1 of 7 (Watch) Clean A Reverse Osmosis (RO) & Ice Line That Is Connected

The cleaning and disinfecting of a reverse osmosis drinking water filter should be done each time the RO membrane is changed.  Bacteria and many other pollutants will be introduced to the reverse osmosis filter from ordinary municipal water systems and residential water pipes.  While the RO membrane physically screens out and removes many micro organisms in the water, including pathogenic bacteria, RO membrane imperfections or faulty water seals could allow bacteria passage through the membrane stage.  To prevent contamination of the final product water, RO membranes should be changed every eighteen months. 

The sediment filter and carbon filters should be changed each time the RO membrane is changed.  Common practice is to change the sediment filter and carbon filters more often than the RO membrane and to stretch out the life of the RO membrane because it is more expensive than the other filters.  Most often RO membranes are only changed after the water starts tasting bad.  This is not encouraged.  Changing all of the filters and the RO membrane and disinfecting the complete RO filter system and ice line every eighteen months will provide quality drinking water.

Bleach is recommended to disinfect the system because it is a common household item.   Hydrogen peroxide is another excellent disinfecting agent. 

This first part of the seven part series begins the sanitation routine of the reverse osmosis filter and the ice line to the refrigerator.  All of the tubes, housings and parts will be sanitized with bleach.  Upon completion of this sanitation routine the entire RO system and the ice line will be disinfected.

     RO filter disinfection instructions:

1. Place the storage tank on the kitchen floor and note how heavy the storage tank feels when full of water.
2. Turn on the RO faucet to empty the storage tank.
3. Turn off the feed water supply valve to the reverse osmosis filter.
4. Place the bracket with filter housings on the kitchen floor.
5. Bypass the inline carbon filter with a branch tee.
6. Open the membrane housing and remove and discard the RO membrane.

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