Apec Water Roes 50


ESSENCE REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION & OWNER’S MANUAL Ver 6.0











########## www.FreeDrinkingWater.com









All Rights Reserved © APEC Water Systems



#### Please keep this Owner’s Manual for future reference.

######### It contains useful information on how to maintain and care for your APEC Reverse Osmosis water filter system.

############ TABLE OF CONTENT


###### Thank you for choosing APEC reverse osmosis systems. You now own the finest water filter in America.

Please read and become familiar with instructions and parts needed before proceeding with the installation.

BEFORE INSTALLATION: Inspect the system: Please take the system and all the components out of the box. Inspect the system and all the connection fittings carefully, make sure nothing is damaged during shipping. If any part is cracked or broken, please do not proceed with the installation and contact APEC or your distributor for an exchange or diagnosis. Recommended tools list:

Operating Parameter

General Installation/Operation/Maintenance Requirements

Important! Please TURN OFF the main cold water supply to the RO system when the unit is not in use during a vacation or extended leave. During very cold or freezing weather conditions, please also TURN OFF the main cold water supply and completely drain all of the water from the RO system and water storage tank.

Copyright: This manual is copyrighted by APEC Inc. Under the copyright laws, this manual may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or part, without the prior written consent of APEC Inc. Manual print ver. 6.0, 2020 Apr.


###### Components included with the ROES system: Make sure you have all these parts before starting installation.




1 RO system head with pre installed membrane

3 Pre-filters in 3 Housings

1 Storage tank

Installation kit includes:





1 Faucet with tubing, washers and nuts (Faucet color may vary, depends on the color selected)

1 Feed water adapter 3/8” - 1/2” with needle valve kit

1 Drain Saddle





2 Wrenches for opening filter and Membrane housing

2 Color tubing 1/4”

1 Tank ball valve

Recommended: Please keep both wrenches near or on the RO unit for future maintenance.


######### Component Itemization:



########### THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO INSTALLING THE RO SYSTEM:

Assemble the filters and housings onto the main system Installing the system The RO Membrane Element has already been pre installed.

Remove plastic/paper wrappings on the 3 filters and housings, put filters into the 3 housings, and assemble the housings onto the main system as follows:

Stand the 3 housings upright. Make sure each housing has a rubber O-ring in its groove. Put the Essence sediment filter (FI-ES-SED10) into the “1st stage” housing on the right. Put the Essence carbon filters (FI-ES-CAB10) into the “2nd and 3rd stage” housing in the middle and left. Starting from the 3rd stage housing on the left, hand twist the housing onto the main system turning counterclockwise, one by one, for all 3 housings. Use the wrench provided to completely tighten the housing starting from 1st-stage. Repeat this step for the 2nd stage housing in the middle, and for the 3rd stage housing on the left. Note: For some people it is easier to use the wrench with the system laid down (face up).












turn counter-clockwise to tighten




Use



Wrench

3rd Stage

2nd Stage

3rd Stage

1st Stage

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3


Space: Make sure there is sufficient space under the counter for installation (an area of about 17”L x 6”W x 18”H for the system, 11”D x 18”H for tank).

The RO system is best installed under the kitchen sink. But if that is not feasible you can install the system anywhere where there is a cold water supply with sufficient water pressure for the chosen RO model, and an outlet to drain off the drain water from the system.

Mounting: No need to mount the RO system on the wall. The RO system can stand in the sink cabinet without mounting, this makes future filter change easy and convenient. If you prefer to mount the system to the wall, please make sure it can be taken down easily for filter replacement.

Feed Water: RO systems are designed to treat both hard and soft water and can handle incoming TDS levels up to 2,000 ppm.

Note: If the cold water shut off valve can not turn off the water, the main water supply to the house must be shut off for the installation. Another option for feed water adapter connection is to use a “self-piercing saddle valve” from APEC or from a local hardware store.


Fig. 4





Fig. 4C

1/2” Connection 3/8” Connection


For Solid Copper Riser: See Fig. 5B. Follow the same procedure as for flex line. If the copper riser cannot bend, this it’s best to replace it with a flex line riser. Fit the feed water adapter to the shut off valve the same way as described above.

