RO system install

14 years ago

I will be installing an RO system in our new construction, and running a line to the refrigerator water/ice connection and to the sink for a side port. Can I mount the unit in the basement and run a tube up into the kitchen? There would be about a 9' height change involved. I'm looking a ~$300 three-filter system. I just don't want to take up an entire cabinet with the hardware which is why I'm looking to do a basement install.

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Comments (8)

justalurker
14 years ago
Yes and use PE (polyethylene) tubing. Copper tubing and RO water don't work and play well together.

Here's a tip... intelligent use of these

will make servicing your RO a lot easier.
biermech
14 years ago
Yes you can make a run that long. I would make the run in 1/2" tubing and reduce to 3/8" or 1/4" where needed. Reducing the 1/2" will give an artificial boost.
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A carbon block filter will make your water taste and smell better, but it will not help your TDS problem. My water has a similar TDS, and my RO system gets it down to 12-15. I bought a system from Airwaterice.com for $200 several years ago. It has 3 filters (10,5, and 1 micron) in front of the RO membrane. The line coming out from the membrane is split. One line goes to a 35 gallon rubbermaid garbage can which I use to store water for the orchids. The other line goes to a carbon block filter and then to a 2 gallon pressurize tank which we use for drinking water. The garbage can has a float valve (also available from above web site) which cuts off the water when it is full. The RO system has an automatic shut off valve as well. Ongoing costs are approx $20 each year to replace all the filters. The RO membrane should be good for several years as long as you replace the filters regularly. Mine is almost 3 years old and still delivering good performance (as measured by TDS). Replacement RO membranes cost $39. RO water is not really acidic, it is very near pH 7, but since it has no salts there is no buffering capacity and adding fertilizer drops the pH precipitously. I use MSU formula for RO water and add Pro-Tekt to raise the pH to near 7. The question is, how much water do you need each week? I use approx 70 gallons per week so it is well worth it.
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Taste is so dependent upon what is in the water, that it's hard to say whether it will taste significantly different from naturally soft water. I grew up with naturally soft water as well, ans still like that water, but don't care for the taste of the softened water at my current home. My parents' softened water, in a different state, tastes fine to me, however. You do need a special faucet for RO, but MOST instant hot faucets will work fine. Your hot water would then be RO water also. Instant hot faucets are vented, so they are configured differently from a normal faucet. There will be 3 tubes attached to the faucet, probably red, white and blue. If you open the cold water valve, water travels up the blue line and out the faucet. If you open the hot valve, cold water travels up the blue line, turns around and goes back down the white line and into the instant hot tank, forcine water out of the tank and up the red line and out the faucet. I have one of these, although a different brand, and it works very well. RO water is more aggressive than tap water because it is cleaner, so you will want to ensure that your instant hot tank is lined with stainless steel and that the faucet is constructed of low-lead brass. I believe Insinkerator has a model that is stainless, but double check.
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NO your Kinetico alone will not work as stated. Absolutely not. In fact no softener would. You would get it installed and then discover you are getting iron stains and other iron problems because of your reported ferric (insoluble) iron. Ferric iron (0.8 is significant) pass right through a softener. The 10" pre-filter would need to be maintained (and maybe even doubled in a series) to remove the ferric iron. Is the filter housing a clear housing? But let me take it a little further. Where was the water sample taken? At a kitchen faucet, at the pressure tank? What kind of plumbing do you have, copper, galvanized, plastic? Readings of ferric iron can be in error depending on the testing source. As far as hardness and ferrous iron is concerned, the Kinetico is perfect. At 7 years of age, it hasn't exhausted its original warranty (10 years) but may not be extended to you for a combination of two reasons. Nonetheless, it should still be in excellent condition unless it was used/misused in some extraordinary circumstances. You pH is slightly low and I would not worry about that. Again, what type of plumbing do you? Do you see greenish-blue stains in sinks/toilets? As far as bacterial/viral problems, a local health board can provide service or advice in testing for these issues, which should always be done by new homeowners. Nitrates/nitrites are more common on sources of surface waters and not as common with well waters, but can be tested cheaply. An RO is fairly effective at reducing them. Andy Christensen, CWS-II
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justalurker
14 years ago
a 9 foot rise is not all that much but check the docs for your fridge. Many of the new design fridge water dispensers and ice makers won't work on the low water pressure that an RO provides.
asolo
14 years ago
Ice makers do work better with 50+ psi as opposed to the 8-30psi range of typical RO's. FWIW, I've had two RO-supplied frig/ice-makers running at two locations for almost 17 years. Both frig's replaced 4 years ago. Old and new frig's ice-makers worked and work fine with RO's lower pressure. However the flow from the water dispenser is slower than it would be otherwise.

My installations are at same level. With these lower pressures coming from the RO storage tank I would have some concern about that 9' rise. I suspect you may be on the edge with that. Also suspect it will probably work.
justalurker
14 years ago
I have seen fridge documentaion that specifically mentions that the ice maker may not work with an RO due to the low pressure. I agree with Asolo as my fridge that is 4 years old and works fine but mentioned it as a heads-up for OP as he mentioned new construction.

Certain brands of RO, such as Kinetico, do have a firmer "push" on the RO output.

I have seen many RO installations under the kitchen sink that have a farther run than 9 feet to the fridge/ice maker. Going up is harder than going sideways but I do suspect it will work.
asolo
14 years ago
Thought......

The "nut" in this deal would be delivery pressure outbound from the storage tank. The rest of the components which operate on household line pressure could go anywhere with no worry. Any chance the storage tank itself could remain on same level as frig?
dan_martyn
14 years ago
Will this be on City water or Well water? If on a well, you can slightly adjust the pressure switch higher. If on city water call the water department and ask what is the delivery pressure at the sight. You are not changing the elevation of the termination point so there would be no additional pressure loss due to elevation. The pressure loss you would be concerned about is the dynamic pressure loss due to resistance in the small diameter tubing to the icemaker. Keeping the tubing length from the filter to the icemaker to a minimum would help. The RO filter data sheet will tell you what the pressure loss is through the system.

Hope That Helps,

Dan Martyn
asolo
14 years ago
Dan, you are incorrect. The RO pressure/storage tank is more-or-less isolated from household pressure. It is independently pressurized. If the pressure/storage tank resides below the delivery-point there certainly is pressure-loss with elevation.

RO system install

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justalurker

biermech

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