Need plumbing help

[Hyolee]

I was hoping one of you plumbing / RO experts could help me with a problem I'm having. I am a complete plumbing newbie. I am trying to replace a small distiller that is broken with a new RO unit and I'm not sure where to start.

From what I can tell, here is what happens:

Softened water goes up the pipe with the red knob and through that black elbow with the blue piping.

 

[Hyolee]

Then through this thing:

 

[Hyolee]

Then through this carbonish looking disposable filter with a G.E. label that says replace every six months.

 

[Hyolee]

then through another one of those black elbows to a small distiller

 

[Hyolee]

then out of the distiller which has a storage tank and into this pump labeled "diaphragm pump" which works I think as a delivery pump. (http://www.spectrapure.com/St_kits_p3.htm) Whenever I turn on my kitchen drinking water faucet, this pump comes on and delivers water from the distiller in the utility room to the kitchen drinking water faucet.

 

[Hyolee]

So, my question is, what's the best way to remove the distiller and put in a RO/DI system.

I am thinking I would remove the G.E. thing, the distiller, and get a RO/DI with a storage tank, while still using the delivery pump. I would like to somehow use RO only for the storage tank / delivery pump / kitchen. Then, be able to once every month drag a long line from the utility room to the aquarium top off reservoir and use it in RO/DI mode.

I know this is a long long question, but I'd appreciate any help I can get.

Thanks.

 

[trido]

Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on it. With the 1/4 inch plastic pipes its all easy. Depending on where the kitchen is in relation to the pump, you may not need it. The storage tank will deliver water at half of the PSI that is entering it. Since the pump is already hooked up and mounted it wont hurt to leave it there
Regardless, You will need to add another "T" fitting and shutoff valve before the DI chamber going to the drinking water storage tank. Then add another shut off valve after the DI to the RO storage bin. Its really as simple as that.

 

[Len]

I'm no RO expert, but I'd do as you suggest. Disconnect the carbon (could be deionization) GE filter and install the RO/DI after that. It seems every pre-plumbing to the RO/DI unit is pretty much set up for you. You need someplace for the RO waste water to go though. It might be what trido is suggesting with the T fitting after the RO (and before the DI) stage though I'm not sure. Other then that, it should be "plug and play."

 

[Len]

Hmm. I think I'm all wrong

This is a nifty diagram:
http://www.thstore.com/demo/ThstoreROInstallation.htm