Option Connection Point: See Fig. 5F. The feed water adapter can also be installed between the riser tube and faucet shank. Loosen nut and separate cold water riser tube from faucet shank. Gently bend riser tube so that the Feed Water Adapter fits onto the faucet shank. If your riser tube has no built-in washer, then fit the cone-shaped washer provided onto the riser tube. Connect the riser tube, feed water adapter, and faucet shank together and tighten.

| | | | |---|---|---| | | | |

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

| | | | |---|---|---| | | | | | | | | | | | |

Sink Sink

Faucet Shank

Faucet Shank

Riser Tube

Riser Tube

Needle Valve

Needle Valve

| | | | |---|---|---| | | | |

| | | | |---|---|---|

| | | |

Main Water Supply Shut-off Valve

Main Water Supply Shut-off Valve

| | | |---|---| | | |

| | | |---|---| | | |

For Solid Line

For Flexible Line

Fig. 5A Fig. 5B









Insert Sleeve Compression Nut









Push the tubing all the way into the needle valve while tightening compression nut.

Apply Teflon Tape Here

Fig. 5C

Fig. 5D

To open needle valve: Turn needle handle counter-clockwise. To close needle valve: Turn needle handle clockwise.



Fig. 5E Fig. 5F


Test for leaks after the system is completely installed: Close the Needle Valve (turn needle handle clockwise all the way in to close). Turn ON the cold water supply to the sink faucet. If the Needle Valve or the Adapter leaks, check the connection and try applying more Teflon tape or tighten the brass nut some more to stop the leak.

Important: DO NOT REMOVE the black drain tubing from the RO system! If you need to extend the drain tubing please use a union connector to connect additional length of tubing.

Note: To avoid possible drainage noise, mount drain line as low as possible on the vertical tailpiece, or on horizontal tailpiece.

There is constant water pressure “packed” inside the RO system which blocks the drain water from backing-up into the system. So the drain water is “forced-drained”, not “gravity-drained”.

MOUNT DRAIN SADDLE AT EITHER LOCATION




Fig. 7B



Fig. 8A

Drill 1/2” diameter hole for standard RO faucet. (Air-Gap faucet: drill 1”D hole.) For best results use a 1/2” carbide-tipped masonry drill bit. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes while drilling the faucet hole.

Note: No need to drill a hole if an existing hole is available:

When drilling a hole for the RO faucet, choose a location that looks good, works well, and is most convenient for dispensing pure water. An ample flat area is required for the faucet base so that the faucet can be drawn down tightly.


Note: Immediately after the hole drilling is done, clean up all metal chips, for metal chips will stain the porcelain!!








If your faucet comes with tubing attached:






Fig. 9A









Faucet Base



Counter Top


Note: For stainless steel sinks, we recommend reversing the black locating washer so the flat end is facing upwards for proper installation.

Counter Top Opening

Black Locating Washer Lock Washer Lock Nut

Tubing

Option: Mounting The Faucet with Metal Compression Fitting & Separate Faucet Tubing

If your faucet comes without tubing attached:






Faucet stem



Sleeve & Tube insert



Compression nut




Counter Top

Faucet Base

Fig.9D



Counter Top Opening

Tube insert

Black Locating Washer Lock Washer Lock Nut

Sleeve Compression nut

Insert Sleeve Compression Nut

Tubing

Fig. 9B

Fig.9C


##### IMPORTANT INSTALLATION NOTICE!

G


The Quick connect fittings come with an end plug that needs to be removed before the tubing can be connected. Please disconnect the end plugs at Points G and H from the Quick connect fittings before connecting tubing. See Fig.10A and Fig.10B.

H


Fig.10BA

Fig.10A

2 Types of End Plugs

Depending on your system model, there will be 2 types of protective end plugs. Both types of end plugs are disconnected the same way. After disconnecting the end plugs, please discard them as they are not needed for installation.

Soft Plug Hard Plug

To Disconnect the End Plugs:


Push In and Hold Down on the collet ring square against the fitting. While holding down the collet ring, pull out the end plug with your other hand. Only the plug will slide out from the connection. See Fig.10C.

Fig.10C

To Connect the Tubing:


Push the tubing all the way into the QuickConnect fitting, then gently pull back on the tubing to make sure the connection is completely secure. See Fig.10D.

Fig.10D



To Disconnect the Tubing:

See Fig.10B. Push in and hold down on the collet ring square against the fitting. With the collet held in this position the tube can be removed. See Fig.10E.

