RO/DI unit HELP

meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
"whatever can go wrong will go wrong"
I have an airwaterice compact ro/di.....had it about 16 months. changed the filters in February.
this week it stopped working right...tds was 0-1...so we ran a few tests....water came out fine everywhere except for the membrane
soo I ordered filters (just to have) and a new membrane. Got it yesterday. replaced it, ran it for an hour as the instructions said, and it still is only dripping water. I should get approximately 3g's per hour....
Tonight we will change the filters too I guess
What I am asking here I guess is this, DOES anyone have any other suggestions of what to try? Has this ever happened to you?
With all else that is going on I am getting really close to throwing in the towel
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
First what is your TDS reading after you changed the membrane? Are you sure none of your lines are kinked? What water pressure is at the faucet where it goes into the RO/DI unit? What is the TDS reading at the faucet before it goes to the RO/DI unit? Are you running straight cold water through the unit or mixing hot& cold? Are you sure the membrane is properly seated? Are you sure your other O rings and gaskets are in place on your other filters (sediment, carbon, DI) as well?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
My tds reading was 0-1 before and after the membrance change.....YES....all else seems to be in their proper places....
I just tested the water and now it is reading 3.....water from the tap is reading 41.....

My ro/di unit is hooked directly up to the water line behind washer......temp from the tap reads 26 celsius (78??)
I tried to calibrate my tds meter and IDK if I did or not.....I think it's screwy anyhows
I have NO CLUE what the water pressure to the house is
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
How is the water flow coming from the unit now? I think the purpose of letting the RO water run through the unit after the install is more to flush it than anything. I would double check and make sure the membrane is actually seated correctly. I'm also curious what size unit you bought from AWI and if you went up or down in size of membrane? This would affect the water output and such due to the flow restrictor sizing would be incorrect.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Actually I was just sitting thinking about this, an I'm real curious as to why the instructions stated only an hour? Normally I don't recall of the top of my head, but they tell you to run somewhere between 5-10 gallons through the RO/DI before you start collecting good water. How is the output from the waste line?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
the instructions were for a membrane change.....they said let it run an hour

I bought a 75gpd unit, and I got the exact same membrane that came with the unit
The drain is coming out steady....only it's nlot coming out the ro/di end
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Honestly I would try reseating the membrane.....Even though the pressure vessel closed, it could be quite possible that it didn't seat properly and letting the water bypass the membrane. After reseating the membrane I would honestly try to run at least 10 gallons through it. What's your pressure gauge reading on the pressure vessel?
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3274334
Actually I was just sitting thinking about this, an I'm real curious as to why the instructions stated only an hour? Normally I don't recall of the top of my head, but they tell you to run somewhere between 5-10 gallons through the RO/DI before you start collecting good water. How is the output from the waste line?

The reason for this is airwaterice sells there membrains ready to go from them. There no need to do all that. How ever meowzer have you tried contacting airwaterice. I think I have the same unit only 100 gpd its the typhoon right? I know its a long weekend but call them email them what ever. I have had to deal with them there customer service is awesome. There is no doubt in my mind they will fix this at little to no cost to you. Also just a few other things I noticed but wont help you much. Get a pressure guage from hd and get a couple fittings to hook the guage between the source water and the unit so you know how much pressure its getting. You will need to know this. airwaterice will ask if you dont know they will still help but it most likly will be there first question. Also are you sure your tds meter is calibrated. 40 something tds from the tap is really low. I almost think the membrain is not seated. Would explain why no water is comming out. Along with your meter not properly calibrated would mean your tds is higher than your reading. Witch would make sence to me. Last thing if your not sure if it is and you got it from airwaterice they will calibrate it for you for free. Only downfall there is you have to send it to them and they will have to send it back so you wont have it all that time but if its not working then whats the point. But my advice give them a ring they will walk you through it. good luck wish I could help. I tell you 1 more thing do you have a lfs that can test you source water for tds just to be sure you meter is working right?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
NO LFS... :( I did call them, and it is a holiday weekend, so by the time they call back it will be Tuesday and I will be at work,
I did not get my tds meter from them, and at this point I think it is screwy......I think I will be getting a new one of those too.....when my husband gets home from work (any minute now) we will take the unit apart, replace ALL filters, and re-check the membrane.....I will look into a gauge too......
Thanks....ALTHO...it worked fine one day.....and stopped the next after NO changes by me.....why would that be....coule the membrane or filters shift on their own??????
right now I just turned it off.....until we do some further work on it
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
UPDATE: We just changed ALL filters.....unit is running into a bucket...seems to be okay
The middle canister had a slightly off gasket...BUT I am just not 100% sure that was the cause...reason is cause we changed these in FEBRUARY...why would it wait till now to screw up

