How To Maintain Ro System?

[roly]

hi

i recently purchased a second hand van mounted RO wfp system. i was just wondering if there's any maintenance i should be doing to it, apart from changing the resin when the ppm rises? i read on an advert somewhere of someone selling a wfp system that he "backwashes it with salt every week" or something like that, what is that and should i be doing it?

any advice appreciated

roly

 

[MyLittleCleaningCompany]

There seems to be different opinions. I was told by Purefreedom to flush my RO system once a week for 15 mins then once a month for 30 mins. Saying this I always flush it through on a Sunday for at least 15-20 but have never left it for 30 mins

I regenerate my water softener with salt after purifying 700litres of water but this has been calculated for my area. I disconnect my water softener from the system and flush it through before reconnecting it as its really bad to let salt get into the system.

What RO system have you got? I have a red cycle valve at the bottom which I just turn and the waste water just increases.

 

[roly]

hi jamie

thanks for the reply. right you're going to have to excuse my ignorance here i'm completely new to wfp. the system i've got is a nearly new k system like this http://www.ebay.co.u...item4d02c66d00.

when you say you flush through your ro system how do you do that? (this is the stainless tube with the membrane in it you;re talking about?)

and where you say about regenerating your water softener with salt, is that the resin veseel you're talking about? and how do you do that?

really sorry for all the questions. its a long story but the person i bought the van and kit off wasn't the person who had been using it so i wasn't able to get any info from him.

 

[MyLittleCleaningCompany]

Don't apologise pal, glad I can try and help someone else.

As I live in a hard water area I had a water softener put on. This is different from the DI vessel containing the resin.

How many cylinders do you have? Can you take some pictures? I have no knowledge of K systems but this might help everyone help you. So to speak!

With regards to flushing the RO on my set up you plug the hose into the "fill" connector under the bumper (this is the same I think) plug the waste pipe into the waste connector, press the "up" and "down" arrows together to start the filling process. Then turn the red circle tap at the bottom of the RO to let the purified water out with the waste water flushing the RO.

It might be worth emailing K Systems to see if they have an instruction manual. I was given one with Purefreedom.

 

[Colley614]

The first thing I would recommend you do is learn what each part of the system does on its own. For example on the RO or Reverse Osmosis you will get pre filter before the RO. They will remove Heavy inpurities in the water and will help your RO live longer. Then after pre filtration the water comes into the RO housing where it is passed through the membrane which I've been told is like a microscopic colander and catches all but the smallest particles. At this stage on my Merlin set up the water has gone from a TDS of 150 down to about 015. Then it goes through the DI resin which will catch the remaining impuraties and will come out at 000. If the resin is at the end of it's life then the TDS starts to creep up, when the RO is at the end of its life then the water produced starts to slow down. But to be honest I bought a RO Man 100gpd system in 2007 and used it for 12-18 months then bought the Merlin which has run faultlessly ever since so I can't say I've ever changed a membrane.

With regards to your question. As the water passes through the RO membrane the dissolved solids will collect on the surface of the membrane and you backflush it to clean as much of this build up off as you can. With the merlin I've been told that the amount of waste is high enough that it cleans itself while in operation. But I'm not sure although mine still runs fine. With my 100gpd ROMan set up there was a switch on it that you turned to backflush and it stopped the system and washed all the water through and out of the waste pipe. I used to set it to flush and forget about it for hours and then return and switch it back and reject the product wateruntil it went back down to 000 after a minute or 2. One thing I will say though is manufacturers don't give credit to membranes though. I've been told membranes should be changed every so many thousand litres or within so many months. My RoMan 100gpd system sat in the garage for years and the prefilters look terrible. I plumbed it in a backflushed it a while and then turned it on and sure enough it started firing out pure water from filters that are about 4 years past their use by date.

 

[chip]

I've just got new membranes for mine. 2x100 gpd membranes, was expecting to get water to about 12 like the first lot from early 200's, it's down to 5! Well pleased. Got them from daqua, axeon is the name of them but think the overall unit is a ro-man who I think have folded but I expect it doesn't matter what make the shell is, it's all about the membranes (and pre filters off course, but think thy are all the same)

 

[rcproperty]

there are some cheap chinese membranes about and i would stay away from them! they might sound a good price but they dont last as long as the more expensive ones.

 

[chip]

Yes good point rc. I think it's axeon and Fillmtec which are the best recommended. I just advise buying from daqua for water purification stuff, they know what the're doing!

 

[Colley614]

With equipment for your business I think you should always buy the best you can afford. Even if you have to wait a little longer to buy things it's well worth the extra investment

 

[rcproperty]

Yes good point rc. I think it's axeon and Fillmtec which are the best recommended. I just advise buying from daqua for water purification stuff, they know what the're doing!

yer they do, i use pure freedom, cleaning sopt, window cleaning centre and window cleaning warehouse and a few of the other sites i use.

 

[Colley614]

yer they do, i use pure freedom, cleaning sopt, window cleaning centre and window cleaning warehouse and a few of the other sites i use.

I've never used the cleaning spot, I've used the all the rest and I used to use clean tech in Bonny Scotland but they went bust

 

[rcproperty]

I've never used the cleaning spot, I've used the all the rest and I used to use clean tech in Bonny Scotland but they went bust

not the cheapest one but they have some good stuff

 

[Colley614]

Where would be the best place to get a 650 ltr tank with frame and a pump and controller?

 

[rcproperty]

all diffrent places i think!

 

[Colley614]

Ideally I'd like a pure freedom 650 litre system but I don't have the cash to buy one but the onlt things I'm missing is the second pump board tank and frame

 

[rcproperty]

pump off ebay, not sure about tank and frame, but know some good places for just tanks, brought my controler off ebay for £9! its from china and a dial one but it works great,

 

[Colley614]

I wouldn't really want a tank without the frame. don't like the idea of 650kg coming at me,

 

[rcproperty]

lol nor would i, the plastic type or the female type! lol

 

[rcproperty]

do you know anyone that could weld u a frame or a company that could weld one up for you???

 

[Colley614]

a friend of mine is a mechanic. Not sure if he could do this though, worth asking. The reason I'm asking is at the moment I'm in an escort van with a 250 litre system and I'm fed up of refilling so I want to get a transit and get a bigger system together

 

[rcproperty]

would be worth asking might get a frame done dirt cheap!!!

how much water u use in a day?