Is Your Water Tasting Off? How Do You Know When to Replace RO Membrane

So, I’ve been using this reverse osmosis system for a while now, and things were going great. You know, the water tasted good, everything seemed fine. But lately, I started noticing some changes, and it got me thinking, “How do you know when it’s time to replace that RO membrane?” I mean, it’s not like these things just suddenly stop working, right?

First off, I noticed the water flow was getting slower and slower. It used to fill up my glass pretty quick, but now it’s like a trickle. I’m standing there forever waiting for a glass of water. That was the first sign that something might be up.

Then, there’s the taste. Man, the water started tasting kinda weird. Not like tap water, but just… off. It didn’t taste clean and refreshing like it used to. And sometimes, there was even a bit of a smell. Not a strong smell, but enough to make me go, “Hmm, that’s not right.”

I did a little digging online, just typing stuff into Google like “why does my RO water taste bad” and “slow water from RO system.” Apparently, this is pretty common. These RO systems, they take out all the minerals and stuff from the water, which is good, but it can also make the water taste kind of bland. Like, it’s missing something. Spring water has all those minerals, which is why it tastes so good. I guess that’s what was happening here.

One thing I read was that activated carbon filters can help with the taste. They’re good at getting rid of organic stuff and chlorine. So, I figured I’d give that a shot.

But then I realized, the problem might be with the RO membrane itself. It’s the heart of the whole system, and if that’s not working right, then no amount of carbon filters is gonna fix the slow flow or the weird taste.

My Action Plan

Here’s what I decided to do:

• Check the water pressure: Low water pressure can mess with the RO system, so I made sure that wasn’t the issue.
• Inspect the filters: I took a look at the pre-filters and post-filters to see if they were clogged up. Sometimes, they just need a good cleaning or replacing.
• Test the water quality: I got one of those cheap water testing kits to check the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) level. If the TDS is too high, it means the membrane isn’t filtering properly.

Turns out, the TDS was higher than it should be. So, yeah, it was the membrane. It wasn’t completely shot, but it definitely wasn’t doing its job as well as it used to. So, I ordered a new membrane and replaced the old one. It wasn’t too hard, just had to follow the instructions that came with the system.

After replacing the membrane, man, what a difference! The water flow is back to normal, and the taste is good again. It’s like having a brand new system. I’m glad I figured it out before things got worse.

So, if you’re using an RO system, keep an eye out for these signs. Don’t wait until the water tastes completely terrible or you’re waiting five minutes for a glass of water. A little maintenance and replacing that membrane when needed can make a huge difference. It’s worth it to keep that water tasting fresh and clean!