GE is a manufacturer of home appliances, headquartered in Kentucky, USA. GE was founded in 1905 and was acquired by Haier in 2016.
Alongside its refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, and washing machines, GE offers a range of water treatment systems, including three types of water softeners.
This GE water softener review will take a deep dive into GE’s three water softener offerings: the GE Water Softener, the GE Smart Water Softener, and the GE Water Softener and Filter In One. We’ll also be sharing the pros and cons of buying a GE water softener and answering your most common questions about GE softeners.
Table of Contents
📊 GE Water Softener Comparison Chart
| Product |  GE Water Softener |  GE Smart Water Softener |  GE Softener & Filter In One |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 – $800 | $750 | $900 |
| Ratings | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Process | Ion Exchange | Ion Exchange | Ion Exchange |
| Max Hardness | 95, 125, 160 GPG | 110 GPG | 120 GPG |
| Flow Rate | 7.5 to 9.5 GPM | 9.5 GPM | 8 GPM |
| Regen Method | Timed | Timed | Timed |
| Warranty | 1 year (entire appliance) 3-year limited (electronic) 10-year limited (brine & resin) | 1 year (entire appliance) 3-year limited (electronic) 10-year limited (brine & resin) | 1 year (entire appliance) 3-year limited (electronic) 10-year limited (brine & resin) |
⭐ Reviews of GE Water Softeners
GE Water Softener
The GE Water Softener is a single-tank salt-based water softener that’s available in three grain capacities:
| Price | $500 – $800 |
| Process | Ion Exchange |
| Max Hardness | 95, 125, 160 GPG |
| Flow Rate | 7.5 to 9.5 GPM |
| Regen Method | Timed |
| Warranty | 1 year (entire appliance) 3-year limited (electronic) 10-year limited (brine & resin) |
This compact water softener is designed for easy installation and use, with a custom select blending valve that lets you choose how soft you want your water and a salt indicator that tells you how many days it’ll take the salt tank to empty. The system comes with a self-cleaning sediment filter and has a plumbing connection up to 1.25 inches.
👍 What We Like
- The GE Water Softener has an efficient performance, reducing salt usage by 34% and water usage by 35% compared to old GE models.
- This system can treat very hard water, from 95 to 160 GPG, depending on the grain capacity model you choose.
- There are three grain capacities to choose from for this system, with flow rates ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 gallons per minute.
- As well as hardness minerals, the GE Water Softener can reduce ferrous (clear-water) iron by 8-12 PPM, depending on the system size you buy.
- The system is pre-assembled and ready for an easy DIY install.
👎 What We Don’t Like
- Some customers had issues with the softener leaking or overflowing.
- The user manual instructions confused some users.
- The entire system is backed by a limited 1-year wearranty.
Our verdict: The GE Water Softener is a good choice if you’re looking for a space-saving, all-in-one water softener that’s easy to install and requires minimal maintenance. The system tackles high hardness and clear-water iron, and it’s one of the most affordable options on the market – but it isn’t as solidly built as some of the best two-tank salt-based water softeners on the market.
Read the full review here.
GE Smart Water Softener
The GE Smart Water Softener is a single-tank smart salt-based water softener that’s available in one grain capacity:
| Price | $750 |
| Process | Ion Exchange |
| Max Hardness (GPG) | 110 GPG |
| Flow Rate | 9.5 GPM |
| Regen Method | Timed |
| Warranty | 1 year (entire appliance) 3-year limited (electronic) 10-year limited (brine & resin) |
This softener is essentially the GE Water Softener but with a higher price tag and several additional smart features. You can connect the system to your phone with WiFi for remote shutoff, water flow and salt level alerts, and system monitoring, giving you control over the softener from anywhere.
👍 What We Like
- The GE Smart Water Softener allows you to monitor and program your water softener from your smart device, including monitoring water flow rate and usage, receiving low-salt notifications, monitoring salt levels, and receiving alerts about potential leaks or running faucets.
