Reverse osmosis systems are among the most popular and effective systems for purifying water from contaminants such as chemicals, minerals, and heavy metals. And while a reverse osmosis system can work for years with very little care, you should know that several things can go wrong with reverse osmosis operation.
Although not frequent, these issues can reduce water quality or quantity or even make your water undrinkable if not quickly addressed. Here are a few of the issues that could arise with your reverse osmosis system that could require repairs.
1. Worn-Out Filters or Clogged Membrane
A reverse osmosis system typically contains not only the semipermeable membrane itself but also several other components, such as pre-filters, to reduce the contaminants in the water before it gets to the membrane. If any one stage in this complex water purification process breaks down, the other stages will be under more strain, and the water may not be purified correctly.
So if a pre-filter gets clogged up, it may be only a matter of time before the membrane clogs and fails early and you have to replace both components. If your filtration system breaks down and starts to let dirty water through, this could be why. (Another possibility is that a faulty filter could fail early, causing the same chain reaction.)
2. Lowered Efficiency
Reverse osmosis systems already tend to waste quite a bit of water (most produce 3–10 or more gallons of wastewater for every gallon of filtered water). Anything that happens to compromise the efficiency of the system can create even more water waste.
Since pressure is needed to force water through the semipermeable membrane, anything that reduces the pressure can result in less water getting through the membrane. This means a higher percentage of water is discarded as waste, and the process is less efficient.
A loss of pressure may come from clogged pre-filters or from low overall water pressure in your home. Your plumber can diagnose the issue and install a whole house pressure boosting system if needed.
3. Water Leak
Leaks can be the bane of any plumbing system, reverse osmosis included. A water leak may occur at a joint or air gap or anywhere along the tubing or piping in the system. Whether it’s caused by a faulty installation, a plugged drain, a failed connection, or some other issue, your professional plumber can help you get to the bottom of any water leak.
4. Jammed Tank Valve
If your reverse osmosis system filters water into a tank, you’ll likely have a valve that you open to access the water. If this valve becomes jammed, you won’t be able to access the water. The same problem can occur if the valve that lets water into the tank is jammed shut. Valve troubleshooting and replacement can fortunately be a relatively easy fix for your plumber.
5. Noisy or Constantly Running System
Noises in a new system may occur at first because the system has some air in it that needs to be worked out (which will occur naturally over time). You may also be annoyed by excess noise if your system runs constantly. It’s not supposed to run all the time, only while filling the tank. So if you do notice this issue, you should call out your plumber to look it over.
Some potential reasons why the system could be constantly running include a shutoff valve that doesn’t shut the water flow off properly or a non-return valve that’s faulty and lets filtered water escape from the tank. Your plumber can diagnose and solve these issues so that your system will stop wasting extra water and wearing itself out.
These are some of the malfunctions that you could experience if your reverse osmosis system is poorly maintained, becomes damaged, or simply has a faulty component. For diagnosis, repairs, maintenance, or replacement of your reverse osmosis or any other filtration system, get in touch with A -1 Affordable Plumbing Inc today.
