How to Know If RO Membrane Is Bad: Simple Checks to See If You Need a New One

Okay, so the other day, I started noticing something was off with my water filter at home. I’ve had this reverse osmosis system for a while now, and usually, the water tastes pretty darn good. But lately, not so much. It got me thinking, could the RO membrane be going bad?

I did a little digging around on the internet, and there are a few signs that you might need a new membrane. First thing I did was check the water pressure at the faucet. See, if the membrane is clogged up, the water flow tends to slow down. Turns out the pressure was lower than usual, not by a ton, but enough for me to notice. Mine is supposed to be above 40 psi, but now it is reading at around 25 psi.

Then I remembered I had this little Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter lying around somewhere. I found the device and used this to test the water quality. It’s supposed to tell you how much stuff is dissolved in the water, like minerals and whatnot. A good RO membrane should filter out most of that, so a high TDS reading means the membrane isn’t doing its job.

• Visual Check: I took the membrane out and had a look.
• Color: It was discolored, kind of a brownish color.
• Edges: I also noticed some build-up around the edges of the membrane.

I got the TDS meter and checked the water before and after it went through the RO system. The difference was not as big as it should be. Usually, my tap water reads around 300 ppm on the TDS meter, and after the RO system, it should be below 50. But now, it was only going down to about 150. That’s a pretty clear sign that the membrane was no longer performing as it should. So, it seemed like I might need a new membrane. I decided to replace it. I ordered a new membrane online.

After I installed the new membrane, the water pressure at the faucet returned to normal. I tested the water with the TDS meter again, and sure enough, the reading was much lower, under 50 ppm. And the best part, the water tasted great again!

Replacing an RO membrane isn’t as hard as I thought it would be. It’s definitely something you can do yourself if you’re just a little bit handy. There are plenty of videos online that show you how to do it step-by-step. If you’re noticing similar issues with your water filter, don’t ignore it. A bad RO membrane can mean you’re not getting the clean water you think you are. It’s better to check it out and replace the membrane if necessary.

So, if you’re also experiencing issues, check the water pressure, use a TDS meter, and inspect the membrane for discoloration or build-up. These steps helped me figure out that my RO membrane was bad, and now my water is back to being clean and tasty. Just follow the instructions, and you should be able to do it too. It feels good to know that my family is drinking clean water again. I hope my experience will help you too. Good luck!