How To Remove A Reverse Osmosis Filtration System (RO) From A Kitchen Sink

After disconnecting a reverse osmosis drinking water system the system is at risk of contamination at every open fitting that a tube has been disconnected from.  These openings allow bacteria to enter the system and thrive in the wet tubes, housings and filters.  If the RO system is not reinstalled within 2 or 3 days it should be sanitized using the complete sanitation routine including changing the filters and RO membrane.    

To disconnect a reverse osmosis drinking water system from under a kitchen sink in four steps:

1. Disconnect the RO membrane housing drain line tube from the drain saddle and use a 1/4" plug inserted through a 1/4" nut to screw on to the drain saddle to cap off the drain hole.
2. Remove the cold water flex line from the RO feed water supple valve. Remove the feed water supply valve from the cold water angle stop. Reconnect the cold water flex line to the cold water angle stop.
3. Disconnect the ice line from the RO faucet tube and leave the disconnected ice line under the sink for possible future use.
4. Remove the RO faucet and cover the remaining hole in the sink with a 2" faucet hole cover sealed with plumbers putty.

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When Should You Change The Filters On A Reverse Osmosis Water System?

There are different answers and opinions about when RO filters and membranes should be changed.  3-stage RO filters use CTA membranes and 4 and 5-stage RO filters use thin film membranes.  Thin film membranes last longer and produce purer water than CTA membranes.

RO filters using CTA membranes should have the filters and membrane changed every year or when the RO filter begins to produce 200ppm water, whichever comes first.  Most often the 3-stage RO filter system will be producing less than 200ppm water in one year.  With new filters and a new membrane a 3-stage RO filter will produce somewhere between 40ppm and 90ppm water depending on how soon after being manufactured the CTA membrane is installed.  As time goes by the ppm count will slowly but steadily increase due to the membrane losing its efficiency.

RO filters using thin film membranes should have the filters and membrane changed every eighteen months or when the RO filter begins to produce 100ppm water, whichever comes first.  Most often the 4 and 5-stage RO filters will be producing less than 100ppm water in eighteen months.  With new filters and a new membrane the 4 and 5-stage RO filters will produce somewhere between 10ppm and 40ppm.  As time goes by the ppm count will slowly but steadily increase due to the membrane losing its efficiency.

To put the ppm numbers in perspective, the most popular bottled water measures between 50ppm and 200ppm.  It is very likely that a 5-stage RO filter will produce water that measures less than 50ppm for the full eighteen months.  In other words, if a 5-stage RO filter is maintained as suggested, it will produce higher quality water for the whole eighteen months than bottled water.

The only readily available water that is more pure than 5-stage RO water is distilled water.  The reason distilled water is not more popular for drinking is that most people prefer the taste of RO water.

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