Brand New AirWaterIce RO/DI unit - making 15ppm TDS water

[grimlykindo]

I just got my 5 stage Typhoon w/TDS meter RO Unit from AirWaterIce yesterday and have been running it for a total of 10 hours. The TDS meter is still reading 15ppm out of the pure water outlet. My tap water reads 220ppm. The instructions say to waste and hour of water and then it should be doing ZERO TDS. I made sure its on the cold water and unit itself is quite cool to the touch. I contacted them yesterday afternoon via their website, but still no response. Any ideas of why I'm not getting ZERO TDS reading? Also, there is a hissing noise coming from the "Fast Flush" valve on the waste line. I confirmed that it is closed and no water is leaking out (it just sounds like air leaking out) This is my first RO/DI unit so I have no idea whats going on! Any input would be appreciated

[cjj14u]

15ppm would probably be correct without DI....sounds like the resin may be bad...
I'm sure they will take care of you.....

[themastr]

I had this same problem and I found out that the 5th stage screws it up. Remove the fifth stage on the top and take a reading before and after that stage. you should see a difference. I had to do it to mine and my neighbours. Hope this helps.

Erick

[grimlykindo]

OK - The TDS appears to be slowly dropping - its at 9ppm now. Can anyone confirm if there should be a hissing noise coming out of the flash flush valve?

[themastr]

Mine does too it's the drain valve hose right?

erick

[grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by themastr

Mine does too it's the drain valve hose right?

erick

Yes - the noise comes from the flush valve on the waste drain hose. It sounds like a car tire leaking air.

[themastr]

Yes mine does too. Don't hear it much it's underneath the sink.

Erick

[railroader46]

I have a typhoon 5 stage and the fast flush made a hissing noise for about two weeks, there is just a little air trapped in the unit and all will be well again after you flush the unit a couple times.

[grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by railroader46

I have a typhoon 5 stage and the fast flush made a hissing noise for about two weeks, there is just a little air trapped in the unit and all will be well again after you flush the unit a couple times.

Thanks! How long did it take you to get 0 TDS readings with the Typhoon? Also - When should I flush the unit and how long should I run it with the flush valve open?

It doesn't cover any of this stuff in the instructions!

[goochesfish]

I set mine up sunday and it read zero after the first hour. I made 25 gallons, mixed salt, and haven't run it since. I plan on only running it once a week when I do water changes.

[grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by goochesfish

I set mine up sunday and it read zero after the first hour. I made 25 gallons, mixed salt, and haven't run it since. I plan on only running it once a week when I do water changes.

Hmmm... Sounds like mine is definitely messed up - the DI unit must be bad. Its down to 8ppm now, but its been running for 5 hours just tonight...

[rbnice1]

Whats your pressure? Whats your TDS out of the RO? I assume your 8ppm is out of the DI.

[grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by rbnice1

Whats your pressure? Whats your TDS out of the RO? I assume your 8ppm is out of the DI.

Yeah, 8ppm is the final product through the RO+DI. My unit does not have a bypass valve for RO only (I would have to disconnect tubing) But with my tap reading 220ppm TDS I'm sure the RO is working to bring it as low as 8ppm. I guess I will wait for them to response at AWI - I'm not wasting any more water

[rbnice1]

Disconnect the tubing and get a RO reading. You may just need to reseat your membrane but you may also have burnt your DI up.


Again.... Whats your PSI, Whats your TDS out of the membrane?

[grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by rbnice1

Disconnect the tubing and get a RO reading. You may just need to reseat your membrane but you may also have burnt your DI up.


Again.... Whats your PSI, Whats your TDS out of the membrane?

I do not know what PSI I am running - I am using a faucet adapter on my kitchen sink. I live in an apartment therefor was not able to puncture pipes or anything to more permanently install the unit. The cold valve is completely open on my sink going to the unit. How can I measure the PSI?

I will try to get an RO only TDS reading tomorrow. Thank you for all your help!

[Buckeye Hydro]

Sounds like the system you bought doesn't come with a pressure gauge. An add on pressure gauge kit can be had for less than $15, and it will take you all of about 5 minutes to install.

You should see 0 tds out of the DI after just a few minutes.

To check the TDS of your RO without benefit of a DI bypass valve, and/w/o removing any tubing, temporarily remove your DI cartridge fom its housing - dump the water out of the housing. after you screw the empty housing back on, any water coming out of the DI "out" port will be RO water.

Be happy to help you troubleshoot it if you don't get it solved otherwise.

Russ

[grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFS

Sounds like the system you bought doesn't come with a pressure gauge. An add on pressure gauge kit can be had for less than $15, and it will take you all of about 5 minutes to install.

You should see 0 tds out of the DI after just a few minutes.

To check the TDS of your RO without benefit of a DI bypass valve, and/w/o removing any tubing, temporarily remove your DI cartridge fom its housing - dump the water out of the housing. after you screw the empty housing back on, any water coming out of the DI "out" port will be RO water.

Be happy to help you troubleshoot it if you don't get it solved otherwise.

Russ

Thanks for the support! I appreciate it - I finally was able to bypass the DI and get some RO only TDS readings. They don't make sense though!!! Here they are:

Tap TDS: 220ppm

RO+DI TDS: 9-15ppm (seems to change)

RO only: 5 ppm (steady)

It would appear that I have a faulty DI unit, by how could it possibly raise the TDS after the RO membrane??

Any ideas would help as AirWaterIce has still not responded to me!

[Buckeye Hydro]

If you leave DI resin in too long it will start dumping tds to the water - looks like that is what you have going on.

You membrane is showing a rejection rate of 98% - so that is very good.

Looks like your DI resin is the issue.

Russ

[grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFS

If you leave DI resin in too long it will start dumping tds to the water - looks like that is what you have going on.

You membrane is showing a rejection rate of 98% - so that is very good.

Looks like your DI resin is the issue.

Russ

Russ,

Thank you for your willingness to help! Purchasing an RO/DI unit was very overwhelming for me, but I have learned alot in the process. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out

[Buckeye Hydro]

Glad to help. Good luck with the new system.

Russ

[tom atchison]

im inthe market for a rodi setup .i was thinking of awi but because russ has be so helpful with someone elses rodi im going to look again at buckeyes. would like to see what the final prob was.