Watermaker question

[cosmo]

Previous owner 'pickled' the watermaker and when I say 'pickled', I mean ruined it by using engine antifreeze. Watermakers are new to us. So at the boat today to orient myself with the many small tubes, valves, etc. This appears to be a complete redo on hoses, filters, anything plastic. This particular one has three membranes. Membranes appear to be quite expensive. In my research, I am seeing some with 1-2 membranes. Are three necessary?

 

[SteveK]

FWIW. I investigated getting a water maker and was settled on the two membrane one until I read more and found three can produce a quanitity of water in less time than two. That means 1/3rd longer power needs.

 

[cosmo]

Thank you. The PO built this system themselves based on internet research. It's too bad their 'can do' montra led to the poisonous antifreeze to pickle. Expensive mistake for me to fix. I'm not looking forward to extracting 95% of the system from the lazarette to R&R and hope I get the respective hoses back to the right connections.

It's only money....

 

[SteveK]

Pickling should be restricted to what is affected. A thought remove membrane(s) and run water to flush. There must be some chemical that will neutralize antifreeze. The membranes that were to be protected are shot, those need replacement.

The whole thing should not need to be done, should it?

 

[cosmo]

My concern is that all the plastic tubing, plastic filter (pre membrane) housings, all needs replacing. Plastic will absorb. Then the rubber hoses between membranes. I may be overthinking but I really don't want to take any chances with permeated, antifreeze filled hoses. I think I may be answering my own question at this point. I was trying to weasel out of the inevitable.....

Thanks!

 

[Mambo42]

You can put anti-freeze in a water maker, but after that you won't be able to drink that water anymore. Can use it for the toilet and shower, but that is about it.
Best thing for a water maker is to run it regularly, i.o.w. it is better to run it everyday for 30 min than once a week for 3 hours. If you plan not to use the water maker for a prolonged period of time then it is good to flush it with sweet water.
I know chemicals exist and some people say you should use them, but the producer of my water maker told me it does not really matter. Since we cannot clean our water tanks anyway we basically only use the water for the toilets, the showers and for cooking, but only after I have boiled the water for 5 min straight. Only then will we put food in that water. As for drinking water we simply buy bottled water in bottles of 7 liters which is about 2 gallons.

 

[SteveK]

Are you sure it was engine antifreeze and not the domestic plumbing stuff many use to winterizes the drinking water lines?
That stuff is safe apparently.

 

[tiltrider1]

I can’t imagine anyone smart enough to make their own water maker would be dumb enough to put engine antifreeze in it.

On the other hand one can not be dumb enough to assume they didn’t.

 

[mvweebles]

I can’t imagine anyone smart enough to make their own water maker would be dumb enough to put engine antifreeze in it

Ha! I had exactly the same thought!!

OP - why do you think it's automotive antifreeze? I assume it's colored (pink?). Is it possible it's non-toxic RV antifreeze? If you're not certain, maybe send a water sample to a lab to see if there are indeed toxins before you do a complete lobotomy on the system. BTW - the spaghetti tubing and fittings are pretty cheap.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome for you.......

Peter

 

[Mac2]

In regards to your ro membranes: I priced out ro membranes for my Sea Recovery unit. They used proprietary membranes that cost about $1,300 each with shipping. I need four membranes for my two water makers. No thanks! I called Cruise RO Water and found out I could get a dual unit (two membranes including the housings) for the same price. The replacement ro membranes are only $300 (40 inch). They will not fit in the same space as my old membranes, but you can run lines up to 30 or 35 feet with no production loss. Rich at Cruise RO water is very helpful and can answer any additional questions you might have.
PS Anyone need dual 30 inch membrane housings?

 

[cosmo]

The antifreeze is the green stuff. Because of the limited space, probably best to extract the membrane system and break it down at home. No way I'm pulling them out of their casing with bulkhead and transom at either end. Measuring the metal casing, looks like the brand is Sea Recovery 25.5' x 3". Once I pull the membranes, sizing will be more clear but those things are not cheap!

 

[Mac2]

The antifreeze is the green stuff. Because of the limited space, probably best to extract the membrane system and break it down at home. No way I'm pulling them out of their casing with bulkhead and transom at either end. Measuring the metal casing, looks like the brand is Sea Recovery 25.5' x 3". Once I pull the membranes, sizing will be more clear but those things are not cheap!

Sounds like yours are similar to mine. I had the same issue with obstructions on each end. I ended up removing the mounting bolts and pulling my membrane housing up over the top of the unit. I used rope to tie around the top housing to help me leverage them out. I will leave the membrane housing on the second water maker and just disconnect the water lines and add the new membrane housing. I looked for three inch ro membranes, but could never find them (other than from Sea Recovery). Let me know if you find a generic source.

 

[cosmo]

Will do and thank you.

Good luck!

 

[Ken E.]

I have a small Village Marine (now Parker Hanifan) modular watermaker, one membrane. According the owners manual and what I've done since installing it is to pickle it with a preservative cartridge that they sell which replaces the 5 micron filter and is then run in circulation mode. You can also add freeze protection by filling the filter canister with food-grade glycol before circulating which is also specified in the owners manual.