Having clean, healthy water is essential in this day and age. Water from our tap cannot be used for drinking since it is not safe for us and can cause diseases like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A,B,C. Several of us use bottled water, while others use water filtration systems to get clean, healthy water.
In this article I am about to discuss RO systems and how to maintain them. There are many companies that provide the best quality water filtration systems but RO is somehow the best one.
It is important to first make people aware of why it is important to clean the RO system before going into further information.
How to Clean the RO System?
Let’s get straight to the point. Here I am going to give you some instructions for cleaning and disinfecting your reverse osmosis system.
You must know how to properly clean and disinfect these systems whether you’re a DIY homeowner, plumber, or water treatment professional.
When using well water, the possibility of bacteria growth is minimal, but bacteria can still exist. If you use tap water, the chances of bacteria growing are greater. You should not take any risk and clean your RO system after 6 months.
Tips to Minimize Bacteria in RO:
Here are some tips to make sure you minimize the chances of bacteria into your RO whenever you do a filter change:
1. Constantly ensure you wash your hands and arms with soap and water or put on gloves before you start.
2. make sure that the place you are about to work is clean and proper for working.
3. make sure to preserve all filters in their packaging until just earlier than set up.
Step by Step Guide:
Here is a step by step guide to learn about cleaning RO systems. Read the document carefully till the end for proper guidance.
1. Shut off the Water Supply:
The first and foremost thing to do before cleaning your RO is to shut off the RO system and its water supply. If there is any mildew at the outside of the machine or the tank, just disconnect it and carefully wash the system.Close the waterline as well going to the icemaker.
2. Drain Water From RO:
Open the opposite Osmosis faucet and drain all water from the RO and storage tank. When you see it’s empty, close the RO tap.
3. Remove Filter:
Open the sediment filter out housing, which is the nearest or first clear out to the feed water line. Hold and discard the filter by the filter housing off. After that, remove and discard all last filters and the membrane. Watch the given video I have added here to help you for removing filters.
4. Filter Replacement:
Unless the sediment housing is empty, replace all the filter housings. Fill the sediment filter housing with one packet of Sani System Sanitizer. There should be no filters or membranes in any housings at this time. After you have disconnected the filters, you should clean all parts of the system. Turn the drain shut off valve so that it is open. As soon as the water starts flowing out of the drain line, shut off the drain line. Pump water into the RO to fill the sanitizing solution.
5. Check for Leaks:
Pour water into the system. Water pressure will determine how long it takes. In any case, the membranes and filters should be installed within five minutes of turning off the system. When the water starts flowing out of the RO faucet, turn it off. No leaks are expected as long as everything is in order.
6. Drain the RO Completely:
During the 5-minute disinfection, no water should be used. Allow water to run through the RO system for five minutes. After that turn the system on until the disinfectant smell has subsided. Next, open the drain valve. Disconnect the water supply. Drain the RO thoroughly by opening the faucet. Replace the membrane and filters. Your job of cleaning the RO system is done.
Sanitizing RO System:
Along with cleaning the RO system, sanitizing the system is also important.
This process of sanitizing the RO must be done while filter replacement. The sanitizer should now be placed in the pre-filter housing. You can also use unscented bleach. After that switch on the water to refill the system.
Why to Clean a RO System?
It’s an obvious thing that anyone who buys RO systems is in want of clean water. Cleaning of any water cleaning system or RO systems is to make it sure that you are getting the quality of water as you want.
In water cleaning, the cleaning system is crucial. When a membrane is used for a specific amount of time, it can become infected with debris, such as colloids, microbes, and other bacterias. Debris and dirt can penetrate into the pipes, reducing the performance of your RO system. This can even lead to serious damage. Hence, regular cleaning is important.
The given picture is an example of a clean and non-cleaned filtration system.
How to Clean the Reverse Osmosis Membrane?
As we need to replace the filter within 6 months, we also need to clean the RO membrane. You can do this process with cleaning chemicals and with some kitchen products as well. If you do not want any chemicals while cleaning your water filter, use baking soda or vinegar to clean the membrane.
It is simply a matter of adding the required amount of your RO cleaning solution to the cleaning tank based on the CIP total volume and the product strength. Once the solution has been thoroughly hydrated, drain the tank. You can see the difference between dirty membrane and clean membrane as well in the given picture.
How Long Can You Use a Replaced Filter?
At very first you can check the given menial of the RO system for this purpose. Other than that you can follow the general’s readings that say, filters must be replaced within 3 to 6 months.
Conclusion:
So, I have added the detailed procedure of cleaning, sanitizing and membrane cleaning in this article. I can confidently say that anyone who would read this article before cleaning the RO system would easily clean and re[lace the filter at home on his own.
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