RO Buddie question

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Question for folks using an RO Buddie.

I may get one to use as a bridge between when I need water and when my permanent RO/DI will arrive. The question is how accurate are the 50/75/100 gallon per day ratings they have?

I want to wait to almost the last day to be sure I really need it (means the permanent Ro/DI is not arriving in time to meet the need for water), and I need about 250-300 gallons. If i go with the 50 and it really produces 50, then I need 5-6 days. I can go for the 100, but it doesn't have a di, (at least not from amazon) so I'd either skip that or add it myself if I went with the 100. It's also obviously more expensive for a bridge piece of equipment.

Also, anyone have any experience how well the RO Buddy carbon block does with chloramine?

Thanks in advance. :)

 

[00W]

Question for folks using an RO Buddie.

I may get one to use as a bridge between when I need water and when my permanent RO/DI will arrive. The question is how accurate are the 50/75/100 gallon per day ratings they have?

I want to wait to almost the last day to be sure I really need it (means the permanent Ro/DI is not arriving in time to meet the need for water), and I need about 250-300 gallons. If i go with the 50 and it really produces 50, then I need 5-6 days. I can go for the 100, but it doesn't have a di, (at least not from amazon) so I'd either skip that or add it myself if I went with the 100. It's also obviously more expensive for a bridge piece of equipment.

Also, anyone have any experience how well the RO Buddy carbon block does with chloramine?

Thanks in advance. :)

I have been running one for about 3 years.
I have the 50.
I have no booster and run it @40 psi, give or take.
It takes about 2 hours to fill a 5 gallon jug, give or take so for me, it's seems pretty accurate.
I do get better flow in the spring and summer when the tap water is warmer.
Our water does contain chloramines but I don't know in what concentration.
I asked for a water analysis but the city is not giving me one.
I bought a tds meter and pressure gauge also from Amazon.
My tds is 0 going out, but water in is only 12 most of the time.
They do sell a chloramine filter for the buddie on Amazon but I've never bought it.
For what you pay, it's a great deal in my opinion and it takes up very little room.

 

[BriDroid]

I also have the 50 and been using it for 3 to 4 years. We have just over 40psi water pressure. In the winter it takes me about 22 minutes to make a gallon. When the water is warm in the summer, it’s right about 17 minutes. No booster pump either.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Great, thank you guys. :)

 

[00W]

On a side note Randy, I'm very happy with the buddie.
I replace all the filters twice a year whether they need it or not and I'm super happy with the water that comes out.
I does waste a bit of water, but in the summer I water the garden with the overflow.
Joel

 

[Jesse Sunday]

My tds is 0 going out, but water in is only 12 most of the time.

Yikes... my tap water is in the hundreds. Where are you that you're getting 12 from the tap!? :)

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I have one with 2 di resins. I get about 5g an hour if that helps. But I love them. Carbon and sediment replacements are about 7$. I buy a bag of di resin for about 20 and it does 2 refills. I buy bulk membranes I’m assuming they are also about 7-10$ each

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I have one with 2 di resins. I get about 5g an hour if that helps. But I love them. Carbon and sediment replacements are about 7$. I buy a bag of di resin for about 20 and it does 2 refills. I buy bulk membranes I’m assuming they are also about 7-10$ each

Also have the 50 gpd btw!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Given what folks have said, I'll likely get the 50 gpd 4 stage (has DI) along with a second DI cartridge, Hopefully that will get me 300 gallons in a week without depleting both DI (tap TDS is a bit under 100 ppm). :)

 

[BriDroid]

I have one of those double inline TDS meters. I watch the TDS going into the DI resin and out. I get 2ppm going in and 0ppm going out. My tap water is 270ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ordered just now, should have it tomorrow!

I have some good total chlorine test strips that can detect pretty low levels, so I can treat the product water if needed. one advantage of the 50 over the others is slower flow through the carbon block, so maybe better chloramine removal. :)

 

[Troylee]

My tds is terrible in Vegas 575 to be exact! I got about 40 gallons outta one before it was all exhausted and I threw it in the trash lol.. well my output of tds started to rise I should say.. temporary it’s prolly okay for your situation but long term use its not worth the hassle or the money of replacing filters and resin.

 

[00W]

Yikes... my tap water is in the hundreds. Where are you that you're getting 12 from the tap!? :)

Idaho.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Idaho.

You should bottle/sell it! ;)

Although, I don't really like the taste of my 2TDS RODI water that comes out of the filter. Or maybe it's the lack of taste that's offputting. :P

 

[00W]

You should bottle/sell it! ;)

Although, I don't really like the taste of my 2TDS RODI water that comes out of the filter. Or maybe it's the lack of taste that's offputting. :p

Yep they do say not to drink it lol.
Mine tastes like nothing and smells like nothing.

 

[rhitee93]

Given what folks have said, I'll likely get the 50 gpd 4 stage (has DI) along with a second DI cartridge, Hopefully that will get me 300 gallons in a week without depleting both DI (tap TDS is a bit under 100 ppm). :)

The big driver for me is the CO2 in the water (at least I'm pretty sure) I can only get 150 gallons out of an anion cartridge before it is consumed. Half that for a mixed bed cartridge. All my other resins have been going for 18 months with hardly any noticeable color change.