What happened to my ro?

[Machinist67]

Does anyone have an idea what could have happened to my RO? When I run the RO the concentrate to premeate ratio's have switched. I use to be able to remove 75% of the water now I am only removing 25%. Could it be the RO filters?

[heus]

I'm an ro rookie but my guess is that people will ask how you have been rinsing and washing.

[Machinist67]

I rinsed them with the premeate at high flow for 8 hrs before I stored them. I didnot use any cleaner.

[mellondome]

How do you store them? Did you check to see if you are passing any sugar?

[wiam]

Did you use any storage solution?

[SSFLLC]

Do you rinse them every time you use them?

[Clinkis]

It's most likely one of three things:
1. Pre filter plug, I change mine every couple days as they can foul very quickly depending on conditions
2. Membranes are fouled, as others have already mentioned, do a thorough flush and wash
3. Not reaching operating pressure

[mellondome]

Could also be a nicked or not seated properly oring. Thus you need to check for sugar in the permeate.

[Machinist67]

I have checked my permeate and it is reading 0. Pressure is running at 90PSI which is where it usually operates. I only stored them in a sealed bag after rinsing them only with permeate. It does act like a blocked discharge line. I have not checked for a nicked oring. What is the recommended storage solution and how do you thoroughly clean your membranes?

[bowhunter]

The membrane may be fouled or dirty, and it may not be recoverable. If you have a nicked o-ring you should be getting more permeate, and there would be sugar in the permeate. Double check your pressure. Also if the sugar content of your sap is high..like 3% or greater the membrane will not pass much permeate at 90 psi. I guess you could have a plugged feed line to the membrane or your filter between the pump and the membrane is dirty. If the pressure is on the membrane housing or in the concentrate line then this isn't the problem. If you're measuring permeate flow with a flow meter the meter could bad. That's all the ideas I have.