Are these RO Membranes Shot? Opinions please?

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

Hi all. Can I just say, since I set up a set up a system in my van purifying my own water, moving away from the trolley system, this forum has been an invaluable source of advice. So, attached is a photo of the two membranes from my 2nd hand Merlin RO system. I’ve ordered two new ones. I’ve never seen a used membrane before, do these two look shot???? They are producing 280ppm from mains to 45ppm.

Thanks in advance ????

 

[Pjj]

You cannot tell by looking at them you need to work out % of dirt removed @spruce  is the man to explain the calculations 

 

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

You cannot tell by looking at them you need to work out % of dirt removed @spruce  is the man to explain the calculations 

Ah poo ??‍??‍ well i’ve got two new membranes coming tomorrow. Will bed them in and see how they do. Better be good. They cost me £198 all in ?

 

[Pjj]

Ah poo ??‍??‍ well i’ve got two new membranes coming tomorrow. Will bed them in and see how they do. Better be good. They cost me £198 all in ?

Make sure you change your pre filters regularly this will make the ro last a lot longer 

 

[doug atkinson]

There is a lot of Calcium deposits on the membranes so you must have high calcium in your water.

 

[spruce]

Hi all. Can I just say, since I set up a set up a system in my van purifying my own water, moving away from the trolley system, this forum has been an invaluable source of advice. So, attached is a photo of the two membranes from my 2nd hand Merlin RO system. I’ve ordered two new ones. I’ve never seen a used membrane before, do these two look shot???? They are producing 280ppm from mains to 45ppm.

Thanks in advance ????

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I presume you ordered all 3.

I would have put that £200 toward a better r/o tbh.

 

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

I presume you ordered all 3.

I would have put that £200 toward a better r/o tbh.

Yeh ordered carbon filter too. Was torn between new RO and new membranes. Will let all know how it performs ????

 

[spruce]

There is a lot of Calcium deposits on the membranes so you must have high calcium in your water.

I think he told us in another post that he had purchased the r/o second hand. So it could well have come from someone in another area.

 

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

I presume you ordered all 3.

I would have put that £200 toward a better r/o tbh.

An update on the new membranes and carbon filter on my 2nd hand Merlin: Old membranes and filter were producing 275ppm to 45ppm. Currently the new ones are producing 275ppm to 14ppm. Still a little high for my liking. Not sure i can get it any lower. That’s through a booster pump too at 90psi. Il have to use this RO while I save for a 40/21 from Daqua.

 

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

@spruce I’ve got the ppm down to 11 on the old Merlin RO. Doesn’t look like it will go down any more than that. ??‍??

 

[spruce]

@spruce I’ve got the ppm down to 11 on the old Merlin RO. Doesn’t look like it will go down any more than that. ??‍??

That's 96% rejection rate. You have to be happy with that.?

 

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

That's 96% rejection rate. You have to be happy with that.?

Yeh i am to be fair mate. Will do me for a while. I’m glad the new membranes and filter worked. I can crack on with some work now ?

 

[Jango]

That's 96% rejection rate. You have to be happy with that.?

Why would that be on new membrane. I’m just curious, my TDS is 280 and after membrane 11 and it’s 3 years old, it is a 40/40. I thought he should have been around the 99% mark. I was wondering if my membrane needed to be changed but maybe not then. 

 

[doug atkinson]

The rejection rate on Merlins were 92% but have improved to 96%. They cannot go any higher

 

[Part Timer]

Why would that be on new membrane. I’m just curious, my TDS is 280 and after membrane 11 and it’s 3 years old, it is a 40/40. I thought he should have been around the 99% mark. I was wondering if my membrane needed to be changed but maybe not then. 

That's still operating at 96% so is ok, when it starts getting up to 16 / 18 is probably the time to look at changing it

 

[spruce]

Why would that be on new membrane. I’m just curious, my TDS is 280 and after membrane 11 and it’s 3 years old, it is a 40/40. I thought he should have been around the 99% mark. I was wondering if my membrane needed to be changed but maybe not then. 