- This system has a custom select valve that lets you customize your water softness based on your water’s hardness in GPG.
- The softener’s salt saver reduces salt consumption, minimizing salt top-ups, boosting system efficiency, and reducing your annual spend.
- You’ll never accidentally forget to top up the salt thanks to the system’s “days to empty” salt tank reading.
- The system is pre-assembled and is designed for DIY installation.
👎 What We Don’t Like
- There’s only one grain capacity for this system. Large or small households may find the flow rate too slow or fast.
- You pay extra for a “smart” softener, but the only real “smart” feature that you can’t find in the standard GE Water Softener is the mobile connection.
- The entire appliance only has a 1-year warranty.
Our verdict: GE Smart Water Softener is ideal if you’re looking for a single-tank water softener that you can remotely monitor and control from your phone. However, if you’re not that bothered about this feature, you may as well save your money and buy the GE Water Softener, which offers all the same features aside from smartphone connection.
Read the full review here.
GE Water Softener and Filter In One
The GE Water Softener and Filter In One is a combined water softener and filtration system that offers advanced filtration and scale reduction, all within a single tank. This system comes in a single grain capacity:
- GE 31,100-Grain Water Softener and Filter In One
| Price | $900 |
| Process | Ion Exchange |
| Max Hardness | 120 GPG |
| Flow Rate | 8 GPM |
| Regen Method | Timed |
| Warranty | 1 year (entire appliance) 3-year limited (electronic) 10-year limited (brine & resin) |
This salt softener uses ion exchange to produce soft water, alongside a self-cleaning sediment filter and a carbon filter, which reduce sediment and chlorine in water. The only difference between this system and the standard GE Water Softener is the added filtration media. Like the standard GE softener, the GE Water Softener and Filter In One features a custom select blending valve, a salt indicator, and a plumbing connection up to 1.25 inches.
👍 What We Like
- You don’t only get softening benefits with this GE salt softener – you can also enjoy chlorine removal with the carbon filtration media, so the system is ideal for homes with chlorinated city water.
- The system is intended for DIY installation, and the design is incredibly convenient. The resin tank, brine tank, and carbon media are all combined in a single unit.
- The “days to empty” indicator lets you know how many days of salt are left in the tank, so you can add salt before it runs out.
- This GE model helps you to use less salt and prevents waste water with salt-saver and SmartSoft technology.
- The softener uses traditional ion exchange to treat water with up to 120 GPG of hardness.
👎 What We Don’t Like
- The entire system only has a 1-year warranty.
- Some customers had issues with damage to the control panel.
Our verdict: The GE Water Softener and Filter In One is a good option for anyone looking for softening and carbon filtration in one. However, the system only offers basic filtration, so it’s only suitable for people who just want to produce chlorine-free softened water. For more thorough filtration and softening, separate water softeners and water filters are best.
Read the full review here.
✅ What We Like About GE Water Softeners
The biggest advantages of buying a GE water softener are:
High Softening Capabilities
GE’s water softeners are capable of treating 95 to 160 grains per gallon (GPG) of water hardness. If you have very hard water, either of the GE systems will thoroughly soften your water supply and greatly reduce limescale in your pipes, plumbing, and appliances.
NSF Certified
All GE softeners are certified for performance by NSF and CSA. These certifications mean that the systems meet industry standards for material safety, ion exchange water softening, structure, and water pressure. Products are only certified to NSF Standards if they pass rigorous testing in NSF facilities.
Ready for DIY Installation
With a single-unit design, the GE water softeners are easy to DIY install. You’ll find it much easier to hook a GE softener up to your water line compared to a system with separate brine and resin tanks. The user manual’s instructions are easy to follow, and for visual learners, there are a number of installation videos online.
Affordable Price
You can purchase a GE softening system for $500-$900, depending on the type and size of system you opt for. This makes GE’s products more affordable than most ion exchange water softeners on today’s market (the average price range for a water softener is $1,200-$1,850 and upwards). If your budget is tight, the GE softeners are some of the best budget systems available.
