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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: choice.clean on May 10, 2007, 08:23:26 am

Title: how to change ro membrane
Post by: choice.clean on May 10, 2007, 08:23:26 am
has anyone fitted an ro membrane can they talk me through it.
i can see 2 white rings will pull out of ends but after that what next any tips for a good fit.
thanks in advance
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: matt on May 10, 2007, 11:29:15 am
same as when you fit it first

just undo the end cap, slide old membrane out, slide new 1 in, make sure the "o" rings are seated right and do up endcap

thats about it really
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: choice.clean on May 10, 2007, 05:52:40 pm
sorry can you idiot proof that for me as i bought ro complete how does the end cap come off does it unscrew are there bolts or screw somewhere to be undone as all i could get off are the clip in rings on the end thats the white ones that overlap to come out.   :-\
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Alex Gardiner on May 10, 2007, 06:20:14 pm
The larger end of the membrane housing unscrews. This then allows you to pull out the membrane itself, the new one will re-fit exactly as the old one has come out.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: matt on May 10, 2007, 06:44:12 pm
its a tough screw on cap to remove

i have to put mine in a "workmate vice" and turn will all my strength :( of course i lost the "spanner" that came with it  ;)
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: choice.clean on May 11, 2007, 06:05:49 am
thanks will have a go next week. tds is 37 at moment. might interest you to know had the membrane chemically cleaned and lasted just 6 months after cost for cleaning was £100 new membrane is £200 i know what i'm not doing next time :P
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: LWC on May 11, 2007, 07:31:11 am
the membrane is very tight to pull out, gently pull it with some pliers

and a membrane lasting 6 months? mines over 2 years old now?
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: choice.clean on May 12, 2007, 08:01:50 am
i did get a couple of years out of it before it failed but then after chemically cleaning it with stream it has only lasted 6 months just thought i'd post it so that you guys can compare price and replacement over cleaning
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Alex Gardiner on May 12, 2007, 09:22:00 am
Regularly flush your membrane on every fill-up and then replace when needed is probably the most economic choice.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: neil100 on May 12, 2007, 10:24:20 pm
I am replacing my 4040 RO membrane.

RO man is selling 4040 membrane for under £190.00 including vat and delievery. Does anyone know if I can get it cheaper?

Nel
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Pdh on May 13, 2007, 06:39:01 am
 i may need to flush my membrane 4040 not sure how advic needed.also i need to change my 10 inch pre filters do you have any advice on which kind, sediment and carbon.thanks
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Alex Gardiner on May 13, 2007, 10:02:52 am
To flush a 4040 membrane simply open the valve on the waste outlet and allow to run unrestricted for a while. It is best to do this for about 5-10 mins before each fill-up.

Your 10" pre-filters are usually a standard sediment filter and a carbon block filter, these should be changed about every 3 months on a 4040 set-up as they are the only items protecting your membrane from premature death. Always allow your membrane to flush for several hours after changing the pre-filters.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Pdh on May 14, 2007, 08:56:57 am
does resin have a life span my readings are 19ppm(increased from around 6 over time}  going in r/o and 1ppm coming out of di having just changed the resin after a 1yr and a half {which is roughly how long the resin has been in garage for {in the bag}i have never changed the carbon and sediment filters or flushed the r/o until yesterday ,live in a hard water area i also have softner included in the system .is it possible i may need to change the r/o membrane,im about to order the other 2 filters.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Alex Gardiner on May 14, 2007, 09:01:38 am
Resin does have a life span, but if it is still bringing the reading from 19ppm down to 1ppm then it's OK. (000ppm would be better though!)

You need to change your pre-filters and initiate a thorough program of membrane flushing, then see what your RO output is like. If it still will not shift from about 19ppm (which is good for some people), then you could consider a membrane change but I do not think that your symptoms are crying out for it.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Pdh on May 14, 2007, 09:25:25 am
thankyou when you flush the r/o silly question but do i turn the valve in or out i have no instructions
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Alex Gardiner on May 14, 2007, 09:36:18 am
Turn so that the flow from the waste increases and the flow from the output slows to a trickle. It depends on how your set-up is plumbed as to which way that is.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Pdh on May 14, 2007, 09:40:28 am
ok how long shall i leave it to flush for,also ive noticed when i do this the pressure drops below 20psi is this how it should be ,i was told that running the r/o below 20 is not a good idea.once again thanks for your help.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Alex Gardiner on May 14, 2007, 10:42:46 am
As you have never flushed it before I would suggest at least 12hours (lets hope you're not on a water meter!). The pressure reading will always drop when you flush it as you are not allowing any pressure to build up. You are not actually processing at 20psi so there is no problem.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Pdh on May 14, 2007, 10:47:46 am
thanks
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Biscute on May 14, 2007, 11:12:03 am
Alex what exsactly does flushing it do?
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Alex Gardiner on May 14, 2007, 11:37:05 am
It flushes away the impurities that build up on the surface of the Thin Film Membrane. Flushing these away allows the membrane to process at maximum purity and performance.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: Biscute on May 14, 2007, 05:37:54 pm
thanx im giving mine a flush now.
Title: Re: how to change ro membrane
Post by: choice.clean on May 14, 2007, 06:26:18 pm
thanks for answer to my question i,m intrigued by all these inquiries though, does anyone agree that this just shows how inadequate the instructions given by the suppliers are. p.s. i have purchased 2 ro,s from major suppliers neither of which came with a spanner or any instructions. Doesn't this reveal that all they want is our cash? ???