Changing DI Resin

[jcook54]

I have a TDS meter on my RODI unit and the water coming off the RO membrane is 1-2 ppm TDS and when it comes out the the DI resin, it's 0. My plan was to monitor and change when it no longer removed the last 1-2 ppm. Also, I plan to change the RO membrane when the TDS coming out goes up a bit. Seem reasonable, right? Well, I recently changed my sediment and carbon filters and noticed that my DI resin is nearly 2 years old. It's still working fine according to my TDS meter and a handheld one that I occasionally test with. Is there any reason I should change the DI resin due to age? Unfortunately it's not a color changing media because I bought the wrong one but I'm assuming the TDS meter will do the job I need it to. So, should I change the resin out because it's old or just let it ride?


Side note: I do occasionally swap the TDS sensors to make sure they're reading correctly. When I do, I get the same readings. i.e. one will read 1-2 and the other 0.

 

[civics14]

I just change everything annually because BF BRS sale. I would think if 0 is coming out, you should be fine, but I’m no RO/DI expert tho.

 

[Steve Burton]

I like your plan, mine is the same except that I would first change sediment and carbon blocks if the incoming tds goes up, only changing the membrane if the tds stays up. I don't belive DI resin deteriorates with age so I see no sense in changing as long as it's working.

 

[Rainblood]

I know that there are a lot of variables - but how much mileage are you guys getting from your RODI units?
Like 10,000 gallons? More? Less? Whats your guessimate?

 

[lmm1967]

I use the color changing resin - when the first stage gets about 75% used up per the color I yank it, move the second to the first, put in all new resin to the second stage and run about 10 gallons through it.

Mine seems to last about 6 months - I made AT LEAST 1000 gallons on my last one. My TDS out never gets above 0.

Thinking about it I may have been well over 1000 gallons. I've added 2 180 gallon tanks so all the water it took to swap those around went through 1 DI filter. I just swapped the one (as described above) a couple weeks ago.

I do use a booster pump and I never make less than 20 gallons at a time.

All the other filters I change roughly once a year - if I saw TDS creeping up I would change them earlier.

 

[jcook54]

On the high side, I make around 1000 gallons per year. Something around 15-20 gallons per week but probably a bit less for those weeks when I put off doing a water change longer than I should.

 

[lmm1967]

Wanted to add this info I found on the BRS site.....


Color Changing Mixed Bed DI Resin

• Changes Color from Blue to Brown as the media is exhausted.
• 1.5 Gallon - Fills 6 standard 10" refillable cartridges
• 1.25 lbs. - Fills 1 standard 10" refillable cartridge
• Packed in foil-lined 4mm Mylar bags to preserve quality (see Full Details for more info)
• 2 year shelf life (unopened)

 

[Shawn]

What's crazy is I've had my 200gpd rodi unit and i've put at least 1000 gallons through it, and my second stage DI is maybe 20% exhausted. The others haven't changed color yet. I guess City of Atlanta water isn't so bad?

 

[gainesvillereef]

I use the color-changing resin. I change it every year. When I do the first cartridge is usually 75% consumed. I will change both cartridges at the same time just because it's easier to deal with all at once. I change carbon and sediment filters every 3 months. Membranes are changed every 2 years. I tried to keep track of gallons used but I found that just keeping a schedule is easier.

 

[wake125122]

geeze I hate you all. I have to change my DI resin out about once every 250+ gallons or so.... I'm on well water I think it is just cause I have a lot of C02 in my lines. Who knows.

 

[gainesvillereef]

From what I understand CO2 is a likely culprit. I have always wondered in that situation if there would be a way to let the CO2 outgas before you use it. Ever tried anything to deal with it?

 

[Cook]

My incoming water measures 1-2 TDS and I have had a hard time believing that is the case for city water, but my output is always zero after the DI so I leave it alone. I added to my 4 stage BRS system to make it a 7 stage with separate anion and cation that do not change color but the last stage is mixed bed and does. It's 6 months since I upgraded and about 10% of the color changing resin has been used. I plan to change yearly including the carbon blocks, it's just something I don't want to have a question about and I have enough algae as it is. I'm using a 1 micron prefilter and making about 30 gallons a week. I didn't know the membrane should be on a 2 year schedule. I'll add that to the list for January.

 

[wake125122]

From what I understand CO2 is a likely culprit. I have always wondered in that situation if there would be a way to let the CO2 outgas before you use it. Ever tried anything to deal with it?

Not really. I've heard there is ways but honestly I am to lazy to do it. lol

 

[jcook54]

I thought about adding another canister and running both types of DI resin but I don't know. I purchased this unit in 2004 and the only piece of hardware I've added was a 1 micron sediment filter so I could add a chloramine focused carbon block when Dekalb County started using them about 10 years ago. Other than that, things have worked out just fine and I think I could spend the time & $$$ better somewhere else. The TDS going into the first stage 1 micron filter is pretty steady at 39-45 but I do run a whole house 5 micron sediment filter and maybe that helps.

 

[Valhoon]

What's crazy is I've had my 200gpd rodi unit and i've put at least 1000 gallons through it, and my second stage DI is maybe 20% exhausted. The others haven't changed color yet. I guess City of Atlanta water isn't so bad?

Yeah I put about 9K gallons through mine a year. roughly 50-100 gallons a week and my resin barely budges.

 

[civics14]

Yeah I put about 9K gallons through mine a year. roughly 50-100 gallons a week and my resin barely budges.

That's how mine was in my last house. I literally moved 5 miles down into a new construction and the water supply sucks. My sediment filter use to never get clogged and I would just change it annually, in this new home, it would turn brown within 2 months. It's just horrible.

 

[Valhoon]

That's how mine was in my last house. I literally moved 5 miles down into a new construction and the water supply sucks. My sediment filter use to never get clogged and I would just change it annually, in this new home, it would turn brown within 2 months. It's just horrible.

I did utility contracting for a while and that is sooo rough on the water lines. While its technically potable for us it's terrible for our tanks and equipment

 

[civics14]

I did utility contracting for a while and that is sooo rough on the water lines. While its technically potable for us it's terrible for our tanks and equipment

That's good to know. I complained to Gwinnett county a few times and they keep saying they tested it and it passed. Next year, we plan on adding a whole home water filtration because its that bad.

 

[jcook54]

I typically like to stay on topic for the sake of the OP but since that's me, I don't mind. Is 5 micron whole-house sediment filter adequate? I change mine, I don't know, may twice a year? I figure it's a decent way to keep out some of the bigger particle and it definitely block a tremendous amount of rust-colored gunk.

 

[civics14]

I typically like to stay on topic for the sake of the OP but since that's me, I don't mind. Is 5 micron whole-house sediment filter adequate? I change mine, I don't know, may twice a year? I figure it's a decent way to keep out some of the bigger particle and it definitely block a tremendous amount of rust-colored gunk.

Sorry to derail your thread. I just assumed you guys figured it out after Imm1967 found the unopened shelf life post.

I was thinking of adding an additional canister to my RO/DI set up and have a 5 micron sediment filter before hitting the 1 micron sediment filter.

BRS have a 10% sale of their RO/DI filter kits right now. Just ordered some myself.