RO Membrane

[Brian]

Hi all,

I purchased an RO membrane from the AWC group buy. I replaced it and now my TDS meter is reading 13 ppm. Did I do something wrong? I cannot see what I could have have done wrong. It is pretty straightfoward.

I installed all new filters ( 1 Pre Filter, 1 Carbon Block , RO Membrane  and DI Resin) The Membrane is a FilmTec 50  gpd.

When I installed it I flushed the system for about an hour or so. Then turned off the flush valve and Disconnected my DI and let it run for another hour and a half (I actually forgot about it )


So the water going into my DI is 13ppm and coming out is 0-1 ppm.
Is there a way to clean or test my TDS Meter? I have a Hanna Digital Dual TDS meter.

I changed the RO because I was getting a reading of 13ppm. Could the ph meter be faulty? Seems odd that I would have the same reading with both filters. I  also noticed that When I turn on the TDS meter it will have a higher reading of like 17 - 18ppm, then drops to 13 and stays put.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jer1198]

i had a problem with my PH probe giving me a higher than normal reading, overnight, it went way out of wack, to make a long story short, the batteries were low, replaced them and everything has been golden ever since (knock on wood)
hope this helps.
jer

 

[Brian]

Thats A good idea, I will check on that battery today...hopefully that will be the solution.

thanks for the input!

 

[Phyl]

If you're getting 0-1 TDS coming out of your DI... What's the problem?! I don't even test the water out of my RO since the water going into my tank is RO/DI anyway. What was your RO TDS before replacement? What was it when you originally installed it?

 

[Brian]

I placed new batteries in the TDS meter. Now I no longer get the 0-1 it is a solid 0 coming out of the DI. But it is still boucning all over the place coming out of the RO. (13-16ppm). When I originally installed it, I had a 0 reading coming out of both. Then it changed to 13ppm (out of the RO) I thought I might have ruined the RO because I was running warm water through it at one point in time. Hence the reason for buying a new membrane.

The only reason I am even testing coming out of the RO is because it is a Dual TDS meter, so I figured I should hook it into something...lol

I think i need to look into calibrating it maybe?

 

[Phyl]

Wonder if you may need to replace some of the other chambers as well... Sounds like the RO chamber wasn't the problem if you replaced it and you're still seeing the same problem. Personally I wouldn't care as long as it was coming out of the DI at 0 (though you might find that you'll need to replace the DI stage earlier that way).

 

[Brian]

I did replace all the stages. I am in the process of trying to find out if it needs to be recalibrated. Unfortunately, all I can find is.. "Turn the screw located in the back of the unit for easy recalibration" Which doesnt really do anything for me, obviously.

The search continues...lol

 

[ribs]

with the dual-TDS meter, if I have reason to question the readings I swap the sensors: basically, your sensor that's reading 13ppm on the RO, move it to where the DI sensor is now, and if it reads zero, then cool, then take the one reading zero ppm on the output of the DI and put it where the RO sensor used to be, and if it reads 13ppm-ish while running, then cool, too
If after swapping you find the sensor readings are funkier, then calibration would be the next step, IMO.

 

[Brian]

Another good idea.. I will give that a try when I get home tonight.

thanks again

 

[Brian]

Ugh.. well now I have reading's of 9-11ppm. So it went down a little bit. Maybe it really needs to be calibrated, or maybe it is broken. I took apart all the probes and made sure there wasn't anything trapped or built up in there.

Well I just ran in the "fish room" (well it's the laundry room, but I am slowly but surely taking over) It's down to 9 ppm coming out of the RO. The DI is still showing 0. Should I just not worry about it? I would rather not be blowing through DI resin, but I guess that's all I can do at this point.

Just for fun.. I put the TDS meter on my waste water output. 330 ppm. Whoa!

 

[blange3]

Check your tap water. Your membrane is probably in the 97-99% efficient range. If the tap water is above 300, the membrane is doing the job.

Don't know where you live, but a large area of NJ from Tinton Falls and south was affected by a water main break the other day. Could be your supply has had a surge in contaminants and is gradually recovering.