Compare
Fleck vs GE Water Softeners
Fleck vs GE is a choice between valve warranty and price. The Fleck 5600SXT starts at $1,189 with 5 years on the valve; GE's GXSH45W lists at $799 with 1 year on the whole unit, as of October 2026.
Disclosure: watersofteners.reviews is owned by the team behind SoftPro Water Systems and Quality Water Treatment, and we rank their products first. We compare published specifications, certifications, warranties and prices (as of October 2026). We did not lab-test these units. How we rank
On this page
Quick answer
- Choose Fleck 5600SXT for sizes to 64,000 grains and longer valve coverage.
- Choose GE GXSH45W for the lower price and app leak alerts.
- Fleck: 5-year valve, 10-year tank warranty; GE: 1 year whole unit.
- GE publishes 165 gpg hardness and 3 ppm iron limits.
- Neither publishes an NSF/ANSI 44 certification for these models.
Quick verdict
For most homes that will keep a softener ten years or more, we favor the Fleck 5600SXT. It is a named, model-numbered Pentair Fleck control valve on a standard two-tank layout, sold by Quality Water Treatment in five sizes from 24,000 to 64,000 grains, and its valve warranty runs five years against GE's one-year whole-unit term.
GE wins on upfront cost and features. The GXSH45W is $390 less than the cheapest Fleck size as of October 2026, publishes detailed performance limits, and connects to an app that flags leaks and low salt. For a small household on a tight budget, that is a fair trade.
Side by side
| Item | Fleck 5600SXT (QWT) | GE GXSH45W |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Salt-based, separate mineral and brine tanks | Salt-based, "Electronic-Demand Driven" |
| Sizes | 24,000, 32,000, 40,000, 48,000, 64,000 grains | 45,000 grains |
| Control | Fleck 5600SXT digital metered valve, paddle-wheel meter | 1" NPT High Flow valve |
| Resin | 10% crosslink (SST-60 upgrade optional) | 1.5 cu ft |
| Max hardness / iron | Not published | 165 gpg / 3 ppm clear-water iron |
| Salt efficiency | Not published as grains per lb | 5,090 grains per lb |
| Water per regeneration | About 12 gal (QWT) | Not published |
| Smart features | Backlit LCD, 48-hour time backup | Wi-Fi app, leak detect, low-salt reminder |
| Bypass / connection | 3/4" plastic bypass included | 1" NPT valve |
| Certifications | Not published | Not published |
| Warranty | 5 yr valve, 10 yr tanks | 1 yr whole unit, 3 yr electronics, 10 yr resin tank |
| Price (Oct 2026) | From $1,189 | $799 |
Capacity and performance
Sizing range. The Fleck comes in five sizes, so a family of five or six at 10 gpg can buy the 48,000 or 64,000-grain unit, the range our sizing guide suggests for that household. GE's largest current model with full specs is 45,000 grains; GE also lists a 35,000-grain GXSH35W and the 45,000-grain Profile PNPR45W.
Hardness and iron. GE gives you hard limits: 165 gpg of hardness and 3 ppm of clear-water iron on the GXSH45W, and 8 ppm on its older 40,000-grain models. The Fleck listing publishes no hardness or iron ceiling for the 5600SXT, which QWT positions for city water. Well owners with iron should look at the Fleck 2510SXT in our well water rankings instead.
Flow. GE states 9.5 gpm at a 15 psi drop for the GXSH45W and uses a 1" valve. QWT does not publish a 5600SXT flow figure in text, so we don't quote one; the system ships with a 3/4" plastic bypass.
Resin and chlorine. The Fleck ships with 10% crosslink resin, which QWT describes as more chlorine resistant, a real advantage on city water where chlorine slowly breaks resin down.
Upkeep and running costs
Salt. GE publishes 5,090 grains removed per pound of salt, which lets you budget: four people at 10 gpg would use roughly 215 lb a year at that rate. QWT says the 5600SXT cuts salt use by up to 40% compared to outdated systems, and is candid that it "still consumes more salt than high-efficiency upflow systems." Without a grains-per-pound figure for the Fleck, a direct salt comparison with GE isn't possible.
Water. QWT states the 5600SXT uses about 12 gallons per regeneration. GE does not publish a per-cycle water figure.
Service and parts. This is where the two designs differ most. The Fleck is a separate valve, mineral tank and brine tank, so a worn valve can be serviced or replaced without changing the tanks; the valve model is printed on the listing, so you know exactly which valve a service tech is working on. GE lists its valve only as "High Flow," and after the first year only the electronic monitor and resin tank remain under warranty. Neither maker publishes failure rates, so warranty length is the clearest reliability signal you have.
Installation. QWT calls the 5600SXT a simple DIY job of about two hours and includes a bypass and pre-programmed meter. Both need a drain line for regeneration water. Our installation guide covers the steps.
Price and warranty
As of October 2026, the Fleck 5600SXT from Quality Water Treatment is $1,189 for 24,000 grains, $1,265.73 for 32,000, $1,327.55 for 40,000, $1,373.15 for 48,000 and $1,523.96 for 64,000. QWT adds a 6-month money-back guarantee. You can see current sizes on the Fleck 5600SXT product page (a store we own).
GE's GXSH45W is $799 on GE's site, with the GXSH35W at $699 and the older GXSH40V at $569 as of October 2026.
Warranty is the bigger gap than price. Fleck: five years on the 5600SXT control valve and ten years on the tanks. GE: one year on the entire appliance (parts and labor), three years on the electronic monitor, ten years on the resin tank.
Which should you choose?
Pick by situation
Family of 5 or more
Fleck 5600SXT in 48,000 or 64,000 grains. GE's largest current model with full specs is 45,000.
Tight budget, 1 to 3 people
GE GXSH45W or GXSH35W saves $390 or more up front.
Want leak alerts on your phone
GE's SmartHQ app does this; the Fleck listing describes a backlit LCD, not an app.
Keeping it 10+ years
Fleck, for the five-year valve term and a serviceable, model-numbered valve.
Read the full Fleck 5600SXT review and our GE review for detail on each, or see both in our best water softeners ranking, where the Fleck sits at #2 and the GE GXSH45W at #8.
Common questions
Is Fleck better than GE?
For long-term ownership, the Fleck 5600SXT has the stronger warranty (five years on the valve versus one year on the GE unit) and more size options. GE is cheaper and has app features. Which is better depends on household size and how long you plan to keep it.
Who sells the Fleck 5600SXT?
We compare the version sold by Quality Water Treatment, which lists itself as a Fleck/Pentair authorized dealer and ships it with a pre-programmed meter and resin pre-loaded in sizes up to 48,000 grains.
Does the GE softener have a Fleck valve?
GE does not name a third-party valve. It lists a "1-inch NPT High Flow" valve on the GXSH45W.
Which uses less salt, Fleck or GE?
GE publishes 5,090 grains per pound of salt. QWT does not publish a grains-per-pound figure for the 5600SXT, so a like-for-like answer isn't possible. QWT does say the 5600SXT uses more salt than high-efficiency upflow designs such as the city version of the SoftPro Elite.
Can either handle well water with iron?
GE's GXSH45W handles up to 3 ppm of clear-water iron. The 5600SXT is positioned for city water with no iron rating published; for wells, see our iron and sulfur picks.
Our pick
Fleck 5600SXT
Check current sizes and prices at Quality Water Treatment.
View at Quality Water Treatmentwatersofteners.reviews is owned by the team behind SoftPro Water Systems and Quality Water Treatment, and we rank their products first. How we rank
Comparing options? Start with our best water softeners and reviews.