low pressure for RO/DI

[jandree22]

My wife and I are in the process of moving from an apartment built in ’98 to a house built in ’53. The PSI showing on my RO/DI used to exceed 75psi… in the house, eek, it’s only like 30psi! So, I obviously know my production rate will suffer as a result, but are there any other negative impact of this? In other words, am I going to break or shorten the life of anything with low pressure?

I found a booster pumpfor the unit for $130. There may be others out there for a bit cheaper as I didn’t really look yet, but either way I know it’ll cost. Just wanna make sure it’d be worth it before I’d buy one.

Thanks

EDIT: An idea, perhaps stupid and wouldn't work anyway... I have both an unused hot and cold water faucet in my basement... currently just using the cold. If I combine the two outputs into a Y-adapter, would that theoretically increase the PSI from 30 to 60?

 

[Anonymous]

Pressure does not add like that, so don't bother with the y adaptor.

Check to make sure the low pressure is due to a pressure regulator outside the house. If it is set low due to the regulator, you *may* be able to adjust it if your inhouse plumbing can handle the extra pressure. Don't sue me if you end up with busted pipe... :lol:

See if the garden spigot has the same pressure. Sometimes it is higher. Otherwise, you will need the booster pump (some are cheaper if you get it used... eBay or check with more places). If you can make use of the waste water, then it maybe alright to just save the money and deal with it. $130 buy you many cubic yards of water, you know. I use the waste water from my RO for watering my garden, FWIW.

 

[jandree22]

k, I'll have to check into some of that stuff... thanks for the ideas

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah ebay sells the 100gpd pumps, for $70 (but then they hit you with a $20 shipping & handling charge), but still cheaper than $130, you don't get any special pressure sensing switches or anything to auto-shut it off, but if you're around when filling up shouldn't be a problem.

Also did you check your 30psi via the house lines, or via an inline PSI gauge on your RO unit?

 

[jandree22]

Checked the pressure on the inline RO gauge. Can’t remember off the top of my head where the gauge lies in the system in regard to the particular stages, I’ll have to take a look later on this evening. I guess the key is whether it’s reading the 30PSI before or after the membrane?

Thanks again

 

[frags40]

First off IMO would not mess with anything from ebay. You get what you pay for. What type of unit do you have. Check their web site for compatibe booster pumps. Most of the rodi companies will have a pump for cheaper and better than ebay.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, check how your pressure gauge is hooked up, typically it's hooked up between the pre-filters (carbon, sediment) and the RO membrane, used in conjunction with a pressure gauge before the system you can tell if there's a clogged pre-filter that needs replacing due to a pressure drop. If you have extra filters you might want to replace one at a time to see if that doesn't help, all it takes is one city worker on your main line to toss a bunch of gunk into your pipes and into your filters.

 

[jandree22]

The link I posted above is for the booster pump meant for the Typhoon from AirWaterIce.com… the unit I own.

Well honestly, I am due for a filter change. The DI is all exhausted so I take that to mean the carbon is too. I’ve seen worse than the current state of the sediment pre-filter though… just a light orange… sometimes it has gotten really saturated with rust and what-not. Anyway, I will be interested to see if new freer-flowing filters nudge the PSI’s up… although I’m not expecting a miracle as at our apartment it could hit 80+ PSI easily then as soon as I hooked it up at the house it maxed at 30. I have new filters ready to go, but I’m going to hold off until the initial 50-60 gallons of water needed to fill the tank are done.

Also, FWIW, I checked at the water meter, and the inlet valve is already wide open… bummer.

Thanks again guys

 

[pcardone]

when I make water, I barley crack the spigot and let it do its thing overnight.