Do you trust your RO/Di's Float Valve?

[ToXIc]

i just cant help the feeling that it will fail. so i keep an eye one it and turn off the supply line..

i've forgot about it from time to time and the valve did its job but just cant have the system on 24/7

any of you guys run it constantly?

 

[Zero Nitrates]

I have a friend who had his float valve fail. He just watches it close and keeps a wet/dry vac nearby.

 

[ToXIc]

That's what I'm afraid off.


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[mixer911]

I have ran mine constantly for over 4 yrs without an incident. Kent fv in a rubbermaid 30 gallon can

 

[Rob.D]

I've been using one for just over 2 years and it has never failed.

 

[gmoney243]

Yea im using.the.brs one.with my rodi. Never failed

 

[AZDesertRat]

Personally I would never trust a float valve. I use only high quality low voltage DC float switches and a solenoid valve or a digital sensor such as Spectrapure and Tunze use for a couple reasons. One is their reliability but more than that is the ability to spread them apart so the RO/DI is not constantly starting and stopping due the lack of adjustability of the float valve and its effect of DI resin life due to TDS creep.

Having been in the water production and treatment industry for over 38 years I have seen way too many floats fail. They are really no differenty than a toilet float, evaporative cooler float or pool self levelling float and they fail all the time.

 

[-Logzor]

Personally I would never trust a float valve. I use only high quality low voltage DC float switches and a solenoid valve or a digital sensor such as Spectrapure and Tunze use for a couple reasons. One is their reliability but more than that is the ability to spread them apart so the RO/DI is not constantly starting and stopping due the lack of adjustability of the float valve and its effect of DI resin life due to TDS creep.

Having been in the water production and treatment industry for over 38 years I have seen way too many floats fail. They are really no differenty than a toilet float, evaporative cooler float or pool self levelling float and they fail all the time.

I agree, purchase peace of mind with the spectrapure top-off unit. Going 5 years strong.

 

[cdness]

I don't use the float valve for mine as I don't have a large reservoir. I just fill buckets, but I have the electronic RODI shut off alarm from BRS which has saved me numerous times. Electronic all the way.

 

[mixer911]

Personally I would never trust a float valve. I use only high quality low voltage DC float switches and a solenoid valve or a digital sensor such as Spectrapure and Tunze use for a couple reasons. One is their reliability but more than that is the ability to spread them apart so the RO/DI is not constantly starting and stopping due the lack of adjustability of the float valve and its effect of DI resin life due to TDS creep.

Having been in the water production and treatment industry for over 38 years I have seen way too many floats fail. They are really no differenty than a toilet float, evaporative cooler float or pool self levelling float and they fail all the time.

This is very true in a sump, but he's refering to a water storage container. Isn't it overkill to use a tunze ato for a water storage container?

 

[pickupman66]

I've used float valves with great success. But I've never had them hooked to my rodi directly. I always have had the rodi fill a reservoir then gravity that to the tank.

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[AZDesertRat]

Not over kill at all. A float valve has little if any adjustability so cycles on and off frequently leading to a plugged membrane since it does not have sufficient time to flush itself via the flow restrictor and waste ratio and DI life goes down the dumps from the constant TDS creep.

I use this to control my RO/DI unit filling the ATO reservoir:

Dual Float Solenoid Valve Controller Assy w/ 1/4in Sol Valve

and this to control the level in my sump from the ATO reservoir:

http://spectrapure.com/AQUARIUM/AUT...op-Off-System-UPLC-II-Liquid-Level-Controller

The float switches in my 23 gallon ATO storage are set 12" apart which equates to 11 gallons it has to drop before it refills so TDS creep is a non issue and the membrane stays well flushed.

The UPLC has multiple safety levels such as being able to control the fill rate in 10% steps from 10% to 100% so the sensor could fail but I could set the peristaltic pump so it would never exceed evaporation not to mention the back up high high float switch. Then the sump level can be adjusted between 1/10" and 4" or anywhere in between with the touch of a button. Great unit!

 

[Eric B]

I have a float valve attached in my top off container but I have a solenoid on the RODI tubing which is plugged into my apex and only opens 2 times a day for 1/2 hour each. Figured if one or the other failed then the working one would catch it!

 

[ReefPiracy]

Been using one with an ro/di shut off from brs. 9 months and no problems. Its a float with a seal, pretty good life I bet. Another system for back up would be ideal.

 

[Railcar79]

I bought a float switch for my rodi storage tank. I turn the water on and let it go, when the res is full and I remember I shut off the water. I would never fully rely on any system, mechanical or especially electronic anything made by man will fail, it is just a matter of when, and how bad.

 

[debdp]

I've been using the adjustable float valves since 2006/2007 and they're all I've ever used. I have three saltwater tanks and one freshwater tank and all four have their own float valves for top off. The three saltwater tanks (60g, 30g, 12g) are all gravity fed from one RO/DI container (13 gal.). At first I had been warned that they might stick open, but have never had that happen. One problem I had once was a snail getting on the ball to clean off algae (when in a main tank) but eventually the float valve rises to the point where even the snail's weight can't keep it down and it will cut off. I haven't had to clean any of them except for coraline growth on the ball. But when I do water changes and shut the main water valve off, I just push on them to make sure they're not sticking. I also have them for filling my saltwater mix tank and the main top off tank from the RO/DI unit.

And just a note, each aquarium has a shut off valve to the float valve that is not turned to full open but to just open enough to allow for a very, very slow drip so even if something did happen and it stuck open it would take a long time before it changed the salinity even in my smallest tank.

 

[StReNuOuS BiOmArKeR]

hellshecknowayjose! id rather higher an RO slave!

 

[DecanoLA]

I have had one for 4+ years. I used the same one when I upgraded to a larger tank, had to tweek it when instaling it. Never ever had a problem... I trust it.

 

[kes]

interestingly,ever since I got mine 6 years ago, I've never installed it lol. maybe I'll break down and install it but I like to fill the bucket to the rim

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Mine has been goin strong since Christmas and I'm about to add 3 more to the rest of my water things.

I'm confident enough to actually hook one to my RO system.
My ATO is and always will be gravity fed from a 5g jug...never will overflow even if someone steals my float valve haha.
Plus they are 1000x easier than wiring up float switches and you won't shock your cat