Summary of Tubing Connections: There are 4 connections: See Fig. 11 & Fig. 11A. Point A to X: Connect RO to COLD water supply — Red tubing.

Fig.10E

Important! Insert and sleeve MUST be installed to prevent water leaking. Metal compression nut must be fully tightened! (See Page 8)


Fig. 11



Fig. 11A

Details on Tubing Connections: To ensure a smooth and correct installation, please connect the water lines following the sequence and order outlined below. Refer to Fig.11 & 11A for proper point locations.

Option (Faucet comes without tubing attached) : Tubing color: Clear tubing. Connect the CLEAR tubing to the base of RO faucet.

Fitting type: See Fig. 9B (Page 12). Metal compression nut fitting. Use plastic sleeve. Add “insert” to tubing. No teflon tape here. Tighten nut with wrench.

Important: Insert and sleeve Must be installed to prevent water leaking. Metal compression nut must be fully tightened! (See Page 8)

Tubing color: Red tubing. Connect the RED tubing to the Feed Water Needle Valve. Fitting type: See Fig. 5C (Page 8). Metal compression nut fitting. Use plastic sleeve. Add “insert” to tubing. No teflon tape here. Tighten nut with wrench.

Tips! If Point Z or Point X leaks after you have tightened the brass nut, check to make sure you did put the plastic “insert” into the tubing. If the insert is already in place, then try applying Teflon tape from the threaded metal stud all the way to the plastic tubing, wrap the whole connection with 8-10 rounds of Teflon tape. Smooth out the tape on the threaded part with your fingers. Tighten brass nut again. This should stop the leak.

If the plastic sleeve is damaged, you can use the metal sleeve, but you need to apply Teflon tape as described above, this should stop the leak.


Tubing color: Black tubing. Connect the BLACK tubing from the RO to the Drain Saddle. Fitting type: Simply push the Clear tubing into the Quick Connect fitting. No Inserts, Sleeves or Nuts are needed to secure the connection. No Teflon tape needed here.

Tubing color: Red tubing. Connect the RED tubing from the Feed Water Valve to the RO’s stage -1 prefilter.

Fitting type: Quick Connect fitting See Fig. 10D (Page 13). Simply push the Red tubing into the QC fitting. No Inserts, Sleeves or Nuts are needed to secure the connection. No Teflon tape needed here.

Tubing color: Clear tubing. Connect the CLEAR tubing from the faucet base stud to the Stage-5 filter’s outflow end at point H. (See “Flow -->” arrow on the filter for flow direction.) Fitting type: Quick Connect: Simply push the Clear tubing into the QC fitting. No Inserts, Sleeves or Nuts are needed to secure the connection. No Teflon tape needed here.

Tubing color: Yellow tubing. Connect the YELLOW tubing to Stage-5 filter’s T-fitting. Fitting type: Quick Connect: Simply push the Yellow tubing into the QC fitting. No Inserts, Sleeves or Nuts are needed to secure the connection. No Teflon tape needed here.

Prepare tank: See Fig.12. Apply 6-8 wraps of Teflon tape to tank’s threaded Output stem on top of tank. Screw tank Valve onto Output stem. Tubing color: Yellow tubing. Connect the YELLOW tubing from Stage-5 T-fitting to the tank’s valve. Fitting type: Quick-Connect fitting on ball valve. Simply push Yellow tubing into valve port.

Standard 4-gallon Tank Diagram:


Fig. 12 Tank Ball Valve



Important: DO NOT TOUCH the Air Valve, It’s a pre-pressurized tank, release or add air will effect tank normal function.

OFF Position ON Position


Option: Ice-maker Connection If you want to connect purified water from the RO to your ice-maker, you will need:

See Fig.13. Before connecting the product water line from Point Z to H, add a T-fitting near point H to divert product water to both the ice-maker and the faucet.

Using RO for Ice-maker only: If you want the RO to feed your ice-maker (fridge) only, you should still connect the RO faucet as a 2nd outlet. This allows you to drain the tank, flush new filters through the faucet rather than through your icemaker line. You can hang the faucet by the system and not mount it. Option: Multiple Outputs - Add Shut Off Valve: If your RO is feeding several output points (icemaker, fridge, bathroom), you should add a Shut-Off valve to each output line (except the RO spigot line). This way, if you ever need to diagnose a problem in the system, you can easily shut off these lines to isolate the water flow for accurate troubleshooting.

