New RO/DI system and Clueless Operator

[Shirak]

The line exiting the RO housing with the yellow arrow. Is that the same line that comes down through the metal and into meter two and then the black thingy before filter 4? Is there anything else between the RO exit and the meter 2 connection?

The black line with the knob.. could be a restrictor valve. Looks like it's on the waste exit line.

 

[Shirak]

Yes, the green arrow points to the middle line to the TDS meter.

If I am looking at things correctly. That middle TDS meter should be monitoring the RO TDS. You said it never dropped down and was higher than meter reading for your source water. It should initially be high but rapidly drop to almost 0 once the RO membrane is up and running and cleared out residual TDS.

From what I can tell your connections look correct. If the RO line never got near 0 tds, it leads me to believe there is a problem with the RO membrane.

 

[Shirak]

So few things with the RO membrane. Inside there is a black gasket on the Input side. If it's not seated correctly water will bypass the membrane and you get tap water out of both lines on the other end.

On the other side there are o rings around the end which pushes into the housing to seal the RO from the waste exit lines. If there is a problem with the O rings then you get tap water out of both lines.

Third possibility is the membrane is not working and tap water is not getting filter properly.. and you get tap water out of both lines.

It might be worth draining the system and removing the cap on the RO housing to check the gasket on that side and also pulling the RO membrane out to check the o rings on the other side.

 

[EricR]

Seems like your 3 TDS probes should be:
1. Source water -- picture looks like there's one BEFORE your sediment filter -- if that's the 88 reading, that's pretty low already (compared to what I get)
2. After RO -- if that's the one reading 90 TDS, that's way too high so I'd look into re-seating your RO membrane
3. Final after DI -- best guess is your DI did it's job originally but burnt out quickly due to 90 TDS water (after RO)

***above is all guesses based on what I think I'm understanding
*also note that the probes have to be perpendicular to the water flowing through them -- meaning if you look down the tube and twist the probe, you should see the two prongs spaced far apart from each other, not in line with each other

EDIT -- just saw last post #23 by Shirak about RO membrane -- that's where I'd start, personally.

 

[Dr. D]

So few things with the RO membrane. Inside there is a black gasket on the Input side. If it's not seated correctly water will bypass the membrane and you get tap water out of both lines on the other end.

On the other side there are o rings around the end which pushes into the housing to seal the RO from the waste exit lines. If there is a problem with the O rings then you get tap water out of both lines.

Third possibility is the membrane is not working and tap water is not getting filter properly.. and you get tap water out of both lines.

It might be worth draining the system and removing the cap on the RO housing to check the gasket on that side and also pulling the RO membrane out to check the o rings on the other side.

Thanks-- I will check this.

 

[Dr. D]

Seems like your 3 TDS probes should be:
1. Source water -- picture looks like there's one BEFORE your sediment filter -- if that's the 88 reading, that's pretty low already (compared to what I get)
2. After RO -- if that's the one reading 90 TDS, that's way too high so I'd look into re-seating your RO membrane
3. Final after DI -- best guess is your DI did it's job originally but burnt out quickly due to 90 TDS water (after RO)

***above is all guesses based on what I think I'm understanding
*also note that the probes have to be perpendicular to the water flowing through them -- meaning if you look down the tube and twist the probe, you should see the two prongs spaced far apart from each other, not in line with each other

EDIT -- just saw last post #23 by Shirak about RO membrane -- that's where I'd start, personally.

Thanks-- I'll look into this.

 

[Dr. D]

So... remember the part in the thread title where I said I'm clueless? Turns out I did receive instructions, along with-- wait for it-- the RO membrane:

I had misplaced the packet with the instructions and membrane cartridge. Egad.

After installing the membrane, pressure is great, and TDS before DI is 1. Unfortunately after DI it's also 1, so clearly I ruined my DI by sending dirty water through it, as you guys suggested. The good news is I now know what to do (buy a new DI cartridge).

I am SO THANKFUL to all on this thread. Happy New Year!

 

[EricR]

So... remember the part in the thread title where I said I'm clueless? Turns out I did receive instructions, along with-- wait for it-- the RO membrane:

I had misplaced the packet with the instructions and membrane cartridge. Egad.

After installing the membrane, pressure is great, and TDS before DI is 1. Unfortunately after DI it's also 1, so clearly I ruined my DI by sending dirty water through it, as you guys suggested. The good news is I now know what to do (buy a new DI cartridge).

I am SO THANKFUL to all on this thread. Happy New Year!

Ha ha!
So, wait, you were running it with no RO membrane installed,,, is that what I'm getting out of this?
...that's awesome,,, but I feel your pain

Good news is you got it sorted out so live and learn. Happy Christmas/Hanukkah/whatever,,, have fun!

 

[Dr. D]

Ha ha!
So, wait, you were running it with no RO membrane installed,,, is that what I'm getting out of this?

Yes........

 

[Shirak]

So... remember the part in the thread title where I said I'm clueless? Turns out I did receive instructions, along with-- wait for it-- the RO membrane:

I had misplaced the packet with the instructions and membrane cartridge. Egad.

After installing the membrane, pressure is great, and TDS before DI is 1. Unfortunately after DI it's also 1, so clearly I ruined my DI by sending dirty water through it, as you guys suggested. The good news is I now know what to do (buy a new DI cartridge).

I am SO THANKFUL to all on this thread. Happy New Year!

Well I was puzzled by your mention of little pressure on the pressure gauge! That would explain it!!
Glad you found the membrane. Yes DI bed is shot. Can get another prepacked from BRS or get some mixed bed resin in bulk and learn how to refill the canister.

 

[Dr. D]

Thanks so much— sorry to waste your time!

 

[KrisReef]

Yes........

The membrane is optional if you just want to use resin.

I am amazed that the board has helped resolve this issue. If you had to rely upon me to troubleshoot this issue I don’t think I would have been able to get to a proper resolution.

Three tds meeters inline is more than I can handle.