Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated: Mar 15, 2023
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Reverse osmosis systems rely on a fine balance of pressure to operate efficiently.
For one, when reverse osmosis tank pressure gets too low or too high, it can take longer to filter water, waste a lot more water, or cause low flow from the RO faucet.
Let’s elaborate!
Key Takeaways
What are the reasons for reverse osmosis storage tank pressure problems?
If the air pressure inside the RO tank is too low, this can lead to issues with water flowing out of the faucet, because there’s not enough pressure to dispense it properly.
You may also hear water flowing down the drain line constantly without the faucet being open. That’s because the tank doesn’t create enough backpressure to close the ASO valve of your reverse osmosis system. Essentially, the RO tank is full but there is still water entering the system. The only way it can go is down the drain, wasted.
If the pressure inside the RO tank is too high on the other hand, this can prevent the tank from filling up properly. As a result, you’ll see more water going down the drain than necessary, and your tank’s storage capacity will be diminished.
A ruptured tank bladder will cause major issues with the pressure of your RO system. Once your tank’s bladder has ruptured, there’s nothing you can do to fix it. The only option is to replace the tank entirely. And this is something you should do as early as possible, because otherwise you’re going to waste a lot of water while the system is not running properly.
Checking the pressure of your reverse osmosis tank can be done with a regular pressure gauge. The only important consideration to keep in mind here is that the tank should be empty when you’re measuring the pressure. Make sure to disconnect it and drain it completely before running the test. Here’s how:
Balanced pressure is one of the most important factors for the proper operation of a reverse osmosis system.
For these reasons, you should always aim to maintain a pressure level of 6-8 psi in your RO system storage tank.
The storage tank of an RO system acts like a buffer that provides you with a constant supply of fresh, filtered water without having to wait for the system to run. The basic idea is simple: The tank is separated into two chambers, one for holding water and one for air. Those chambers are separated by a “bladder” which maintains the pressure between them.
Filling the tank with water causes the water compartment to expand, pushing against the bladder and compressing the air chamber. As a result, the system is under constant pressure and is always ready to dispense water once the faucet is turned on.
If you have any questions about reverse osmosis tank pressure problems please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
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