Reverse Osmosis Troubleshooting Guide

By Complete Water Solutions

*Warning – This guide can assist you help you to diagnose and trouble shoot your Reverse Osmosis
System. For issues that are persistent or are not understood you should contact Complete Water
Solutions and speak with one of our RO Certified Technicians. Please make sure when you call that you
have the following information:

 Machine Installation Date

 Model Number
 Serial Number
 Detailed description of the problem.

Reverse Osmosis Trouble Shooting Guide

PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSES REMEDIES
Low Operating Pressure Open feed water valve.
Insufficient feed water Check feed water valve
pressure or flow for restrictions in feed
plumbing
Replace pre-filter
Clogged pre-filter cartridge
cartridge
Dirty or fouled membrane Flush and/or clean RO
elements System
Verify valve receiving
Inlet solenoid valve no power when machine is
opening ON. Clean or replace
solenoid valve
Insufficient power Verify proper voltage is
pre-sent. Check fuses and
circuit breaker
Contact Complete Water
Pump or Motor Not Solutions for replacement
Operating Correctly or repair of pump or
motor

www.complete-water.com 311 E Lake Street (855) 787-4200

Silver Lake, WI 53170
 Refer to maintenance
Concentrate or Recycle manual to properly set
Valve Open To Far concentrate and recycle
valves
Low Permeate Production Low operating pressure (see above)
Machine operating on cold Check the water
water temperature. If needed,
install a hot/cold
tempering valve.
Permeate production rate
is dependent on 77°F
(25°C) Contact Complete
Water Solutions for
further options.

Membrane elements For correct membrane

installed incorrectly element installation
procedure refer to your
Maintenance manual. For
further assistance contact
Complete Water
Solutions

Brine seal has "rolled" or Refer to maintenance

been damaged manual membrane
installation. For further
assistance contact
Complete Water
Solutions

Dirty or fouled membrane Flush and/or clean RO

elements System
Back pressure on the Reduce permeate line
permeate line back pressure. Check for
restrictions in permeate
plumbing

www.complete-water.com 311 E Lake Street (855) 787-4200

Silver Lake, WI 53170
 Useful life of membrane Install new membrane
element(s) expired elements. Contact
Complete Water
Solutions for part # and
order
Inaccurate permeate flow Check the flow rate
meter manually with a stop
watch and calibrate if
necessary
Low concentrate flow with
Dirty or fouled membrane Flush and/or clean RO
normal or high operating
elements System
pressure
High Permeate
Replace the O-Rings,
Conductivity on RO
O-rings on membrane check the sealing surfaces
System
element(s) unseated or on the O-Ring groove end
damaged parts caps. Replace damaged
parts.
Useful life of membrane Install new membrane
element(s) expired elements. Contact
Complete Water
Solutions for part # and
order
Change in incoming water
Calibrate the meter with
quality
a DS standard solution or
check the readings with
another conductivity
meter. Replace or clean
probe. Check the
connections between the
probes and monitor.
ON/OFF Switch On: No Power To Machine Ensure machine is
machine not running plugged in
Pressurized storage switch The storage tank may be
or storage tank float switch full. The switch control
cut power to machine may require adjustment

www.complete-water.com 311 E Lake Street (855) 787-4200

Silver Lake, WI 53170
 Thermal overload of motor Allow the machine to
cool. Check the Amp draw
to the machine
Pump motor failure Check the fuses or circuit
breakers; measure the
voltage. Contact
Complete Water
Solutions for service
Pressure does not drop
when concentrate valve Disconnect and clean the
Dirty concentrate valve
opened concentrate valve

Excessive pressure drop Restricted flow after pump Check for blockage of the
across RO Membrane(s) outlet concentrate flow at the
inlets and outlets of
membrane housings
Telescoped membrane Ensure that the anti-
element covering telescoping device (ATD)
membrane housing is intact
Fouled or dirty RO Flush and/or clean RO
membrane elements System
Flow through machine Inlet solenoid valve not Ensure valve is not
while power is OFF fully closed getting any power when
machine is OFF. Replace
the inlet solenoid valve

Still have problems or questions?

Contact Complete Water Solutions:

(855) 787-4200
info@complete-water.com

www.complete-water.com 311 E Lake Street (855) 787-4200

Silver Lake, WI 53170