Membrane Storage Question

[GeneralStark]

Can you add glycol to the preservative mix and not worry about it freezing in an unheated room? I only heat the RO room during the season, at the end of last season I moved my RO to the basement. I was hoping to get around that this year.

No you can not count on Glycol to protect your ro.

[Dennis H.]

Yes there is a difference in pipe between different manufacturers.

Ran to Home Depot this morning and took one of the end caps for a SS membrane vessel with me. Test fitted it into the 4" sch 40 pvc pipe and it fit!
One thing I noticed that was very obvious between the pipe at Home Depot and the one at Lowes that did not work was that the pipe at works has a very smooth and uniform inside bore. The stuff at Lowes that did not work was kind of wavy inside.

I also am going to try and use test plugs as the end cap. I have had good luck with them sealing up good even under vacuum and when I price them out each cost me $5.50 compared to almost $9 for the plug and threaded end adaptor.
If for some reason the test plug does not work I'll still be able to add the threaded end adaptor and use the plug to seal it off. But I am sure the test plug will do the job.

So moral of the story? Yes you can use 4" sch40 PVC pipe to make membrane storage housings but you might have to look around for the right pipe to use.

[wiam]

Yes there is a difference in pipe between different manufacturers.

Ran to Home Depot this morning and took one of the end caps for a SS membrane vessel with me. Test fitted it into the 4" sch 40 pvc pipe and it fit!
One thing I noticed that was very obvious between the pipe at Home Depot and the one at Lowes that did not work was that the pipe at works has a very smooth and uniform inside bore. The stuff at Lowes that did not work was kind of wavy inside.

I also am going to try and use test plugs as the end cap. I have had good luck with them sealing up good even under vacuum and when I price them out each cost me $5.50 compared to almost $9 for the plug and threaded end adaptor.
If for some reason the test plug does not work I'll still be able to add the threaded end adaptor and use the plug to seal it off. But I am sure the test plug will do the job.

So moral of the story? Yes you can use 4" sch40 PVC pipe to make membrane storage housings but you might have to look around for the right pipe to use.

I used Fernco caps for the ends of mine.

[Gavin W. Hooks]

I'm joining this thread late but would appreciate any thoughts on summer storage of a 125 Dear Rum RO. I have done the end of years rinses, washes and added the preservative. Ray Gingrich recommended to store the membrane in the RO with the preservative in it. My question is how important is the "cool dry place" for the RO over the summer. It gets pretty hot down here in Missouri. I really don't have a cool place but it is plenty protected from the weather in the shack. I'm thinking of trying to get it in my root cellar. Not sure it will go through the door.

Thanks in advance!

[MapleMark753]

I have the electric upgradable 125, so we're in a similar boat. I too read that and wondered. I keep mine in a garage/workshop out of the direct sun in the summer months, gets plenty warm, but its the least hot place it can go really. Ray's shop where he makes and keeps his gets pretty warm too in the summer months. I followed his instructions, like you did, with the end of season cleaning and storage prep. Ray would probably give you a direct answer if you called him, or wrote a note. take care, Mark