Review: GE GXMH31H 31,100-Grain Water Softener and Filter in One
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Aug 4, 2023
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The GE GXMH31H 31,100-Grain Water Softener and Filter is an NSF-certified system designed to do 2 things: Remove contaminants from water and soften it.
It has some interesting features like a demand-driven regeneration process, and the SmartSoft technology that tracks your water use patterns and predicts the best time to regenerate.
Let’s see some other features of the GE GXMH31H whole house water filter and softener combo, and see if it’s a good buy.
Contents
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GE GXMH31H 31,100-Grain Water Softener and Filter in One |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Treatment Process: | Sediment + Carbon Filtration, Ion Exchange Water Softening |
| Grain Capacity: | 31,100 |
| Filter Life: | 570,000-2,282,000 Gallons |
| Flow Rate: | 8 Gallons Per Minute |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on softening/filtration performance, grain capacity, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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GE GXMH31H 31,100-Grain Water Softener and Filter – All Specs
- Model: GXMH31H
- Annual Maintenance Cost: Salt Only
- Treatment Process: Ion Exchange Water Softening + Sediment and Charcoal Filtration
- Flow Rate: 8 gpm
- Backwash Rate: 2 gpm
- Filtering Capacity: 570,000-2,282,000 gal
- Softening Capacity: 31,100 Grains (0.98 cu ft. Resin)
- Max Hardness: 120 gpg
- Rated Salt Efficiency: 4,240 Grains @ 2.6 lbs. Salt
- Water Used During Regeneration @ Minimum Salt Dose: 5 gal Per 1,000 Grains
- Total Water Used Per Regeneration @ Maximum Salt Dose: 54.7 gal
- WxHxD: 14.4″x47.6″x22.4″
- Water Temperature: 40-120 °F
- Water Pressure: 20-125 psi
- Fitting: Up to 1.25″
- NSF Certifications: Standard 42 (Chlorine Taste and Odor Reduction), Standard 44 (Hardness Reduction), Standard 372
- Other Certifications: CSA B483.1
- Warranty: 1-10 Years
GE GXMH31H – Key Features
One major feature of the GE GXMH31H system is its treatment process. It processes your water through three stages; sediment filtration, charcoal filtration, and ion exchange softening.
Here’s how these stages work:
- Sediment filtration: This stage consists of a self-cleaning sediment filter that traps large particles in an in-built basket and flushes them to the drain (before each regen cycle).Sediment filters protect your plumbing system from clogging due to sand, rust, and other dirt.
- Charcoal filtration: Activated charcoal removes chlorine taste and odor improving how your water tastes and smells.
- Ion exchange water softening: This stage replaces hard water ions with harmless sodium. Soft water doesn’t leave limescale deposits, it is easier on your laundry, hair, and skin, and it doesn’t leave spots/stains on surfaces.
The flow rate is 8 gpm, meaning this GE water softener and filter is suitable for smaller homes. This also fits to the 31,100-grain softening capacity.
Chlorine filtering capacity is 570,000 to 2,282,000 gallons which means up to several years of removal.
GE Water Softener and Filter Pros
What we like about the GE GXMH31H is that it comes at a wallet-friendly price (considering it’s a filter-softener combo).
Maximum hardness removal is 120 gpg, which is really high. Besides, we have an NSF standard 44 certification which basically certifies that the system is not only effective at reducing water hardness, it’s also efficient doing so saving water and salt.
This is mainly thanks to the demand-driven regeneration. Older water softeners used to regenerate (replenish the salt in the softener tank) on a time basis, like every two weeks, whether you’ve used a lot of water or not. But the GE GXMH31H water softener only regenerates when necessary using no more water and salt than absolutely required.
How’s that possible? The system uses SmartSoft technology to track your water usage. And not only that, it also plans for the ideal time to regenerate, based on your water usage patterns, to prevent running out of softening capacity. It also shows when it’s time to refill the salt tank.
Did we mention there’s a limited one-year warranty on the whole system, a three-year warranty on the electronic monitor, and a ten-year warranty on the resin tank?
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
The GE GXMH31H 31,100-grain water softener and filter removes sediments, chlorine, and hardness minerals from water. Iron can be removed up to 3 parts per million.
The GE GXMH31H – learn more on Amazon.com
Installation
The system is pretty easy to install since it has an all-in-one tank as well as a ready-made bypass valve plus it includes a complete installation kit.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
To start, get these tools ready:
- Pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Razor knife
- Screwdriver
- Teflon tape
- Plumbing fittings
Now, follow these steps to install your GE GXMH31H water softener and filter:
- Switch off your water supply and open all faucets to drain remnant pipe water.
- Connect the brine tank overflow adapter to the sidewall of the salt storage tank.
- Install the bypass valve in the softener inlet valve. Use the clips on the valve to secure the bypass valve.
- Place the water softener in your desired spot. The water softener is pretty heavy, so you should get extra hands to move it (unless you’ve got some superpower).
