RO/DI problems

[bryce.martin23]

Just installed a brand new pure-flow II RO unit by coralife and having some serious lack of flow going through the unit. Tested the system and for every 8 cups of bad water, im producing 1 cup of clean water. Talked to a rep that works for the company and he told me that my pressure to my house may be low and that they should be producing a ratio of 3:1 and even as good as 2:1,I tested the pressure coming into the house and we have 85psi, pleanty of pressure for any unit. Flushed out all the lines and reconnected everything and still having the same problem. My question is, if i have 85psi going to the house, does that mean that i would also have 85psi running to the RO unit. Im ordering a water pressure gauge as we speak but just trying to figure out whats going on with this.

 

[jimmyr1rider]

You should get a pressure guage for the RO unit. Just because your water supply from your town is so much doesnt mean its makin it that high out of your faucets. Get a booster pump if your pressure is lower than 60 psi or so you want between 60 and 80 psi.
The pressure to the fire hydrants in my town are between 80 and 100 psi- which is furnished ny the water district but the pressure from my faucet going to my RO unit fluctuates between 66 and 68 psi

 

[bryce.martin23]

i used a pressure gauge from the hose faucet in the backyard, it read 80-85psi. I have an actual gauge on order to tap into the RO membrane housing so i will know exactly how much pressure i have in the unit. I was wondering, if the pressure to the RO unit is about 65 then what else could it be.

 

[jimmyr1rider]

If your unit isnt producing the water its supposed to you probably dont have the pressure required for the unit to work to its proper efficiency. Its making water just not at the rate its supposed to. No need to worry for now- get the guage that goes on the unit if the reading is where it should be then worry about the next step. If in fact you do have the right amount of pressure then I would call coralife and ask them what they think it may be. Am pretty sure though your gonna find that the pressure gettiing to the unit s lower than you think.. if thats the case you buy a booster pump and youll be fine if not coralife will help you from that point. But I do hope and believe that its just a lack of pressure to the unit. Wish you the best........ Jimmy

 

[bryce.martin23]

Thats what im honestly afraid of, but if i need another pump then i need another pump. Thanks for the help, just wanted to get some input with some people who have experience in the hobby.

 

[jimmyr1rider]

Will be alright man booster pumps arent that expensive and will be a permanent fix. You can get an aqua 8800 that a lot of people go with for 120 bucks - if it solves your problem then your set. Is a saying on my job---dont sweat the small stuff- till the small stuff becomes large.

 

[bryce.martin23]

ok, i got my pressure gauge installed and im pushing about 70-72 through the membrane. What do you think my next step should be, other than ripping my hair out

 

[jimmyr1rider]

I would reread directions and reasemble the unit. Am not sure but the membrane has to be seated correctly, and if Im not mistaken inserted a certain way. I would start over from scratch and then see if it works better. If not call corallife and speak to them about it. But still dont worry too much over it youll get it straightened out. Maybe theres something on one of the chambers that is impeding the flow through them? Redo the unit and then see if it changes anything before stressin too much more.

 

[reeferrookie]

I'm assuming you have the correct flow restrictor in the waste line?

 

[bryce.martin23]

Originally Posted by Reeferrookie
http:///forum/post/3217002
I'm assuming you have the correct flow restrictor in the waste line?
i belive so, i just took it all apart and put it back together, and still having the same problem. My waste line is steadly pouring out while my good water is dripping about a drop every one or two secs, is this typical. This ratio is 8:1 im going to call the rep tomorrow but i already know what there going to say, that there could be a lot of solid contaminets in my water. It seems that nobody that supplies these products have a real answer for you and just want to get you off the phone.

 

[reeferrookie]

Every unit I have had ran about 4 to 1,with at least 60 psi at the unit, not at the house.

 

[jimmyr1rider]

Yeah should be doin much more mine does about 3:1 Honestly I would call corallife and see if they would have you ship it to them and get a new one or have them go through that one. Other than that I cant help you- my RO unit was problem free. Call em and see what they see. Even if for the time they have yours you have to buy RO water- or call where you got it from and see if you can return it for a new one?
Just to note to my unit as its operating my pressure fluctuates between 66 and 68 so yours should be doing great-

 

[bryce.martin23]

im very dissapointed with the company who sold me this unit, the first thing i did was call them up to see if i could do a return on the item and they told me that they dont do returns on used items. Very bad business in my opinion, if you sell a item, you should stand behind it, especialy when i go there once a month and spend my money with them.

 

[bmkj02]

Originally Posted by bryce.martin23
http:///forum/post/3217139
im very dissapointed with the company who sold me this unit, the first thing i did was call them up to see if i could do a return on the item and they told me that they dont do returns on used items. Very bad business in my opinion, if you sell a item, you should stand behind it, especialy when i go there once a month and spend my money with them.
Even as an exchange?
Call Coralife directly

 

[bryce.martin23]

yeah, i asked to do an exchange and they told me that they cant do it because the system is now used. I have been calling coralife directly and so far have just been getting the run around answers like check to see if somthing is clogged, and if the unit is hooked up correctly.

 

[jimmyr1rider]

I would keep bothering corallife and once you get someone on the phone if they have the attittude that they wont help because the unit is used- ask to speak to supervisor and be sure to get their name. If the manager also says they wont help because its a used unit tell them that you spent good money on one of their units and the only way to tell it wasnt right was to use it. Tell them that youre going to call the Better Business Bureau and file a claim against them and that their name will be used as the representative that you spoke to. As well as all of your friends that once owned them that have had problems with them in the past that had to just go out and buy new units because of Corallifes attitude are going to as well.Even if you dont have any friends that went through this they dont know this. Sometimes youd be amazed how much a threat to put a foul note against them thats in the public eye will make peoples opinions change.-- You can also try that route with the LFS you got it from and see if they change their note as well.

 

[bryce.martin23]

well i finally got a hold of the rep again about this problem and he told me that they have been packaging thier ro membranes dry and that somtimes it takes a week or two to get them fully saturated with water, once the membrane is fully saturated he said that the membrane will start to produce more water flow, i dont know if this was an excuse to shake me off their backs for a bit, but i soaked the membrane all day today in a bucket of water. Unfortunatly I ran out of teflon tape and decided to call it quits for the day and walk away from the unit before it ended up in the middle of the street

. Anyway Im hoping for the best at this point, i dont want to get nasty with either of these companys but if thats the only choice i have then i guess thats the next move i make.

 

[reeferrookie]

Stay on him if thats what it takes.....Good Luck

 

[number1gsxxr]

What temp is the water that is going through the membrane? IIRC, in order to get to a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio you need a certain pressure AND temp. I don't recall the exact temperature but it was something like 70-80 degrees.

 

[bryce.martin23]

i know that the colder the water, the less water produced but im getting an 8:1 ratio, i talked to the rep and they are based in wisconson, he said that even on there worst days there are running about 6:1 and thats where winters are real winters, not like mine here in califonia.