Need to Know How to Check RO Membrane? Heres How to Do It

Hey everyone, it’s your guy again, back with another one of my DIY adventures. So, the other day, I started noticing something off with my home’s reverse osmosis (RO) system. The water just wasn’t tasting as crisp as it used to, and it seemed like the system was taking forever to fill up the tank. That got me thinking, “Maybe it’s time to check the RO membrane?”

Now, I’m no plumber, but I’m pretty handy and I like figuring things out myself. Plus, I like knowing what’s going on with the stuff in my house. So, I rolled up my sleeves and decided to dive in. First thing I did was a bit of quick research online. I learned that a good way to tell if your RO membrane is on its way out is by checking the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels. Makes sense, right? The whole point of the RO system is to reduce those solids.

Testing the Water

• First, I grabbed a TDS meter. Luckily, I had one lying around from a previous project. If you don’t have one, they’re pretty cheap online.
• Then, I tested the TDS of my regular tap water. I just filled a glass and dipped the meter in. I made a note of the reading—that’s my baseline.
• Next, I tested the water coming out of the RO system. I let it run for a bit to make sure I was getting a proper sample, then filled another glass and tested it the same way.

Comparing the Results

Here’s where it gets interesting. Ideally, your RO water should have a TDS level that’s about 90% lower than your tap water. I did the math, and well, let’s just say my results weren’t quite hitting that mark. The TDS of the RO water was a bit higher than I expected. This means the mineral content is too high.

Other Checks

But I didn’t stop there. I also checked the water production rate. My system was definitely slower than usual. Another sign that the membrane might be struggling.

I looked at the membrane itself, too. Now, I read somewhere that discoloration can be a sign of a bad membrane, but mine looked okay. Still, with the TDS levels and the slow production, I figured it was worth investigating further.

Checking the Tank

Another thing I tried was checking the tank’s pressure. I have a pressure gauge on my system. The pressure was a bit low. I made sure the tank valve was fully open. Then I disconnected the tube from the RO system and tried to see if water would flow into a bucket when I opened the valve. Just a trickle. Hmm, that’s not good.

So, after all these checks, it’s looking like my RO membrane is probably on its last legs. It’s not completely shot, but it’s definitely not doing its job as well as it should. Looks like I’ll be ordering a new membrane soon! I’ll be sure to document the replacement process and share it with you all. Stay tuned!