Algae growing in my RO/DI filters
- Thread starter tokitay
- Start date
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
You bet it will cause a problem! Remove all your filters including the membrane, add several spoonfuls of bleach in the first housing and circulate it through the entire array letting it sit for awhile once it is all full. Do this a couple of times and then let it rinse well with clear water before replacing the pre and carbons and putting the membrane back. I have performed bacteria tests on filters like this where people claimed my Utility was serving bad water and making them sick. The bacteria plate counts were so high it was almost impossible to get a quantifiable number.
In most cases the filters had never been replaced since day one and in some cases residents were either renting or purchased the home used and didn't even know they had an RO system!
In every case we tested water at the first hose bib outside the house, at the normal kitchen tap and rom the RO tap and in every case the outside and kitchen faucet were normal and the RO was rampant with bacteria.
I can't stress enough:
1. Always replace your prefilter and carbons at least every 6 months or sooner if you have really bad water conditions or make very large amounts of water. This is especially important if you use the system for drinking water or ice makers.
2. Never install the system outside or where it gets any direct sunlight or high lighting. Keep it protected inside the home or garage.
3. Always disinfect the housings at least every other filter change.
4. Steer clear of clear housings. Clear are constructed from a more brittle plastic compound than white or blue opaque housings and tend to crack more frequently. I have seen housings burst from water hammer caused by automatic sprinkler valves going on and off. Clear also promotes algae and bacterial growth when exposed to light, remember you are removing the chlorine residual with the carbons so you have no residual disinfectant past that point. You can completely plug or foul the membrane with these growths and it can get really really ugly.
In most cases the filters had never been replaced since day one and in some cases residents were either renting or purchased the home used and didn't even know they had an RO system!
In every case we tested water at the first hose bib outside the house, at the normal kitchen tap and rom the RO tap and in every case the outside and kitchen faucet were normal and the RO was rampant with bacteria.
I can't stress enough:
1. Always replace your prefilter and carbons at least every 6 months or sooner if you have really bad water conditions or make very large amounts of water. This is especially important if you use the system for drinking water or ice makers.
2. Never install the system outside or where it gets any direct sunlight or high lighting. Keep it protected inside the home or garage.
3. Always disinfect the housings at least every other filter change.
4. Steer clear of clear housings. Clear are constructed from a more brittle plastic compound than white or blue opaque housings and tend to crack more frequently. I have seen housings burst from water hammer caused by automatic sprinkler valves going on and off. Clear also promotes algae and bacterial growth when exposed to light, remember you are removing the chlorine residual with the carbons so you have no residual disinfectant past that point. You can completely plug or foul the membrane with these growths and it can get really really ugly.