I am gonna let it run 5g's of water which I will toss (think that's enough) this should take 45 minutes to 2 hours. I will also be ordering a NEW TDS meter and an inline gauge from airwaterice....
Keep your fingers crossed, cause if this does not work..I'm going out to my pool and drowning myself
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/3274377
3 isnt that bad. anything under 10 is pretty good considering your muchmuch higher w/out it.
Mine usually gets 0-3.
I think my TDS Meter is crappola....lol....I just placed an order for a new one, along with an inline pressure gauge, and MORE filters
gotta have them on hand in my position....you know...I gotta order EVERYFREAKINTHING GRRRRR
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
A gasket off will affect flow......Even though AWI sells them ready to go you can't tell me they are tested like Spectrapure membranes, and how can they honestly say their ready to go? Are the membranes dry or what? It takes a bit to saturate a membrane the first go round. I would honestly believe it was the membrane not seated or the gasket off. If the membranes were honestly ready to go IMHO there wouldn't be any need to run them for a bit after install.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3274387
A gasket off will affect flow......Even though AWI sells them ready to go you can't tell me they are tested like Spectrapure membranes, and how can they honestly say their ready to go? Are the membranes dry or what? It takes a bit to saturate a membrane the first go round. I would honestly believe it was the membrane not seated or the gasket off. If the membranes were honestly ready to go IMHO there wouldn't be any need to run them for a bit after install.
I have no clue about the ready to go thing.....
ACRYLIC....if the gasket would affect flow, wouldn;t it do it from February then? Why all of a sudden now????
I kept the filters I took off as spares....and I ordered new ones again....and a new meter....and a pressure gauge...LOL....
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
ACRYLIC.....I don't want you to think I'm doubting what you say....I got to thinking that's what it sounded like....I'm just trying to understand all of it that's all........A lot if you have A LOT more experience then me with this type of equipment.....I appreciate all the responses.....I am just trying to learn the ins and outs of this stuff.......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I was assuming you were saying that you had a gasket off on one of your prefilters being sediment or carbon filters? I was also under the impression this was the case since you said that you had change them as well. I actually believe that the culprit might either have been the membrane not seated properly which does happen, or just breaking the membrane in. I have dealt with Walter at AirWaterIce and have sought his help before on a couple issues. I'm not doubting what anyone has stated about the membranes being ready to go.....but after checking the site, I don't even see where they offer tested membranes, but I do know they use the Dow FilmTech membranes, which are very nice!!!!!!!!! I honestly would have them calibrate your new TDS meter, just to make sure.....Better yet for a couple more $$$$ I'd buy a handheld TDS meter as well to double check against it.....
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
LOL...I am buying a new handheld tds meter.....
And YES...The center filter had a seal that was slightly off.....the membrane was fine.....
the "white" filter had turned pink...so I tossed it....I don't remember the last one I had turning pink so quickly....
It is working as it should right now, so I am happy...(LOL) for the moment anyway.......I really need the unit to work correctly..especially when I have to make water for the 225G w/c.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I know what you mean about making water....I can't wait to start making water for my DT of 415 gallons......Alot of things can influence how long the filters will last......Depending if you've had alot of rain, what the water company is adding.......
 
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