Ball Valve Position

Insert Sleeve

|ON OFF| |---|

Metal Nut

Tube

Z

Tee tting for icemaker & output

Y

H

Shut O Valve

X

Fig. 13


Please Note: Water may come out dark for the first few seconds on the initial flush, and then clear right up. This is due to the GAC (granular activated carbon) post filter.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed the Reverse Osmosis System!



ESSENCE RO SYSTEM MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

The system requires very little maintenance. Just change the filter cartridges regularly as suggested below. Keep the system indoors away from extreme hot or cold temperatures, and run the system within its reasonable output capacity (i.e. allow the system to rest at least a few hours a day).

To ensure the longevity and integrity of your drinking water system, please use genuine APEC Water replacement filter at WWW.FreeDrinkingWater.com/parts.htm Stages 1, 2, 3 Pre-Filters: Replace every 6-12 months.

(FILTER-SET-ES)

(Private well water source: may need to replace pre-filters sooner than 12 months due to heavy sediments and other particles.)

Private Well Water: Replace every 2 years depending on well water quality, and pre-filter change maintenance.

(MEM-ES-75 or MEM-ES-50)

Filter Housing O-rings: We recommend replacing the filter housing O-ring every year or when replacing the 3 pre-filters.

Important! It is important to change the 3 pre-filters timely, at least every 6-12 months. The

pre-filters protect the stage-4 membrane. If they are not changed timely and become over-depleted, the membrane life capacity may be reduced and affect contaminant removal and pure water production rate.

It’s best to use APEC replacement filters. Using “non APEC”and lesser quality filters may clog up the RO system and damage the membrane.

We recommend that the stage 1-3 filter housings be replaced every 5 years.

FILTER CHANGE INSTRUCTIONS

How To Replace Stages 1, 2, 3 Pre-Filters:








Turn counter-clockwise to open the membrane housing cap.











Add a little bit lubricant on double o-rings.

Use Wrench


W






3rd Stage

1st Stage

2nd Stage

STEP 1 STEP 2

Fig. 14

After taking the housing off, take out the dirty filters and put the new 3 pre-filters in. Remember, Stage 2 and Stage 3 are the same carbon filters.



Fig. 14C

NOTE: Only this filter change needs bleach sanitizing. Do not apply chlorine/ bleach in any way to Membrane for it will damage the membrane!


OWNER’S MANUAL

####### Please read this section for useful RO system and maintenance information.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Basic terms ................................................................................. page 24 System flow diagram ................................................................... page 24 Water pressure -- The most important factor ............................... page 25 Tank -- Fill up time. Fill up volume. Delivery pressure ............... page 25-26 Icemaker and multiple output points ........................................... page 26 Insufficient water Pressure -- Problems with non-pump systems .... page 27 How to test your water pressure ................................................. page 27 Premature membrane failure ...................................................... page 27

RO Head diagram ....................................................................... page 28 Air bubbles ................................................................................. page 29 No water at dispensing faucet ...................................................... page 29 Slow output ................................................................................. page 30 Filter housing is leaking ............................................................... page 30 TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) Level Reads Higher Than Normal ....... page 31 There is a leak at the tank ball valve connection .......................... page 32 System shut off is abnormal ......................................................... page 32 How to Test RO’s Shut-Off Function .............................................. page 33 Pure water still tastes like tap water ............................................. page 33 RO Makes Humming Noise ......................................................... page 34


###### Part I: RO BASICS

This section provides basic concepts on how an ROES system works, how it performs in relation to your house’s water condition. We hope this information helps keep your ROES system running at top performance for years to come.

GPD = Gallons Per Day (flow rate) PSI = Pounds per Square Inch (pressure) TDS = Total Dissolved Solids (contaminants) PPM = Parts Per Million (unit used to measure TDS level) TDS Meter = A digital meter for measuring the TDS level in the water

Fig. 15 below shows how water flows through the RO system from Feed point to Output point. Input water starts from Main Water Supply, going through stages 1, 2, 3 pre-filters, then enters the stage-4 membrane. Product (filtered) water from the membrane feeds the storage tank; the “brine water” from the membrane drains out through the drain line. Product water from the tank passes through stage-5 filter before reaching the dispensing faucet.

