Used RO - should I take it?

[Birddog]

My son has a friend that has a used RO that he said he can give me in exchange for some syup. I don't know anything else about it yet (I haven't even seen it yet) other than it is a single membrane unit. The guy is in the RO business and I'm guessing it was a old trade-in. I won't have any way of knowing for sure what has been in it. Obviously I'll put in a new membrane but if I accept and want to use this unit, how can I clean it thoroughly and what parts should I replace to be reasonably sure its clean and safe... or is that even possible. I give my syrup to friends and family and I don't want to do anything unsafe. I guess worst case is I'll have a frame/cart, pump motor and electrical components I could reuse....

Thoughts?

[jimsudz]

I would take it as long as he doesn't want a ridiculous amount of syrup.

[Jim Brown]

Was it used for syrup production or water filtering? If water filtering may or may not be a "I,ll pass! but thanks anyway

Jim

[mellondome]

Depends on the unit and what comes with it.
For cleaning, remove the membrane, flush the lines, put in new membrane and wash.

[madmapler]

If you could get it on the cheap and it sounds as though you can then, as you said, you have all the components. You could replumb it if you were worried about contamination but you're boiling it off anyway. It sounds like a good size for you.

[Birddog]

Well change of plan. He decided not to give me a used one. The guy decided to just build me a new one (wow), he came in on the weekend and built it. My son is picking it up tomorrow (Tuesday) he said his friend was excited to build one for making maple syrup (went online and did some research). By the way my son is a great kid and has some amazingly generous friends!

I still don't know much about it but I'll post a pic and more info when I get it. From what I've been told so far, it will probably be overkill for my operation but wow, I'm excited to see this thing in person. I guess I'll have to figure out how to maintain and use an RO now.

Now on to figuring out how to run tubing in my woods!