Leak under sink when using RODI unit

CHG107 · 05/02/2012, 12:16 PM

The only thing I went cheap on was my RODI unit, I got one off of ebay and read good reviews but am not sure if it is the unit or my actual plumbing.

When I hook up my RODI unit to my bathroom sink (connects to the faucet) it leaks pretty bad under my sink. We have never had any leaks under the sink prior to this. The leak is coming from the water supply pipe. Any ideas why this would happen? Is it the unit since it is kind of a cheap unit or is it my house plumbing? Thanks!

aleonn · 05/02/2012, 12:43 PM

Usually when I get a leak from the RO/DI unit, it's at the adapter (where it connects to my plumbing). I had to use plumber's tape to seal the connection and eliminate the leaking. What's your water pressure at?

SpectraPure · 05/02/2012, 01:19 PM

What type of connector did you use to tap into the water supply? Can you post a picture?

ek9vboi · 05/02/2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectraPure

What type of connector did you use to tap into the water supply? Can you post a picture?

Agreed. Your description isn't too clear. You said it connects to the faucet, is this under the sink or on top?

Allmost · 05/02/2012, 01:39 PM

Faucet adaptor, Faucet is usually above the sink

your faucet adaptor is most likely leacking, water going down the pipe to where the unit is sitting under the sink, and at a loop the water on the pipe drips on the cabinet ....

second possibility is cendensation on the source pipe [warm or humid indoor, cold water in pipe] which would again drip from the loop under the sink.

lastly would be the canisters of the unit leacking, run your hand around the edge of each canister to be sure.

check to see what is leacking, and let us know and we can tell you how to fix it.

GL

living in a condo, I know how frustrating it can get.

shelby28 · 05/02/2012, 03:01 PM

Id second the water pressure idea. ihad the same problom, a fittting under the sink was just tight enough to not leak when water was leaving normally but the added pressure from the RODI unit made it leak i tightend every thing up under the sink and it stoped.

chadfarmer · 05/02/2012, 03:05 PM

condensation?

Buckeye Hydro · 05/02/2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelby28

Id second the water pressure idea. ihad the same problom, a fittting under the sink was just tight enough to not leak when water was leaving normally but the added pressure from the RODI unit made it leak i tightend every thing up under the sink and it stoped.

Hmm...

RO units don't "add" any pressure. I think something else was going on here.

SpectraPure · 05/02/2012, 04:12 PM

Condensation is not likely here, it is possible that when using angle stop adapters one might neglect to use an insert which preserves the polyethylene tubing as you tighten the nut to the valve.
"A picture is worth a thousand words"

Buckeye Hydro · 05/02/2012, 04:18 PM

Maybe a loose fetzer valve.

shelby28 · 05/02/2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFS

Hmm...

RO units don't "add" any pressure. I think something else was going on here.

it sure did seem to. it didnt at first but after a couple uses it did. i dont see how attaching a couple sets of filters isnt going to add at least a little pressure?

RN....... · 05/02/2012, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFS

Hmm...

RO units don't "add" any pressure. I think something else was going on here.

Back pressure...

Buckeye Hydro · 05/02/2012, 05:32 PM

There is nothing in an RO system that add pressure, unless you had a booster pump. And even in that case the increased pressure would only be downstream of the pump.

Buckeye Hydro · 05/02/2012, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RN.......

Back pressure...

Nope.

RN....... · 05/02/2012, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFS

Nope.

So your saying a weak spot in the plumbing would see no effect from adding an Ro unit?

Seems like the same idea as putting your thumb over then end of a garden hose. Water will come out of the end of the hose fine, but when the end of the hose is plugged a weak spot could blow out. Sounds like the issue the op is having.

Buckeye Hydro · 05/02/2012, 05:53 PM

Before the RO system was installed, how much pressure did the "weak spot" see?

Whatever the line pressure is - let's say 55 psi.

