Reverse Osmosis Tank Leaking? Here Is What to Do!
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Mar 7, 2023
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If you notice water pooling around the base of your reverse osmosis tank, then there is a good chance you’re dealing with a faulty or malfunctioning storage tank.
There are several potential causes for an RO tank to leak, some of which are serious and will require a replacement. Other causes are less serious and will only require fixing a loose tubing connection.
Let’s take a look at some of the potential issues that may be causing your reverse osmosis tank to leak, and what you can do to resolve the situation.
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Key Takeaways
- Water pooling under your reverse osmosis tank is a serious issue and can quickly lead to rot or mold developing in your kitchen sink cabinet. It’s important to address this right away rather than waiting, so if you can’t troubleshoot the issue immediately, at least clean up any water and shut off the RO system’s feed water valve.
- If the leak originates from a loose connection, tighten it.
- If the leaking is due to a ruptured tank bladder, you need to replace the entire RO tank. Signs for a ruptured bladder are a leaking Schrader valve and low/no flow from your RO faucet.
- If there is a hole in the outer shell, you definitely need to replace your RO tank.
Reverse Osmosis Tank Leaking? Here Is What to Do!
If you notice your reverse osmosis tank is leaking then don’t put off the troubleshooting process for even one day. Water pooling under sink can lead to wood rot and mold in your cabinets – something you want to avoid at all costs.
If you don’t have time to fix the issue right away, at the very least you should turn off the feed valve to your RO system and lay down some rags to mop up any water pooling under your sink.
Loose Connection
The best-case scenario when it comes to a leaking reverse osmosis tank or system is a simple loose connection. Even if you have quick-connect fittings on your system, they can and will come loose due to spikes in water pressure or simply accidentally bumping the system.
A loose connection on the tank valve or elsewhere in the system will leak water even if it doesn’t look like it’s unfastened. When you spot a loose connection, reconnect it to its fitting and test to see if the leak is fixed.
If you’re dealing with a quick-connect fitting simply push the tubing into the fitting firmly until you feel a snap.
Water Leaking From the Bottom of the Tank
If water is leaking from the bottom of your RO tank, there is a chance you’re dealing with a ruptured tank bladder inside your storage tank. Unfortunately, these cannot be repaired and will require you to purchase a new tank to replace the old one.
There is a foolproof way to determine if you’re dealing with a ruptured bladder that only requires a little testing.
- First, turn off the system’s feed valve and tank valve.
- Then disconnect the tank from the rest of the RO system and take it outdoors or somewhere you don’t mind getting wet.
- At this point, you’ll want to open the tank valve and let the water inside drain out.
- Use a bicycle pump or air compressor to completely empty it.
- Then repressurize it with your pump or compressor to 6 to 8 psi.
- Now, bring the tank back to the system, reconnect it, and turn back on the feed valve and tank valve.
- Allow the tank to refill (which will take several hours).
If the bladder is ruptured, it will only send about one 8-ounce cup of water to the RO faucet before the flow slows down noticeably. If this is what you’re dealing with, then you’ll need to replace your ruptured tank with a new one.
A Leaking Schrader Valve
When the tank bladder is ruptured, water may be leaking from the Schrader valve (the pressure valve at the base of the tank). Normally in this situation, you’ll need to replace the entire tank, but if the leak isn’t too large, you may be able to get away with screwing on the Schrader valve cap really tight.
This is only a temporary solution though, and if your tank bladder is indeed ruptured, the leak will get worse over time. You’ll still need to order a new storage tank to replace the old one, but you can get away with this fix until you receive your replacement.
A Hole in the Tank
This is a fairly rare occurrence, but you could have a damaged or faulty reverse osmosis tank with a hole in the metal outer shell. Examine the outside of the tank and if you do find a hole of any size, you’ll need to replace the tank with a new one.
If you do run into this problem, there is a good chance the tank came damaged from the manufacturer and you’ll be eligible for a warranty replacement.
Further Reading:
How Does a Reverse Osmosis Storage Tank Work?
Reverse osmosis storage tanks are also called hydropneumatic tanks, as they use hydropneumatic pressure to send water up from the tank to the RO faucet. A pressurized tank like this eliminates the need for a pump or motor to push water up through the tubing.
RO storage tanks have both an air and a water chamber inside of them which is separated by a rubber bladder. The pressure inside the tank is regulated by the compression of the air chamber as the tank fills with water.
The pressure inside the tank also serves another key purpose – which is regulating the production of filtered water by way of the automatic shut off valve (ASO). This is the valve that tells the system to stop filtering water when the pressure inside the tank reaches a certain level. This is an important part of a reverse osmosis system operating efficiently, as otherwise the unit would continuously run water down the drain line.
When the tank’s water level drops after filling up a glass from the faucet, the tank’s internal pressure drops, too, which triggers the ASO valve to open and the RO purification process to continue.
Another thing to be aware of is the tank size which will determine where the water sits inside the tank. Smaller home units (less than 10 gallons) have the air chamber sitting below the water chamber. Larger units are the opposite, with the air chamber on top of the water.
If you have any questions about your RO tank leaking please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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