Good Flow Rate
The GE softeners have flow rates ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 gallons per minute, depending on the grain capacity system you choose. A 9.5 gallon service flow rate delivers enough water to supply a household of five or six people. You shouldn’t notice a drop in water pressure at peak water usage periods.
Efficient, Eco-Friendly Performance
All GE models are built to minimize salt and water consumption in daily operation and during the regeneration process. Saving salt and water won’t only help you to save money – it’ll also benefit the environment.
Iron Removal
Alongside treating hard water minerals, the GE systems also remove between 8 and 12 PPM of clear-water iron from water. If you have well water with low-to-moderate levels of ferrous iron, any of the GE softeners should offer you a two-in-one of softening and iron removal benefits.
❌ Potential Setbacks of GE Water Softener Systems
Some of the most notable setbacks of GE water softeners are:
Poor Warranties
The GE systems have relatively limited warranties. The entire unit has a limited 1-year warranty, while the brine/resin tank has a limited 10-year warranty and the electronic monitor has a limited three-year warranty. The one-year warranty for the entire unit has been a pain point for several customers who have asked for, and been refused, a refund after a malfunction in the system.
Questionable Durability
Numerous components in the GE water softeners are made of plastic. Coupled with the poor warranty for the overall system, this makes us question the system’s expected lifespan. The average water softener can last up to 15 years – even beyond 20 years. Based on the warranties for the system, it appears that the brine tank should last at least 10 years, but you may need to replace components in the system within this time.
No Longer Made by GE Appliances
If you trust the GE Appliances, you may be displeased to hear that GE products are now made by Haier, a Chinese home appliances and consumer electronics company, which acquired GE Appliances in 2016. This doesn’t mean that GE products are now poor, but if you planned to buy a GE product due to your loyalty to GE Appliances, keep in mind that the company has now changed ownership.
📝 GE Water Softeners Review: Our Verdict & The Best Water Softener Alternatives
GE water softening systems are worth considering if you’re looking for a compact, single-unit, affordable soft water system that’s easy to DIY install.
There are plenty of notable benefits of GE softeners, including their salt- and money-saving SmartSoft technology, their easy-to-use electronic controls, and their simple installation instructions. But would we recommend them to our readers? No.
🧑🏽⚖️ Aside from low warranties and potential durability issues, there’s nothing wrong with GE softeners. However, there are tens of systems that offer a much more capable soft water performance, with better durability and longer warranties, than the GE models. The GE systems might be affordable, but the lower price point means that you miss out on some of the features of the best water softeners available today.
Some of our recommended water softener alternatives are:
- SpringWell Salt Based Water Softener System: The overall best-value softening system
- SpringWell Futuresoft Salt-free Water Softener: Our top pick for the best salt-free conditioning option
- SoftPro Elite: Our second choice traditional salt-based water softener
- Fleck 5600SXT: The best-value budget water softening system
🧠 GE Water Softeners FAQ
Does GE water softener automatically regenerate?
Yes, all GE water softeners are pre-set to regenerate automatically at 2 AM. This means you can start using the system immediately after installing it without worrying about manually programming a regeneration.
Why is my GE water softener not working?
A lack of power, a blown circuit breaker, no salt, and clogged brine or drain lines are some of the most common reasons why your GE softener may stop working.
Does my GE water softener recharge every night?
No, GE water softeners don’t regenerate every night. The average time between regeneration cycles is three to six days.
How often does GE water softener regenerate?
GE water softeners regenerate as often as once every three days. Factors determining the frequency of regeneration are the water softener’s grain capacity, the total hardness setting programmed into the control head, and your daily water usage.
What size GE water softener should I buy?
The right-sized GE water softener for you depends on your household size and your water hardness. For instance, if you have 10 GPG (grains per gallon) of water hardness and a family of four, a 30,000-grain water softener is ideal for you. If you have 20 GPG of water hardness and a family of six, a 45,000-grain water softener is your best choice. Check out GE’s water softener size guide table for more information.