After the RO system was installed, how much pressure did the "weak spot" see?

shelby28 · 05/02/2012, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFS

Before the RO system was installed, how much pressure did the "weak spot" see?

Whatever the line pressure is - let's say 55 psi.

After the RO system was installed, how much pressure did the "weak spot" see?

Idk there is no way to tell if the RO unit is adding pressure it could be? It could be slightly clogged it could just be adding a slight increase in pressure causing a pipe to leak. I have no idea what type of faucet is being used only that it's one over a cabinet which implies its a sink. Manufactures of sink faucets don't always count on additional equipment being placed on the faucet. I do know I had the same issue and all I did was tighten some of the fittings under the sink And it went away. That was my only suggestion to the OP.

Edit: by no means am I saying this is the only problem. I was only commenting on that's the same problem I was having and that's how I fixed it.

RN....... · 05/02/2012, 06:10 PM

Disregard my previous statements. If the pipe isn't leaking when faucet is off, it isn't leaking because of adding the Ro unit. The incoming pressure won't change, due to adding the Ro unit.

Buckeye Hydro · 05/02/2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RN.......

Disregard my previous statements. If the pipe isn't leaking when faucet is off, it isn't leaking because of adding the Ro unit. The incoming pressure won't change, due to adding the Ro unit.

CHG107 · 05/02/2012, 07:41 PM

The sink does not ever leak until I turn the faucet on then a steady stream comes out from underneath my sink only when the unit is attached. Even if I turn the water on a tiny bit it will still leak. Currently out of town till saturday on a hunting trip so can't provide a picture. Just wanted to get this figured out so as soon as I get home I can get to fixing the issue.

Jeremy B. · 05/03/2012, 09:32 AM

There is one spot that the faucet (not plumbing to the faucet) could be leaking from due to change in back pressure, and that would be after the shutoff point in the faucet itself. When your faucet is off the pressure in the plumbing and all the way up to the faucet shut off would be 55psi for example. However, after the faucet shutoff there is no pressure at all, inside the actual plumbing of your faucet assembly. When you add the RO/DI unit there is now backpressure created between the faucet shutoff point (no water / no pressure when operating as normal faucet and nothing attached to the outlet) and the connection at the RO/DI unit, and is most likely where it's leaking from. It is then probably running down underneath the sink when you see the leak at.

Easy fix, go and purchase a new faucet from Lowe's or HD that's fairly inexpensive. They're easy to remove the old one and install the new one and you should be good to go then. Or if you have copper feed lines down below purchase a piercing saddle valve and install the unit this way and you by-pass the faucet altogether.

shelby28 · 05/03/2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy B.

There is one spot that the faucet (not plumbing to the faucet) could be leaking from due to change in back pressure, and that would be after the shutoff point in the faucet itself. When your faucet is off the pressure in the plumbing and all the way up to the faucet shut off would be 55psi for example. However, after the faucet shutoff there is no pressure at all, inside the actual plumbing of your faucet assembly. When you add the RO/DI unit there is now backpressure created between the faucet shutoff point (no water / no pressure when operating as normal faucet and nothing attached to the outlet) and the connection at the RO/DI unit, and is most likely where it's leaking from. It is then probably running down underneath the sink when you see the leak at.

Easy fix, go and purchase a new faucet from Lowe's or HD that's fairly inexpensive. They're easy to remove the old one and install the new one and you should be good to go then. Or if you have copper feed lines down below purchase a piercing saddle valve and install the unit this way and you by-pass the faucet altogether.

That's a much better way of explains what I was trying to say your salution will probably fix what ever the real problem is.

05/02/2012, 12:16 PM	#1
CHG107 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New York Posts: 205	Leak under sink when using RODI unit The only thing I went cheap on was my RODI unit, I got one off of ebay and read good reviews but am not sure if it is the unit or my actual plumbing. When I hook up my RODI unit to my bathroom sink (connects to the faucet) it leaks pretty bad under my sink. We have never had any leaks under the sink prior to this. The leak is coming from the water supply pipe. Any ideas why this would happen? Is it the unit since it is kind of a cheap unit or is it my house plumbing? Thanks!

