[patsfan1130]

Hello,

I am in the market for a RO/DI unit and have (probably dumb) question...

Can these units be used with plastic (flexible) pipes? I dont have standard copper piping in my house. It's all plastic flex piping and I am just unsure if these units are compatible with non taditional piping.

Might anybody be able to clear this up for me?

Thank you,


Mark

[Poseidon]

I don't see why not. The tubing that comes with the unit is plastic. And I am fairly certain that all the pressure comes INSIDE the RO unit, not on your plumbing!

[OCSREEFER]

I think you would have easier time of connecting to your water system by using a tee fitting, you could cut your into your line and using a couple of hoze clamps make a very quick and tight connection. I'm sure your local hardware store would have a tee with the correct fitting to go to the RO.

I'm ordering a Aquafx Monday morning and I also trying to decide my connection methods. I have all copper and have had troubles in the past with saddle conncetions, I will most likely go with the garden hoze connection and use the utility sink faucet...for a temp setup...

My next house I build I will probly go with the flexible tubing like yours, It is a bit more $$ but it sure is easy to plum and to splice into when needed...

Another thought when or if you splice into your supply line maye getting a tee and placing some type of shut off before you go to your RO unit would save you some problems later on...(emergency shut off)

I sure hope some of this rabling help you...

Good Luck
Nick

[patsfan1130]

Thats a great idea. I never thought of that! Thank you! DAMN! I love this message board

[SteveP]

Originally Posted by patsfan1130

Thats a great idea. I never thought of that! Thank you! DAMN! I love this message board

Just wondering - do you have a plastic main inlet, or are you installing the unit in a location that has plastic supply lines to a faucet or similar ?

If the latter, check your local hardware store for Ice-Maker accesories, as the faucet supply lines are often connected to copper pipe with a threaded compression joint that you can easily "hijack" with a T-Piece, that connects to both your RO and Faucet. Generally the Copper connections aren't of concern as the RO unit will remove the copper from the water (at least we'd hope it does...). Don't forget to use PTFE tape on the joints.

I would definitely recommend some sort of shuttoff valve either before the T itself ( as my setup has ) or between the T and the RO unit - the first time a coupling comes loose will demonstrate the value of this $3 item

Steve

[patsfan1130]

The main inlet is plastic as well. I think I may end up having to connect to a garden hose or possibly look into connecting directly to my faucet. I am not even sure if that is possible.


Mark

[SteveP]

Originally Posted by patsfan1130

The main inlet is plastic as well. I think I may end up having to connect to a garden hose or possibly look into connecting directly to my faucet. I am not even sure if that is possible.


Mark

Actually, Faucet to 1/4" pipe is not that hard, it just usually takes a couple of adapters. Finding a single adapter is unlikely

Most Hardware stores can usually come up with a combination of adapters that will work - as I recall, before I plumbed mine in to the pipes proper, I used :

Faucet -> Quick Connect hosepipe adapter
Quick Connect -> 1 1/4" hose (came as one unit with the Faucet connector)
1 1/4" hose -> 3/4" brass
3/4" brass -> 1/2" brass
1/2" brass -> 1/4" compression joint.

The plastic inlet to the RO had a small brass insert that went inside the tube so it could be snugly sealed in the compression joint. Worked fine for months that way with very little leakage. 4 adpaters, cost me about $15.

Are there no threaded joints in the coldwater supply to the faucet near the RO unit at all ?

Steve