Will blocking RO waste line damage anything??

[Y2KReef]

My RO waste line drains to the outside. It froze while the the unit was running. Would this cause any damage to the unit and I guess the water that was collected is not filtered??

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

No, not unless your water pressure exceeds the maximum allowable working pressure of the unit (which would be unusual).

Otherwise, the pressures equalize and all water production stops.

 

[Mfreddy]

No, not unless your water pressure exceeds the maximum allowable working pressure of the unit (which would be unusual).

Otherwise, the pressures equalize and all water production stops.

So when your reservoir is full you shut it off?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I just turn off the water supply. The way residential RO units work, they have a flow shutfoff valve that deadheads the wastewater line with the pressurized reservoir is full (more precisely, when the reservoir pressure equilibrates with the supply pressure). This device prevents excessive flow to the drain when no purified water is being produced.

 

[jetmaker]

My RO waste line drains to the outside. It froze while the the unit was running. Would this cause any damage to the unit and I guess the water that was collected is not filtered??

Why do you flow it outside #1 but I don't think you will be getting pure water #2 I run mine in a downstairs bathroom I run the waste line to the tollet I just don't understand why you would run it outside just run it to a 5 gal bucket. I would test it with a tds meter.

 

[Y2KReef]

Thanks for the responses. I run it outside because I have a septic.

 

[jetmaker]

Thanks for the responses. I run it outside because I have a septic.

I would test it with tds meter.

 

[Mfreddy]

Thanks, mine has been up about 6 weeks. I've been letting excess go down the drain. So much to learn.

 

[jetmaker]

I have a hm tds meter you should get one it's cheap.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Yes it can damage the membrane since it is not being flushed while in use. A 3:1 to 4:1 waste to treated ratio is critical to the lifespan and efficiency of a membrane. When that gets reduced the solids build up and foul the membranes pores.
Depending on how long it ran like this you may be OK. A good ATC handheld TDS meter should tell you if it is OK or not. Measure the tap TDS and RO only TDS to determine the rejection rate.