05/02/2012, 03:05 PM	#7
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	condensation? __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

05/02/2012, 12:43 PM	#2
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Usually when I get a leak from the RO/DI unit, it's at the adapter (where it connects to my plumbing). I had to use plumber's tape to seal the connection and eliminate the leaking. What's your water pressure at?

05/02/2012, 01:19 PM	#3
SpectraPure RC Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 0	What type of connector did you use to tap into the water supply? Can you post a picture?

05/02/2012, 01:39 PM	#5
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	Faucet adaptor, Faucet is usually above the sink your faucet adaptor is most likely leacking, water going down the pipe to where the unit is sitting under the sink, and at a loop the water on the pipe drips on the cabinet .... second possibility is cendensation on the source pipe [warm or humid indoor, cold water in pipe] which would again drip from the loop under the sink. lastly would be the canisters of the unit leacking, run your hand around the edge of each canister to be sure. check to see what is leacking, and let us know and we can tell you how to fix it. GL living in a condo, I know how frustrating it can get.

05/02/2012, 03:01 PM	#6
shelby28 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: so_cal Posts: 52	Id second the water pressure idea. ihad the same problom, a fittting under the sink was just tight enough to not leak when water was leaving normally but the added pressure from the RODI unit made it leak i tightend every thing up under the sink and it stoped.

05/02/2012, 04:12 PM	#9
SpectraPure RC Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 0	Condensation is not likely here, it is possible that when using angle stop adapters one might neglect to use an insert which preserves the polyethylene tubing as you tighten the nut to the valve. "A picture is worth a thousand words"

05/02/2012, 04:18 PM	#10
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	Maybe a loose fetzer valve.

05/02/2012, 05:32 PM	#13
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	There is nothing in an RO system that add pressure, unless you had a booster pump. And even in that case the increased pressure would only be downstream of the pump.

05/02/2012, 05:53 PM	#16
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	Before the RO system was installed, how much pressure did the "weak spot" see? Whatever the line pressure is - let's say 55 psi. After the RO system was installed, how much pressure did the "weak spot" see?

05/02/2012, 06:10 PM	#18
RN....... Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 29	Disregard my previous statements. If the pipe isn't leaking when faucet is off, it isn't leaking because of adding the Ro unit. The incoming pressure won't change, due to adding the Ro unit.

05/02/2012, 07:41 PM	#20
CHG107 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New York Posts: 205	The sink does not ever leak until I turn the faucet on then a steady stream comes out from underneath my sink only when the unit is attached. Even if I turn the water on a tiny bit it will still leak. Currently out of town till saturday on a hunting trip so can't provide a picture. Just wanted to get this figured out so as soon as I get home I can get to fixing the issue.

05/03/2012, 09:32 AM	#21
Jeremy B. Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 8,219	There is one spot that the faucet (not plumbing to the faucet) could be leaking from due to change in back pressure, and that would be after the shutoff point in the faucet itself. When your faucet is off the pressure in the plumbing and all the way up to the faucet shut off would be 55psi for example. However, after the faucet shutoff there is no pressure at all, inside the actual plumbing of your faucet assembly. When you add the RO/DI unit there is now backpressure created between the faucet shutoff point (no water / no pressure when operating as normal faucet and nothing attached to the outlet) and the connection at the RO/DI unit, and is most likely where it's leaking from. It is then probably running down underneath the sink when you see the leak at. Easy fix, go and purchase a new faucet from Lowe's or HD that's fairly inexpensive. They're easy to remove the old one and install the new one and you should be good to go then. Or if you have copper feed lines down below purchase a piercing saddle valve and install the unit this way and you by-pass the faucet altogether.