Important! Please TURN OFF the main cold water supply to the RO system when the unit is not in use during a vacation or extended leave. During very cold or freezing weather conditions, please also TURN OFF the main cold water supply and completely drain all of the water from the RO system and water storage tank.

TANK BALL VALVE

APEC RO SYSTEM FLOW DIAGRAM

|PRODUCT WATER TANK| |---|

| | | |

FAUCET

TEE FITTING

|5th Stage Filter| | |---|---|

AUTO SHUT-OFF VALVE

Fig. 15

PRODUCT WATER IN OUT

TO DRAIN PIPE BRINE

CHECK VALVE (BUILT IN)

INLET

FLOW RESTRICTOR (BUILT IN)

MAIN WATER SUPPLY

4th Stage R.O. MEMBRANE

| | | |---|---| | | | | | |

FEED WATER

| | | | | | | | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | | | | | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | | | | | | | | | |

NEEDLE VALVE MAIN WATER SUPPLY SHUT-OFF VALVE

PRE-FILTER

PRE-FILTER

PRE-FILTER

SEDIMENT

CARBON

CARBON

2nd Stage3rd Stage 1st Stage


RO systems run on water pressure. Therefore your water pressure has the most direct effect on how well your RO will perform. With sufficient water pressure (85 psi max.), your RO system will function well, give high output with high removal rate, and fill up the storage tank quickly.

The TDS meter is used to test your water’s quality before and after the RO system. It also tells you when the membrane needs to be changed.

Please follow instructions below: Use 2 clean glasses, fill one glass with Tap water, fill the other glass with Product (filtered) water (rinse this glass with filtered water several times to get an accurate reading). Remove the Sensor cap on the TDS meter and rinse the meter sensor with filtered water several times, then Turn on the meter.

The meter will show “000” reading on its screen. Place the TDS meter into the Product water. Record Product water’s TDS reading. Then do the same for the Tap water. Record the Tap water’s reading. Compare the 2 readings.

The Product water’s TDS should be about 3%-10% of your Tap water’s TDS. This is a normal range.

For example: Your Tap water’s TDS: 100 ppm Your Product water’s TDS should read within: 10% of 100ppm => 10ppm

This means that with 100 ppm input, the RO system has removed 90% of the contaminants (TDS) from the source, leaving only 10% (10 ppm) residual TDS in the Product water. This is a normal range. Which means the RO membrane is in good condition.

If your Product water TDS reads less than 10%, that is a very good and normal reading.

You should test your water once or twice a year to monitor the membrane condition. As the membrane gets depleted overtime, its rejection capacity will decrease. When this happens, the TDS in the Product water will increase.

When your Product water TDS creeps up to 15%- 20% of input water’s TDS, it’s time to replace the membrane.

|Substance|Influent challenge concentration (mg/L)|Maximum permissible product water concentration mg/L| |---|---|---| |Total Dissolved Solids|750±40 mg/L|187|

############ Depending on your water pressure, the standard tank will fill up in 2-3 hours. After the tank is filled, the RO will shut off automatically.


Your water pressure and temperature will determine how full and how fast the storage tank will be filled up. The stronger your input water pressure, the faster and fuller the tank can fill. If water pressure is low, the tank will fill slower and will not fill up to its full capacity.

For a non-pumped RO system: The 4* gallon tank will fill up according to your input water pressure as follows: Input 70+ psi —> tank fills 3.1 gallon ( almost 100% full ) Input 60 psi —> tank fills 2.8 gallon ( about 88% full ) Input 50 psi —> tank fills 2.5 gallon ( about 70% full ) Input 40 psi —> tank fills 1.9 gallon ( about 50% full ) So, if your input water pressure is low, the tank will not fill up to full.

The RO’s delivery pressure depends on how full the tank is. The pressure is high when tank is full, and drops when tank depletes. See chart below for 4-gallon tank.

