Do you need to check your storage tank pressure on your Reverse Osmosis system? Your storage tank pressure should be between 5-7 psi when it's empty. If the pressure isn't within that range, your unit may not be working optimally. Read on below to check your tank pressure and adjust it if needed.
Tools Needed:
Hand/bike pump
Low-pressure gauge
How It Works
The product water in your tank rests on a bladder (shown below). The water relies on air pressure below the bladder to push it up and out to your faucet. A thumping noise from your system is often an indicator of very low pressure in the tank.
Click here to expand step-by-step instructions.
1. You'll need to stop water flow through your unit. You can do this by turning off the cold-water supply or removing the Prefilter. Check your Owner's manual if you need help identifying it.
2. Now, turn on (open) the Osmosis faucet on your sink to allow water flow during the next few steps.
3. Locate the Schrader valve on the side of your tank, under a blue plastic cap (pictured below).
4. Here you need to connect a bicycle/hand pump to the Schrader Valve and add pressure into the tank slowly. As you add air pressure, the water in the tank will flow out through your faucet. Continue this until the tank is empty.
A few things to note at this step:
- You can't test the pressure of your tank when it's full. This is because the pressure it reaches when it's full depends on multiple factors such as incoming water pressure, water chemistry, and temperature. This is why it's important to fully empty the storage tank before adjusting the air pressure to 5-7 psi.
- If water leaks from the Shrader Valve while performing the steps in this process, the bladder in the tank has ruptured, and the Storage Tank needs to be replaced. Please visit our Replacement Part article for information.
5. Check the air pressure in your tank with a low-pressure gauge and adjust if necessary. The tank needs to be 5-7 psi when empty. You can increase the pressure by pumping more air in, or release pressure by pushing the stem in the center of the Shrader valve with a pen or similar object to let air out.
6. Replace the blue cap on the valve.
7. Turn on the cold-water supply (or reattach the Prefilter) to your unit, whichever you did previously.
8. Turn off (close) the Osmosis faucet handle and wait 3-4 hours for the tank to refill. Once it has refilled, the system should be working optimally again with the right amount of water flow and pressure.
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