Got some time to get my RO/DI connected. The unit is one that I purchased several years ago
http://www.aquasafecanada.com/ I've been happy with the performance of the unit I purchased, but the price has gone up a fair bit from the time I purchased ($120) to now (from $200)
I've been using tap water to fill the tank up to this point and my nitrate level has been rising since. I tested a few days ago and it's around 80-100ppm. Not sure how much the tap is contributing to the nitrate (maybe I'll test a little later) or if the tank is not processing it (usually takes a while). Regardless I was planning on adding the RO, and now is as good a time as any.
I had originally planned on putting the unit under the tank, but due to the distance to the guest bathroom where the water and drain lines are located I decided to place it under the sink instead. So here it goes
Location:under sink
Disconnected cold water line
Installed a shutoff valve. The builder was too cheap to put one in. I believe these may now be mandatory. I you already have one installed that would be a bonus.
The tee'd off the shutoff to supply the faucet above as well as the RO
The original line had to be cut after adding the shutoff and tee.
Here is the final connection with the line to the RO unit installed
I went to HD today and found a couple gauges that I'll be using this time to check the pressure drop over the sediment and carbon filters. Not a bad deal at $7.50 each. with all the connections it came to around $40 for the two gauges. Depending on your set up the connections required may vary.
Connected the first gauge to the main line coming into Stage 1 sediment filter. The second is after the Stage 3 carbon block.
Once the gauges are installed, went to work connecting all the lines. The first was from the gauge on the outlet of the carbon block to the "IN" on the auto shut off. Don't think I'll be using the ATS valve for now, but installed it anyway.
ATS valve "OUT" to the membrane. The membrane I will be using is a 100gpd, but thinking of adding a second in the future.
On the other side of the membrane there are two connections. The one closest to the center of the RO filter housing is the RO filtered water, and the outer connection is the waste line. The filtered water is connected to the second "IN" on the ATS. The waste (yellow) is connected to the flow restrictor/flush valve. The connection to the DI (which will be added later) is the second "OUT" on the ATS.
A bit difficult to see in this shot, but I connected a valve between the inlet on the Stage 1 sediment filter and the main shutoff valve. The yellow hose is connected to the flush valve which will be attached to the drain.
Removed the trap under the sink on the drain and drilled a 1/4" hole for the drain line.
Connected the drain fitting over the hole that was drilled
Inserted and tightened the drain line onto the fitting
Finally tucked the unit away inside the cabinet. I'll be adding DI to the RO once my new canisters arrive.
Also picked up a TDS meter today ($15) from HD. I'm still waiting for my replacement filters and new membrane to arrive, but I tested it out using my old filters. Tap waster is reading 113 and the RO unit with my old filters is reading 3. Hope this helps with the nitrates.
New pressure gauges are working great as well. Looks like I didn't need to replace my sediment filters after all.
DI canisters should arrive some time next week, once installed I hope that would bring the TDS to 0.