4-gallon tank’s delivery pressure:

3.0 gallon —> 50 psi output/delivery pressure (pressure inside tank) 2.5 gallon —> 36 psi 2.0 gallon —> 24 psi 1.5 gallon —> 18 psi 1.0 gallon —> 14 psi

If your ice-maker requires a minimum input water pressure of 20-30psi, you need to have at least 50+psi input water pressure going into your non-pump RO system. If your water pressure is under 50psi, the tank will not fill up enough, and the delivery pressure to your ice-maker may be sluggish and unstable. To boost output pure water pressure, you can add a Permeate Pump to your RO system.

Feeding the filtered water to multiple outlets is doable. The key is choosing the right RO model that fits your house’s water pressure level. This model should fill up the tank quickly and fully. A frequently full tank will then provide good delivery pressure to feed the multiple outlets in your house.

We suggest limiting output points to no more than 3 outlets. Total tubing distance should be within 40 ft. horizontal and 15 ft. vertical from the RO system (more or less).


If you experience these problems, Please check your input water pressure as the first step. This will often solve the above listed problems.

Get a water pressure gauge that adapts onto your sink or garden faucet (from hardware store), attach gauge onto faucet, turn water on to FULL, then take a reading.

For some areas, water pressure is lower during the day and higher at night when less people are using water. So to get an accurate average, take several measurements at different times of the day and average them out.

If you’re on city water: The over-depleted carbon pre-filters allow the chlorine to get through and damage the membrane.

If you’re on private well water: The overloaded pre-filters allow excessive sediments and particles to get through and clog up the membrane surface.


###### Part II: Trouble-Shoot Guide For Newly Installed RO System

After installation, if you encounter any of the problems described below, please follow this guide to troubleshoot. In most cases, the problem is quickly solved by following this guide.

ROES System’s Head Diagram (w/o Pump)


Fig. 16

ROES System’s Head Points Identification:

Point W: Connect to drain water pipe.


1) Air Bubbles: Lots of Air bubbles in cup or bottle when filling

It is quite normal to see air bubbles in a cup of pure water. This mainly occurs when a RO unit is first installed or when filters are being replaced. When new filters are installed to the unit, the filter housings are dry. When they are attached onto the RO head, air pockets will fill the housing. As water is turned on and flows through the unit, the air pockets move throughout the system. This can have an effect on the appearance of air bubbles in the water.

RO units will self purge the air bubbles that can accumulate inside the unit. As you continue to draw water, trapped air will be removed by the water flow and you should quickly see a reduction in the bubbles inside the water cup. You can also drain 1-2 tanks of water to quickly purge the air bubbles.

The ASO valve has 4 lines connected to it, 2 Whites and 2 Clears. C1 is labeled IN and C2 is labeled OUT on the valve. C3 and C4 are connected to the ends with the 4 screws. Please confirm connections:



Back View

Front View

Fig. 16A

Fig. 16B


4) Tank Takes Long Time To Fill (does not meet claimed GPD)

Claimed GPD:

The claimed gallon per day (GPD) flow rate for each RO model is rated based on 60 psi input water pressure at 77 degree F water temperature. At this standard water pressure and temperature, the ROES 50 gpd system should make about 2.08 gal of filtered water per hour, the 4-gal tank should fill in 1.5-2 hours.

Lower water pressure and colder temperature will slow the system’s output to less than the claimed GPD flow rate. Please check your water pressure as the first step in determining the cause of slow flow rate (low GPD).

If you are experiencing a leak from any of the pre-filter housings on the reverse osmosis system, the rubber O-ring needs to be replaced. The filter housing must have an O-ring in order to seal properly. Please review the steps below to address a leaking filter housing.


Please follow the steps below:


How to test TDS correctly: See “TDS Meter -- How to Test Your Water Quality” instructions on page

If tank TDS is higher than Yellow line TDS, that means your source water’s TDS level fluctuates over time. So, from day to day, the TDS highs and lows accumulate in the tank resulting in a high “composite TDS” reading. This is especially true if you’re on a private well. The well pump’s fluctuating pressure cycles also cause TDS to go up and down. In this case, the “real-time” TDS from the Yellow line (prior to the tank) is the system’s true performance. If this number is within 10% of your tap TDS, then it is within an acceptable range, and your RO system is working fine.

Drawing more water can help stabilize the TDS. If you are only drawing a small amount of water every time, the unit will quickly turn On and Off, not allowing the membrane to receive full inlet pressure, causing a spike in the TDS.