- Align the inlet and outlet valves on the softener to your home plumbing.
- If your plumbing is made of copper, install a ground wire. If not, skip to the next step.
- Connect the drain hose to the softener valve drain fitting.
- Connect the salt tank overflow elbow to the drain line.
- Direct the softener valve drain hose to a floor, garden, or laundry drain and flush the system for about 20 minutes. You’re doing this to remove carbon fines with the first water batch.
- Open cold water and hot water faucets and check for leaks.
- Add clean water and salt to the salt tank.
- Plug the water softener into an outlet. Make sure the electrical outlet does not have a switch control.
- Sanitize the system by adding six tablespoons of household bleach to the softener brine well and recharge the system.
- Open a cold water tap for about 20 minutes, then close the tap.
The Package (Parts)
- GE GXMH31H System
- Bypass Valve
- Drain Hose
- Clips
- Installation Adaptors
- Hose Clamps
- Overflow Adapter
- Grommet
- O-Rings
- Silicon Grease
Maintenance
There’s little involved in maintaining this GE water softener and whole house filter, just routine checks and cleaning. Here’s what to do:
- Check the salt level in the tank every two to three weeks (until you’re sure when exactly you need to refill). If the tank is less than one-quarter full, add salt and water as you did during installation.
- Clean the system’s nozzle and venturi. Remove the top cover from the system and housing cap. Remove the screen and screen support, then the nozzle and venturi. Clean the parts in warm water, using a tiny brush to remove accumulated contaminants.
- Clean the plug if your system contains a flow plug in the nozzle and venturi.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
NSF and Other Certifications
The GE GXMH31H system is certified against NSF/ANSI standard 44 for being effective at removing water hardness and resource-efficient during regeneration.
It’s also certified against NSF/ANSI 372 (lead-free components), and tested according to NSF 42 for the reduction of chlorine taste and odor.
Finally, we have certification CSA B483.1 by the Water Quality Association (WQA); this certification affirms that the whole house water softener and filter is made from structurally safe and quality materials.
Earlier Product Versions
To our knowledge, this product has no earlier versions.
GE GXMH31H Cons
A major con is that the GXMH31H won’t serve large homes. Its flow rate is 8 gpm only, and its grain capacity is 31,100, so it can only work for smaller households.
Also, the filtration process is very basic and mostly eliminates large sediments and chlorine taste and odor. There’s not a whole lot of charcoal media used and the manual even states that the system cannot substitute for sediment pre-filtration. In other words, don’t try and use it for more harmful or stubborn contamination – it won’t work!
We also found a couple of users complaining about poor customer support from GE when they had issues with their filter, which is a letdown. Some buyers received their system with broken or missing parts, so you must thoroughly inspect your filter once you get it.
GE GXMH31H Review: Our Verdict + Best for
All in all, the GE GXMH31H 31,100-Grain Water Softener and Filter is best for small homes with hard city water containing few contaminants.
Its water-softening process is effective and efficient using demand-initiated regeneration. On the flip side, filtration is basic and only works for large sediments and chlorine taste and odor.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Overall Performance: 3.5/5.0
- Filtering & Softening Capacity: 3.5/5.0
- Purchase Price: 4.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Whole House Water Filters and Softeners
The GE GXMH31H system is not the only that combines water filtration and softening. Let’s compare it to a competitor model, the SpringWell CSS.
SpringWell CSS |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Treatment Process: | Ion Exchange, 5-Micron Sediment, Catalytic Carbon + KDF |
| Grain Capacity: | 32,000-80,000 |
| Filter Life: | 1,000,000 gal |
| Flow Rate: | 9-20 gpm |
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Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on softening/filtration performance, grain capacity, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
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GE GXMH31H |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Treatment Process: | Sediment + Carbon Filtration, Ion Exchange |
| Grain Capacity: | 31,100 |
| Filter Life: | 570,000-2,282,000 gal |
| Flow Rate: | 8 gpm |
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Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on softening/filtration performance, grain capacity, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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While the GE uses one tank, the SpringWell CSS uses separate tanks for filtration and softening. It uses ion exchange softening just like the GE. However, it filters water using a 5-micron sediment pre-filter and a large catalytic carbon + KDF media tank. These media can remove a lot of contaminants from water, including chloramine, chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals, PFAS, VOCs, and many other organic chemicals. The GE GXMH31H clearly pales in comparison here.
Furthermore, the SpringWell CSS has a flow rate of 9-20 gpm (it comes in different sizes), making it suitable for small and large homes. Additionally, it has a 6-month satisfaction guarantee and limited lifetime warranty. What we miss are NSF certifications.
Bottom line: If you have a small home and your major water issue is hardness (not severe contamination), the GE GXMH31H may work just fine. But if you battle with both hardness and want healthier water, and you may be living in a larger household, the SpringWell CSS is the way to go!
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This completes our review of the GE GXMH31H 31,100-Grain Water Softener and Filter. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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