RO Buddy Help

[FindinNemo]

I set up the RO buddie 4 stage today, during the setup, I am flushing the membrane. I have good water pressure off of my kitchen sink. I’m running cold water through the unit and barely have a dribble of water coming out of the clean. There is also the occasional air bubble coming out of it. This is the 50 GPD model, is this normal to have this much waste return? It will take forever to fill up a 5 gal. Bucket with this flow. In the video I disconnect the good supply on the buddie and the waste water is the hose going into the sink.

Yes I installed the membrane correctly, and every fitting is tight

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Can't see the video, but is the flush valve still open?

 

[FindinNemo]

Can't see the video, but is the flush valve still open?

No flush valve on this unit, I double checked everything around and everything is tight, no leaks, I’m thinking possibly a bad membrane?

 

[FindinNemo]

Update: so it is supposed to fill half a cup in a minute, and took just over 4 minutes so something is defiantly off

 

[Reefering1]

What's the water pressure going into the unit? How long have you let it run?

 

[FindinNemo]

Not sure on exact pressure, sink has lots of pressure tho full blast but I am using a aerator adapter to the unit with a bit of leakage, I flushed the unit for 5, installed the membrane and flushed for 35 minutes, now installing the DI

What's the water pressure going into the unit? How long have you let it run?

 

[Reefering1]

Pressure matters, you likely need 80psi to get the claimed 50gpd. Pictures can be helpful to determine everything is connected properly. With the unit running ,try tilting the unit to allow all trapped air out. Follow the flow of water and raise the output of each stage to purge the air

 

[Clem75]

+1 on the pressure, I have the same unit and psi needs to be 80lbs. I thought I had good pressure until I checked it running the unit and was at 50 the 30 added psi made it 100x's better.

 

[mues]

I also bought the booster for this unit and it helped dramatically

 

[ScottJ]

I use the same RODI. The water temperature makes a big difference also. In the summer, I get 5 gallons in about 3 hours. (I don't use a booster pump) In winter, it takes more than 5 hours to yield the same.

One of these days, I should get a booster.

 

[Tamberav]

You probably don't have enough pressure even if you think you do as its not something you can tell just by being "ya my tap comes out fast and strong". You can buy a cheap pressure gage to check, they are like $15-$20 and good to have on your unit.

I have lived at several different apartments/houses and every one of them needed a booster pump, especially in winter.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I set up the RO buddie 4 stage today, during the setup, I am flushing the membrane. I have good water pressure off of my kitchen sink. I’m running cold water through the unit and barely have a dribble of water coming out of the clean. There is also the occasional air bubble coming out of it. This is the 50 GPD model, is this normal to have this much waste return? It will take forever to fill up a 5 gal. Bucket with this flow. In the video I disconnect the good supply on the buddie and the waste water is the hose going into the sink.

Yes I installed the membrane correctly, and every fitting is tight

Wait... ChatGPT didn't fix it for you?

 

[Reefering1]

Wait... ChatGPT didn't fix it for you?

Lol. I was holding that for the end

 

[FindinNemo]

Wait... ChatGPT didn't fix it for you?

Hahaha I was waiting for this comment, good one

 

[Tamberav]

Wait... ChatGPT didn't fix it for you?

I asked just to see and it gave me the wrong answer for ideal pressure

:confounded-face:

 

[Reefering1]

I figured Nemo found it was useless for solving problems before asking

 

[FindinNemo]

You probably don't have enough pressure even if you think you do as its not something you can tell just by being "ya my tap comes out fast and strong". You can buy a cheap pressure gage to check, they are like $15-$20 and good to have on your unit.

I have lived at several different apartments/houses and every one of them needed a booster pump, especially in winter.

Have any recommendations for booster pumps?

 

[Tamberav]

Have any recommendations for booster pumps?

I use Aquatec

Aquatic life is another popular one

 

[FindinNemo]

I also bought the booster for this unit and it helped dramatically

What booster do you use?

 

[ScottJ]

LOL I just ordered the booster for mine!