Reverse Osmosis Waste Water Tube Blocked.

[Mark Novack]

I was making far too much production water and my pump was chattering away on the aqua medic RO machine. After tearing it apart and reassembling, the same. Confused, I took out the drain tube and tried to blow through it and my head exploded. Hmm, I wonder how long I have been using sewage for my little tank.

I had changed RO machines several times but never the drain or feed tubes. They were there ready to hook up and I just never thought about the mineral build up that would occur in the drain tube. Our city water is off the scale in calcium content and high in all other minerals and if the water softener is empty of salt it takes only a few thousand liters of production to block up the membrane. I can see immediately when I shower if the softener is empty as the soap neither suds nor rinses well and it feels as though I'm being pelted by gravel.

This could explain why my water changes have not been as effective as usual. Anyway, lesson learned. Inspect the basics first.

Mark
Old and still learning something everyday.

 

[blaxsun]

Thanks for the tip. Something I need to check the next time I swap out my filters.

 

[Mark Novack]

I over complicate everything. It's like remembering to look at your car's battery terminals before digging deeper if it doesn't crank. I could diagnose for hours before giving a 1/4 turn on the battery terminal clamps.

Mark