If you are experiencing a leak from where the tank ball valve attaches to the tank stem, you may not have applied enough Teflon tape to the stem when you first installed the valve. To correct this issue, please turn off the supply water to the system and turn on the drinking water faucet to completely empty the tank. Then, unscrew the tank ball valve and apply 6-8 wraps of Teflon Tape to the tank stem and screw on the tank ball valve back onto the tank. Please double check the connection for leaks.

The most common cause for “slow-shut-off” is insufficient input water pressure. RO needs sufficient input pressure to shut off promptly.


The RO system should shut off automatically when the tank is filled. When the RO fails to shut off after tank is filled, drain water will keep running down the drain depleting the pre-filters, the membrane, and may lead to higher water bills. To test if your RO system is shutting down normally, please follow the steps below.

Please contact an APEC Product Specialist at your earliest convenience to help take care of this issue quickly.

If the RO system is newly installed, please make sure the first 1-2 tanks of water have been completely flushed out. The new filters on your system needs to be flushed out before use.

Once the tank has been fully filled and flushed 1-2 times, use the TDS meter to check the tap water vs. pure water TDS. With good water pressure and normal water quality, our RO units are designed to remove 90-99% of total dissolved solids impurities from water. Please contact an APEC product specialist if you have any questions or need assistance.


When RO makes a humming noise, most likely it’s caused by air bubbles being trapped in the “Check Valve” during installation. See check valve on Fig. 17, point E (Page 29).

To purge air from the check valve, do as follows:



Close Tank Valve





Fig. 18




Tilt System



Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

If the noise comes back, try the above procedure again another 2-3 times. Sometimes it takes several tries to get rid of all the air in the system.

If the noise persists after a few days, that means there is air in your water source, or the current Check Valve is resonating with your water pressure and pipes, creating the noise.

In this case, a new Check Valve will solve the problem. Contact APEC customer service for assistance.



###### OTHER INFORMATION

AirGap Faucet Installation (Optional)

There are 3 colored tubings on your Air-Gap faucet. At the end of each 1/4” tubing there is a “Quick Connect” fitting. The Quick Connect fittings is used to connect the Pure and Waste water line from the RO unit to the Air Gap Faucet.

To connect the lines, simply insert each line into the fitting port tightly.



Fig. 19 Fig. 20

Hook-Up:


How drain water is disposed via Air-Gap faucet:

############ Drain water is routed through the Air-Gap faucet prior to being drained off into the standard drainpipe outlet. The 1/4” BLACK drain water line from the RO system will discharge through the 1/4” RED line to the Air-Gap faucet. The drain water will then flow back down the 3/8” BLACK drain water line of the Air-Gap faucet to your drain pipe.

Pure water output flow:

After the Air Gap faucet is installed, the RO pure water output line will flow from the Stage-5 filter, through the BLUE line of the Air-Gap faucet, to the dispensing faucet.

############ * * * End AirGap Faucet Installation * * *


System Certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI 58 for TDS, as verified and substantiated by test data.

|LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY

Scope

APEC takes pride in selling a superb line of products, including this reverse osmosis system (“Product”). As such, APEC expressly warrants to the original purchaser that, for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase, the Product will be reasonably free of defects in materials and workmanship. Within that one (1) year period from the original purchase, APEC will, at its option, repair or replace the Product without charge, or refund the cost of the Product, if the Product fails or does not perform as warranted solely due to a manufacturing defect within the warranty period, subject to the limitations and exclusions set forth in this Limited Product Warranty. This Limited Product Warranty only applies when the Product is used, stored, handled, fabricated and/or installed in the manner recommended by APEC in the Installation Instruction & Owner’s Manual (“Manual”).

Repair or Replacement

Repair or replacement during this one (1) year warranty shall include reasonable labor charges necessary to repair or replace the defective Product, but shall not include freight charges or any other local labor charges from third parties other than APEC, unless APEC expressly approves such charges in writing. During the entire one (1) year warranty, APEC’s obligation to repair or replace shall further be limited to repair or replacement with the styles, models, products, colors, etc. of the Product that are available at the time of the repair or replacement, and shall be limited to the repair or replacement of only the specific Product that fails due to a manufacturing defect. Any repaired or replaced product shall also remain subject to the original one (1) year warranty from the date of the original purchase, and any repair or replacement shall not extend the original warranty period in any manner or start a new warranty period.

