RO unit not working

[Kataro]

I run a 4 stage RO unit at my house. RO membrane.. Sediment.. 2 carbon... and it's linked to my Water Softener in the garage. In the past month it start to mess up... the TDS read 500+. I changed the membrane and all the filters but it still shows the same thing. The softener still work but I did forget to replenish the salt for 2 weeks. I was wondering what could cause the RO to be like this? I just checked all the wiring and it's all connected correctly. All filters are bought new not 3 weeks ago.

[spydr]

try a diffrent tds maybe

[iamwrasseman]

make sure that the membrane is seated properly .

[Kataro]

I used test kits and 2 TDS. Show same stuff.

I'll check out the membrane tomorrow

[spydr]

when u run the ro are you using hot or cold water?

[spydr]

also where is the water supply coming from

[iamwrasseman]

pressure? needs to be above 40lbs and really want 60lbs to get more efficient.

[Kataro]

cold water. Not sure what company the water is from. And I increased the Pressure today.

[spydr]

no where is you ro hooked up to a kitchen ,basement sink?

[Daimyo68]

If the TDS number jumped to 500 in a couple weeks time, I would think you have a bad meter/probe, or one of your filters is not seated properly (membrane as mentioned).

Whats the TDS out of the faucet?

What type of TDS meter do you have, and has it been calibrated lately?

You could try checking TDS in different locations on the system ie: before and after the membrane, before and after the DI resin, etc, to determine where in the system the issue is.

[Kataro]

tap is basically in the 500s also.. It's connected to the kitchen sink.

[Kataro]

I'm not home so dont know the brand but yes calibrated.

[Daimyo68]

Since the tap is 500, and thats what your end product water is, I would think there's an internal leak somewhere. Make sure your filters are seated.

Also check for a bad o-ring on the membrane maybe.

[Kataro]

I think you're right Daimy.. I just exhausted the 3g reservoir not 2 hours ago and yet it's full and pumping out really fast... and I noticed the water refill VERY fast for a RO unit that's supposed to take 3-12 hour to fill up.

How can I check to see if there's an internal leak? O ring on membrane seem fine and the filters are properly seated

[iamwrasseman]

is the correct restrictor in the waist line ? just ro not di also correct

[Kataro]

yup just RO. no DI.

[iamwrasseman]

if so make sure the restricter is in the waste water line .some are in different areas though .do you have a flush kit?

[Kataro]

Im not sure what the restricter is.. but there's a waste water line.
I read online and they say something about the Auto Shut-off Valve being messed up and the water bypass the RO and just go straight out the faucet or something like that.

Im not sure what the Auto Shut off Valve look like though

[iamwrasseman]

the auto shutoff unit has four lines runnung through it and it has a circular shape the size of a fifty cent piece one inch thick .it will not work under 60lbs of pressure so beware of that .the restrictor is inside of your waist line right at the connection to the ro unit . usually they make them with a one inch "tail" so you can see it through the line .

[Kataro]

so if preesure is less than 60lbs the Auto shutoff wont work? Would that be the reason for RO not functioning and the water pretty much just bypass the whole unit and out the faucet?

[iamwrasseman]

no it just wont turn off when you stop the outlet water rather than sense that properly it will keep pumping and all the pressure and water will have to go through the RO membrane thus ruining it .if the restrictor is not in place it wont create enough back pressure and it will not make pure water rather your tds will be high and water will flow freely out the waste line to fast .

[Kataro]

I saw some diagram and the flow restrictor is from the RO membrane to the Waste drain right. Didnt see one.. that a problem right? But if so... why did it worked for 4 months before crapping out

[Kataro]

i have 2 other RO unit in the garage... one of em have a lil connector thing from membrane to waste drain... and the other unit dont have one like the unit Im using

[iamwrasseman]

it probably isn't the problem as we are discussing something that is very hard to decipher without each of us having the same picture or diagram .if it was working for four months i would think rather something has failed and is passing water around rather than through the membrane such as a seal . very tough to diagnose this way .can you call the manufacturer ? i call the filter guys they sponsor RC and would help ya out

[Kataro]

ah ok, I'll give em a call tomorrow when Im home to try and fix this.. a pain to lug around 20g tube to get refill RO