Re: GE R.O. Water Filter

[Pat <pat@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:56:10 -0800 (PST), Keith <keseymour@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>On Tuesday, December 16, 2014 11:55:02 AM UTC-5, Pat wrote:
>> I installed 3 of the subject GE reverse osmosis water filters about a
>> year ago.  (The model number is PXRQ15RBL).  My daughter wanted one
>> (because she didn't like Los Angeles city water), so I stalled one at
>> her place.  I liked the way it installed easily, so when I returned to
>> my Ohio well water, I installed an identical model here.  Our well
>> water wasn't bad.  There was an occassional slight sulfer odor, but
>> testing indicated no harmful bacteria.  It is also softened.)  The
>> filter seemed to work well, but I found myself also drinking water
>> from a bar sink in the basement family room.  This seemed silly since
>> I had installed the filter upstairs - so I bought another filter and
>> installed it at the basement bar sink.  That's it for background - now
>> to my question:
>>
>> The manual says to replace the "pre" and "post" filter canisters every
>> 6 months.  To make the product seem high tech, they even provide a 6
>> month timer that lights an LED when the 6 months is up.  That is all
>> it is - a timer.  It does not measure usage, flow rate, or
>> contaminates at all.  So, how often do I really need to change the
>> canisters?  The filter installed upstairs is used for making coffee,
>> tea, and meals every day, while the filter at the bar sink is used for
>> only a few ounces of water no more often than once a week.
>>
>> I can't imagine why both units need to have their filters changed at
>> the same time.  Do the filters get clogged?  (Mine haven't even on the
>> higher use sink).  Do the filters become contaminated with bacteria?
>> In that case, the lower use one might be worse.  (In my case, there
>> have been no foul odors nor reduced flow).  Both LED indicators went
>> on at 6 months and blinked until the batteries died.  I just can't see
>> spending $80 every 6 months for no reason.  Does anyone have any
>> inside information or real experience regarding these things?  How can
>> I tell when they really need to be changed?  Am I being reasonably
>> frugal or risking my life?
>>
>> Pat
>
>Pat,
>
>I worked in water purification for some time, the real way to test for a filter that needs changing is the pressure drop over the unit. That applies to the RO unit as well as the prefilter. If you run the filter too long it will rupture and the pressure drop will decrease drastically and all of the impurities will flow into your water.
>
>For the un-fun part the manufacturer would be the best person to tell you what that pressure drop is to change the filter before you have a problem. In the home automation group I suspect the solution would be to track the pressure drop and have a light green as long as it's increasing and red when it decreases.
>
>For the most part you are safe because the contaminants are limited to the input side, any additional bacteria that grew would generally grow on the dirty side of the filter. This will increase the pressure drop but not increase your risk.

Keith,
Thanks for the information.  That is just what I was looking for. Over
on alt.home.repair, someone found that the filters are designed for
900 gallons of use.  That would mean about 2-1/2 years on my one unit
and 75 years on the other.  I decided to change them both every two
years or so.

Pat