Conditions of Validity of this Limited Product Warranty

Even though the Product has extremely high endurance for operating conditions such as pH, maximum TDS, temperature, and optimum water pressure, THIS LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY SHALL ONLY BE VALID IF:

1. The replaceable filters and membrane are changed and maintained on a regular basis as directed in the Manual. Moreover, depending on local water input water quality, regular maintenance may need to be increased.
2. The Product is operated within the confines of the following standard operating conditions:


Water Pressure pH Range Max. TDS Water Temperature Standard System 40- 85 psi 2-11 2000 ppm 40-100 F

Any information or suggestion by APEC with respect to the Product concerning applications, specifications or compliance with codes and standards is provided solely for your convenient reference and is made without any representation as to accuracy or suitability. You must verify and test the suitability of any information with respect to the Product for your specific application.

Non-Covered Defects

THIS LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER DEFECTS CAUSED BY:

1. Improper storage, installation, maintenance, handling, use and/or alterations of the Product, including, but not limited to, noncompliance with the installation, maintenance and standard operation conditions stated in the Manual and this Limited Product Warranty.
2. Unreasonable use, unintended use, or misuse of the Product for something other than its intended purpose as a reverse osmosis system.
3. Use of replacement parts, filters, membranes or other accessories that are not sold or manufactured by APEC for use with this particular Product.
4. Damage not resulting from manufacturing defects that occur while the Product is in the original purchaser’s possession.
5. Installation of the Product with known or visible manufacturing defects at the time of installation.
6. Damage caused by freezing, flood, fire or Act of God.


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|CONDITIONS THAT RENDER THIS LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY VOID

THIS LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY SHALL BE VOID IF:

1. The Product is not operated in compliance with normal municipal water conditions for which the particular model of this Product is intended.
2. The person seeking to invoke the warranty is not the original purchaser. That is, this Limited Product Warranty only extends to original purchasers.
3. The product is purchased used. That is, this Limited Product Warranty only covers new products.
4. The Product is purchased from someone other than APEC or one of APEC’s authorized dealers. This is because, unless the Product was sold by APEC or one of its authorized dealers, APEC cannot verify or guarantee the integrity or authenticity of the Product.


General Conditions

The warranties set forth herein are the only warranties made by APEC in connection with the product. APEC cannot and does not make any implied or express warranties with respect to the product, and disclaims all other warranties, including, but not limited to, any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Products sold by APEC are sold only to the specifications specifically set forth by APEC in writing. Other than the limited product warranty set forth herein, APEC makes no other warranties, express or implied. APEC’s sole obligation under this warranty shall be repair or replacement of a non-conforming product or parts of the product, or at the option of APEC, return of the product and a refund of the purchase price. Buyer assumes all risk whatsoever as to the result of the use of the product purchased, whether used singularly or in combination with any other products or substances.

No claim by the buyer/owner of any kind, including claims for indemnification, shall be greater in amount than the purchase price of the products in respect to which damages are claimed. In no event shall APEC be liable to buyer/owner in tort, contract or otherwise, for any special, indirect, incidental, consequential, reliance, statutory, special, punitive or exemplary damages, including, but not limited to, lost profits, loss of use, loss of time, inconvenience, damage to good will or reputation, or loss of data, even if advised of the possibility of such damages or such damages could have been reasonably foreseen, in connection with, arising out of, or as a result of, the sale, delivery, servicing, use or loss of use of the products sold hereunder, or for any liability of buyer to any third party with respect thereto.

Obtaining Warranty Coverage or General Inquiries

If coverage is available, you may obtain coverage under this Limited Product Warranty by providing APEC with proof of original purchase, and that you are the original purchaser. For service under this Limited Product Warranty, you must notify APEC by phone at 1-800-880-4808, by email at techsupport@freedrinkingwater.com, or in writing at 1320 S. Johnson Dr., City of Industry, CA 91745. In making the claim, please provide your name, address, phone number, a description of the product involved, and an explanation of the defect.

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

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######## Advanced Purification Engineering Corp. 1320 S Johnson Drive City of Industry, CA 91745

For questions or comments please visit our website at:

#### www.FreeDrinkingWater.com

For technical support contact us at: Techsupport@freedrinkingwater.com

1-800-880-4808