Placing RO unit in unheated garage - Y/N

[under10minutes]

Im doing an ungodly amount of topping off. At least 3-4 gallons every other day. I've had it. I have a bib in my garage and thought i could hook up the ro unit and run a line directly to the sump. Anyone have experience with placing ro in unheated garage? Just curious if it will freeze.

Thx!

 

[ming]

You'd be better off getting a large auto top off container.
I've heard its not good for the RO to be on/off that often, the first 20 seconds of RO is usually pretty dirty, and you risk flooding your place as well if something goes wrong.

 

[roc5288]

The unheated garage is going to be a big problem in the winter months. Very slow production in the cold.

 

[duke62]

No good. It will freeze in the garage.

 

[masterswimmer]

+1 to both Ming and roc.

In addition to their comments, does your garage get cold enough to freeze water? If so you've answered your own question.

Optimum RO/DI production is at 77 deg F. Below that temp (and significantly below in an unheated garage) will seriously diminish efficiency.

FYI, most 75g tanks will evaporate 1.5-2g of water every day. Yours isn't unique in that sense.

Russ

 

[Trump]

large unused garbage can with lid, small pump (just to keep water moving nothing crazy) and a water heater.

 

[under10minutes]

large unused garbage can with lid, small pump (just to keep water moving nothing crazy) and a water heater.

I like the way you think and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[jcurry]

the heater in the garbage can won't heat the water in the RO canisters. if they freeze the canisters will break.

 

[masterswimmer]

the heater in the garbage can won't heat the water in the RO canisters. if they freeze the canisters will break.

DING DING DING....we have a winner!!!

Russ

 

[fishman1069]

If you have room in your stand, you can mount the ro unit under there and just run the supply line from the garage. I would also insulate that line so it doesn't freeze

 

[ming]

If you have room in your stand, you can mount the ro unit under there and just run the supply line from the garage. I would also insulate that line so it doesn't freeze

That would mean he needs to run another line to a sink or something for waste water.
I would prefer to mount the RO under a kitchen sink or in a bathroom so we won't have any freezing problems, and just run the clean water line to the RO container/reservoir/auto topoff

 

[vio]

the heater in the garbage can won't heat the water in the RO canisters. if they freeze the canisters will break.

+1, is just like GE Refrigerator, bad idea in garage.

 

[beastium]

What if u put the whole ro unit in the can as well in the water with the heater

 

[vio]

What if u put the whole ro unit in the can as well in the water with the heater

Then, the water supply line will freeze first.

 

[Aquadicted]

Then, the water supply line will freeze first.

lol I thought the same solution and came to the same conclusion but you guys already put it out there

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

You'd be better off getting a large auto top off container.
I've heard its not good for the RO to be on/off that often, the first 20 seconds of RO is usually pretty dirty, and you risk flooding your place as well if something goes wrong.

also the slowest ro/do unit I've seen is rated for 24 gallons per day, you're topping off 1-2 gallons per day. Running the ro/do for a week to fill up a garbage pail with an auto-top off installed is the best way to go!

 

[under10minutes]

Thank you for all the insite. It ends up that i have two copper heating pipes sticking out of the wall which means i can install a small radiator. My thought was to create a box or cabinet that would enclose the radiator, ro system, and 32 gallon container. Maybe insulate it (although i dont thin that is necessary).

My father in law had some pretty good observations. In the winter when you pull your car in the garage, all the snow and ice melt. He thinks it would hAve to be down right frigid for a few days for the pipes to freeze.

His other observation was, why not figure out why so much water is evaporating and solve that problem first. Makes sense to me! Anyone hAve any thoughts on that? Where does most evaporation take place? dt or sump?

 

[Trump]

get a glass cover. that will cut down major evaporation.

 

[masterswimmer]

Thank you for all the insite. It ends up that i have two copper heating pipes sticking out of the wall which means i can install a small radiator. My thought was to create a box or cabinet that would enclose the radiator, ro system, and 32 gallon container. Maybe insulate it (although i dont thin that is necessary).

My father in law had some pretty good observations. In the winter when you pull your car in the garage, all the snow and ice melt. He thinks it would hAve to be down right frigid for a few days for the pipes to freeze.

His other observation was, why not figure out why so much water is evaporating and solve that problem first. Makes sense to me! Anyone hAve any thoughts on that? Where does most evaporation take place? dt or sump?

How large a tank & sump (total volume) are you running? As stated earlier, 1.5 to 2g of evaporation per day on a 75g system is not a problem, it is normal. If you're evaporating that much in a 25g system, then yes it is an issue. Adding a cover to your tank is not advised (again, as stated earlier by Kathy). It is important for oxygen exchange.

As for the heating system enclosed within your garage to house the RO/DI and storage bin, that's a great idea....as long as you don't have the tubing running from the storage bin to your tank exposed to the unheated garage area. FYI, I'd absolutely insulate the storage area, otherwise you'll be ineffectively heating your entire garage with the little radiator and won't be effectively heating the RO/DI & storage bin.

Just my $.02 (with many many years of experience )

Russ

 

[under10minutes]

120g DT
30g Sump

Based on your post i guess the evaporation im seeing is normal for this size tank?