New RO/DI Unit

[Lpabsolute]

Hey,
I recently acquired this RO/DI unit. The unit is used but is in perfect condition. This is my 1st RO/DI unit and I've got a couple of questions........
Question #1: I'm planning on hooking up the system to my hot water heater which is located outside in a small storage room. How do i need to go about hooking it up without messing up anything?
Question #2: Once i get the unit hooked up and running how can i tell if i need to replace anything such as filters or stuff like that? How can i tell if the water quality is where it needs to be?
Question #3: Are there any secrets to owning a RO/DI unit that i need to know about being a first time user?

Here are some pics of the RO/DI unit.......

[weez1959]

A good idea would be to change all the filter media or at least pick up a TDS meter to make sure it's still doing the job.
Also when I bought my RO/DI unit, I was told not to put the small cylinder at the top of your unit because it would add phosphate to your water.
As for connecting it to your Hot water tank, I dunno, I don't think you're not supposed to but I'm not sure about that...

[Reefland]

The best way to hook the unit up would be to get a valve and plumb it inline with the hot water line. The valve would be the same type as a water feed line for a refridgerator. Do not use a saddle valve on the hot water line.

As for the filters and performance of the unit, a TDS meter is the way to go. The closer to 0 the better.

[Lpabsolute]

I went to my LFS today. We took the unit apart and cleaned it. I replaced all of the parts. I put a Micron 5 filter, Micron 1 filter, and a carbon filter in the bottom of the unit. I took off the refillable DI cartridge and the top small carbon catridge. Now that i have the unit ready to go i need to figure out how to plum it into one of the lines on my hot water heater. Not sure where or which line or even what to use to hook it up. Any suggestions?

[Reefland]

You took off the DI filter? I would continue to use the DI portion.

If you connect it to a cold water line, you can basically follow this method and use a self piercing saddle valve:
Connecting An Icemaker

If you go on the hot water line (which either is ok, more production from the hot water line), you'll have to use a valve which is plumbed inline.

[jsheffel]

Where do you plan on exhausting the waste water from the RO unit? Is there a drain in the closet where your hot water heater is?

Also, per Louise' comment, if you split the filtered output from the RO unit, one line into the DI unit and the other into the carbon "water polisher", then the output of the DI unit is for your aquarium water (and will have a valve on the end) and the output of the carbon "water polisher" goes in to that storage tank that is also shown in your pictures for drinking water (it actually goes into a T, one side of which goes into the tank and the other to a line with a valve on the end to use for drinking water). This is why these are often put under the kitchen sink.

[Lpabsolute]

There is no drain/sink but there is a drain line i could tap into or just store it somehow...

[jsheffel]

It is my understanding that the waste water is about double the amount of "product" water (my waste water goes directly into my sink drain so I don't know for sure). Also, if you want to use the drinking water component of your system, you will have to go out to get it instead of just having a seperate tap on your kitchen sink.

[Doodaa]

To reiterate Scott's post...You shouldn't remove the DI portion of your filter, just replace the media.

There are a lot of different ways to hook up a filter system. Basically though, automatic and manual. Let's stick with manual for now because automatic has a lot more variables.

To simply answer your questions...

1) Hook to the output of your hot water heater the way Scott explained. The warmer the water, the more efficient the RO filter is. You can hook it to cold water, but you'll have a lot more waste water coming off the RO membrane, which, may or may not be a concern for you.

2) TDS (Total Disolved Solids) meter and chemical test kits. You want pure water with nothing disolved into it. If you get readings from the tests, you need to replace filters/media.

3) Not a lot of secrets to filtering water that I know of. Dirty water in - clean water out. When flow slows down, change micron filters or RO membrane. If it speeds up, the RO filter is broke. DI media like what you have changes color to light brown when it starts getting "spent". It starts out black. A TDS meter will save you from changing the media prematurely. My limited experience shows that it turns brown a long time before it quits working.

Do as Jsheffel says...put a T-valve in the blue line leading to the DI filter to fill the RO tank up for drinking water. What comes out of the DI filter is what you use for your aquarium. You don't want to store the exhaust water from the RO filter...you will have a lot compared to what goes in. I don't know what you would do with that water since it has more concentrated particulates than what comes out of the tap...maybe start a limestone waterfall to water your garden?

[Lpabsolute]

Hey....I've been doing some thinking and i've decided to put the RO/DI unit in my laundry room. I'm planning on mounting it right on the wall above my wash/dryer. Since i'm doing this i will be pluming the unit to where the washer is connected to the wall. Does it matter if i use the hot water line or cold water line? I was told the unit would work better if i used the hot water line. I'm using all plastic pieces to connect everything. I'm using a T-valve. Connecting one end to the wall, one end to the hose leading to the washer and the top of the T-valve will be connected to the RO/DI unit. Also i'm using a on/off valve on the top of the T-valve. Hopefully i will finish setting things up tonight and post some pics. Another plus to having it near the washer and plumed into it is that i can put my drain valve from the RO/DI into the drain for the washer. What do you think?

[Lpabsolute]

Just finished hooking everything up. What do you think?

[Lpabsolute]

Good News.....................Finally used the RO/DI unit today. I let it run for about an hour to make sure everything was running right. After i ran some water through the system i finally made my first 5g of water. It took around an hour to make 5g. Just though i would share the news!!!! Question? I have 5g i would like to keep for top offs. Will the water be ok as long as i put a lid on the bucket? Will this be ok for storing the water? Thanks......

[Reefland]

That will be fine for storing the water.

[weez1959]

For smaller quantities of water I use the 3 and 5 gallon water bottles you get at the grocery store and re-use the caps, water stays good for a long time and you can get yourself a water cooler and fill that up too!
I have 7 water bottles full and ready to go incase of emergencies...

[jsheffel]

Your setup does not show how you intend to got the filtered water out of the "four way" valve (or where you will mount the DI unit). Have you given up trying to use the drinking water storage tank?