, leaky rotor valve seals…
Main causes: broken water flow meter, faulty timer, water flow to softener is bypassed…
Main causes: faulty brine valve assembly, bad rotor valve…
Main causes: broken resin tank screen, bad resin tank seals, cracked upper distributor in resin tank…
Main causes: salt bridge inside the salt tank, bad timer, valve motor failure, faulty rotor valve, clogged venturi…
Main causes: lack of electrical power, bad power transformer, faulty timer…
Main causes: empty salt tank, salt bridge, depleted resin, clogged or damaged venturi, broken rotor position switch, fai…
Main causes: loose water line connections, cracked water-carrying components, bad rotor valve seals…
Repair guides for water softeners
These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your water softener.
How to replace a water softener venturi
The venturi valve in your water softener draws brine water from the salt tank to the resin tank for regeneration. Follow…
Repair difficulty
Time required
15 minutes or less
How to replace a water softener rotor position switch
The rotor position switch detects the position of the valve rotor. If the rotor position switch fails, follow these step…
Repair difficulty
Time required
30 minutes or less
How to replace a water softener timer
The timer is the control board you use to program the water softener. If the timer isn’t accepting commands when you pus…
Repair difficulty
Time required
15 minutes or less
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