R.O. waste line question

[Gravesj1s]

Anyone have an R.O .unit hooked up in a way that the waste or drain line is above the unit?I 'm not sure if this will be an issue with back pressure or something.
Thanks

 

[jfl14609]

I have done it your good its got pressure behind it

 

[Gravesj1s]

Cool,thanks.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Agreed. Now that I've got the basement sump, I'm running the waste line up into my washing machine. I'm pretty much starting a full load of laundry every time I need to produce RO for top off or a water change.

 

[Gravesj1s]

Agreed. Now that I've got the basement sump, I'm running the waste line up into my washing machine. I'm pretty much starting a full load of laundry every time I need to produce RO for top off or a water change.

Glad I just checked this forum again.Are you reusing the waste water to fill the washer or did I misinterpret? I got 3 girls to put through college so anytime I can save is a plus.
Thanks,

 

[cardiffgiant]

Yep, dumping the waste line right into the washing machine. I always felt bad about pouring it down the drain.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

As the others mentioned it should not be a problem. It will add a tiny bit of backpressure which will effectively make the unit act like the waste restrictor is too small for your membrane, but it probably won't be a problem. If you're worried, measure the wasteroduct ratio with the waste line dumping right next to the unit, then measure it again with the waste line in the final position you want it in. If they're vastly different, swap out the restrictor to get back to your original ratio.

 

[Gravesj1s]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Thats pretty clever using the wastewater to fill the washer.Gonna have to think about that for a bit,wishing I could do something similar.

 

[Sir Edward]

Just for info, I have my r/o unit set up on one side of my basement. The waste line travels up the wall about 4 ft, then across the basement floor joist (30') then down into the washing machine drain hook up. Been running this way for over 2 years. The only problem I had was once the waste line somehow came out of the drain. I know have the waste line fastened to the drain.

 

[Gravesj1s]

Sir Edward,

Thats good to know.Relocated it to the basement today and was able to hook it backup to the same saddle valve ,about 3 feet up.

 

[tmz]

Good to know, Nice info. Mine goes downhill but it's nice to know the options. Is it worth varying the flow restrictor size to offset any backpressure.?

 

[Gravesj1s]

I didn't notice any real difference.Checking the output to product water I was getting slightly more than 1 to 4.But I dont think its from raising the waste line.Guessing just seasonal temp variation.Last I checked it was late fall close to winter.So I just left it as is.

 

[Sir Edward]

Not sure if it's worth changing restriction size. I didn't. What I did was cut into the existing copper plumbing, installed a T, then ran 1/2" copper down to a faucet (the type used for water tanks). Installed the unit to the shut off, then purchased 50 ft of the 1/8" plastic line and a coupling to attach the existing r/o waste line to the new. I attached this to the floor joist using the plastic clips used for cable wire (so not to pinch off the line). My unit is a 50gpd unit, and it takes about 30 hours to fill my 50 gallon reserve tank. Which works for me.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I doubt we'd see any significant backpressure differences in typical installations, enough to warrant changing the restrictor, but wanted to mention it for the sake of completeness. At any rate, if the ratio is off, it's not the end of the world anyways - I'm willing to bet that most installations have a non-spec ratio (and clearly a non-spec product rate), purely due to pressure and temperature variations on the incoming water supply.