RO System valve open or closed?

[KyleC]

Recently got a 5 stage RO system. Not sure if the valve should be open or closed? When open a lot of water comes out of the waste pipe. Is this how it is flushed? So I keep it closed?

Got it from someone and it has been sitting for 2 weeks since last use.

Pic is it closed. Is there supposed to be some water coming out of the waste pipe?

I know it's a bit rusty, plan on painting it soon to tidy it up.

Thanks.

 

[KyleC]

I think I read somewhere there should be 60/40 split of waste water to RO water.. so I need to open the valve just enough to get this ratio?

 

[Reign1]

Hard to tell from your pictures but generally a valve like this is a membrane flush valve. I generally run it open for several minutes at first then close it to make RO/DI water. Hope that helps

 

[KyleC]

It's a valve on the waste pipe line that comes from the membrane.

Trying to add a video/more pics

 

[KyleC]

Does this help?

 

[Garf]

It's a valve on the waste pipe line.

Is there not an inline flow restrictor on the waste line? Usually the membrane flush valve bypasses the flow restrictor. Or there is another type of bypass that is used to bleed off TDS creep before the product water gets to the DeIonisation resin canister.

 

[KyleC]

Is there not an inline flow restrictor on the waste line? Usually the membrane flush valve bypasses the flow restrictor. Or there is another type of bypass that is used to bleed off TDS creep before the product water gets to the DeIonisation resin canister.

There's no other valves. Just this one from the membrane. The DI houses are the two on top.. membrane beneath them (all horizontal),then carbon and sediment filters vertical.

 

[KyleC]

Red line is waste, blue RO but you probably already knew that.

 

[Garf]

There's no other valves. Just this one from the membrane. The DI houses are the two on top.. membrane beneath them (all horizontal),then carbon and sediment filters vertical.

I guess the previous owner must have been using that valve as the flow restrictor. I’d buy a flow restrictor rated for whatever your membrane is rated at, just to take the guess work out of it. I’ve bought stuff from “RO Man” before, I think he’s in your neck of the woods. You may want to change out all the filters, maybe membrane, probably DI resins if you haven’t already.

 

[KyleC]

Yea he's not far from me actually. You in NI? Tds showing 0 atm think there's a few months left in the filters going by previous owners advice. Might get a few sediment ones though and will look into the flow restrictor too. Plan on making a few modifications to the RO system once I educate myself some more.

 

[90's reefer]

That looks small for a restrictor valve. This is mine. Wide open is for flush. Closed will reduce waste flow and increase membrane pressure.
If you close it and water is still commimg out it should be fine.

 

[KyleC]

That looks small for a restrictor valve. This is mine. Wide open is for flush. Closed will reduce waste flow and increase membrane pressure.
If you close it and water is still commimg out it should be fine.
View attachment 3149917

If I close it waste water stops but RO still comes out yea

 

[90's reefer]

If I close it waste water stops but RO still comes out yea

Waste water should be comming out around 4:1.
BRS sells the restrictor like mine.
Waste water must exit somewhere or its not plumbed right.

 

[90's reefer]

Ok read a previois post. The user was using it to restrict flow. We use restrictor valves so its plumbed right.

 

[KyleC]

Waste water should be comming out around 4:1.
BRS sells the restrictor like mine.
Waste water must exit somewhere or its not plumbed right.

Gotcha. I've it set so there's 70/30 ratio roughly.