Merlins were designed as an under counter water purifier for American kitchens. They don't need to remove all the dissolved minerals in the water as its for drinking. Its was never designed as an r/o for the window cleaning market. We need good quality membranes that will work more efficiently than a Merlin or PRF does.

I'm amazed at @ShropsWindowCleaner's ability to get a rejection rate of 96%. TBH a cleaner on the other forum has one and he has found his rejection rate drops off quite quickly.

Personally, I would never buy a PRF or a Merlin for processing water. I've learnt from that local window cleaner near me. He was last going through a bag of resin once a year where mine lasts 4 years. He has had that Merlin for many years. In fact the first one got destroyed by frost one very cold winter snap and he went a purchased another.

Now, if he had purchased the right r/o to begin with 14 years ago and looked after it better in the cold weather, he could have saved himself a fortune. But he just doesn't get it. 

 

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

Merlins were designed as an under counter water purifier for American kitchens. They don't need to remove all the dissolved minerals in the water as its for drinking. Its was never designed as an r/o for the window cleaning market. We need good quality membranes that will work more efficiently than a Merlin or PRF does.

I'm amazed at @ShropsWindowCleaner's ability to get a rejection rate of 96%. TBH a cleaner on the other forum has one and he has found his rejection rate drops off quite quickly.

Personally, I would never buy a PRF or a Merlin for processing water. I've learnt from that local window cleaner near me. He was last going through a bag of resin once a year where mine lasts 4 years. He has had that Merlin for many years. In fact the first one got destroyed by frost one very cold winter snap and he went a purchased another.

Now, if he had purchased the right r/o to begin with 14 years ago and looked after it better in the cold weather, he could have saved himself a fortune. But he just doesn't get it. 

Im surprised as well ? Remains to be seen how long it can keep up 96%. I’m using a booster pump at 90psi. Only started purifying my own water two weeks ago. Wind the clock back and I would buy a Daqua 40/21. Will stick with this for a bit. Still cheaper than buying from Spotless Water, which is what i’ve been doing. Good service from them though. 

 

[Jango]

That's still operating at 96% so is ok, when it starts getting up to 16 / 18 is probably the time to look at changing it

Ok. Thank you for that. I don’t know what kind of membrane is in it at the moment. I bought it secondhand from a friend. I think it could be a spectrum,he bought it at airforce in Leeds. I will get the axeon?? I’ll go to r Doug when the time is right. My water pressure is good it’s about 75-78, with no booster. 

 

[Jango]

Merlins were designed as an under counter water purifier for American kitchens. They don't need to remove all the dissolved minerals in the water as its for drinking. Its was never designed as an r/o for the window cleaning market. We need good quality membranes that will work more efficiently than a Merlin or PRF does.

I'm amazed at @ShropsWindowCleaner's ability to get a rejection rate of 96%. TBH a cleaner on the other forum has one and he has found his rejection rate drops off quite quickly.

Personally, I would never buy a PRF or a Merlin for processing water. I've learnt from that local window cleaner near me. He was last going through a bag of resin once a year where mine lasts 4 years. He has had that Merlin for many years. In fact the first one got destroyed by frost one very cold winter snap and he went a purchased another.

Now, if he had purchased the right r/o to begin with 14 years ago and looked after it better in the cold weather, he could have saved himself a fortune. But he just doesn't get it. 

Good read. It’s difficult when your starting out, everybody has different views. 
I do realise though that you, part timer, & Pjj have a wealth of knowledge. 
I think you @Part Timer should be called Overtimer the hours you work???

 

[ShropsWindowCleaner]

Ok. Thank you for that. I don’t know what kind of membrane is in it at the moment. I bought it secondhand from a friend. I think it could be a spectrum,he bought it at airforce in Leeds. I will get the axeon?? I’ll go to r Doug when the time is right. My water pressure is good it’s about 75-78, with no booster. 

That’s one hell of a water pressure! ????

 

[Jango]

That’s one hell of a water pressure! ????

I’m very fortunate. It takes 4 hours to fill my 1000 litre ibc. With the 40/40 RO system.  5 mins away from me their water pressure  is terrible.