How Do I Change The CW5500 Water for Living reverse Osmosis Filters?

Before starting, shut off cold water supply to unit. If changing the stage 5 filter or RO element, lift the handle on the R.O. faucet (located at sink or refrigerator) to drain out the storage tank completely and allow the system to stand for 10 minutes in order to fully decompress the tank. Some of the R.O. water should be saved in a pitcher or clean bucket for cleaning and rinsing. You can change the stage 1,2, and 3 filters without draining the tank.

1. Remove filter housings by twisting and rotating them left, or counter clockwise. If the housings are too tight, a filter wrench may be necessary. An oil filter wrench will work, but you may want to use the wrench you received with your unit or purchase a new wrench from Water for Living.
2. Slide out used filters and discard, but save "O" rings for re-use.
3. Wash out inside of all housings with a mild soap solution and a few drops of household bleach and then rinse with R.O. or chlorinated city tap water.
4. Lube "O" ring with a water-soluble lubricant (such as K-Y Jelly) and replace in groove in filter housing.
5. Insert new filters into appropriate housings.
6. Follow the normal Start-up Procedures (below).

How Do I Change The CW5500 RO Membrane?

Before starting, shut off cold water supply to unit. Lift the handle on the R.O. faucet to drain out the storage tank completely and allow the system to stand for 10 minutes in order to fully decompress the tank. Some of the R.O. water should be saved in a pitcher or clean bucket for cleaning and rinsing.

Caution: Your membrane is treated with a biocidal solution to prevent and retard the growth of bacteria. Please use care when handling and make sure not to drink water from the first tank produced after membrane replacement. Shut off the water supply and drain the unit at least once as if you were changing the filters. Also make sure to save some of the R.O. water for rinsing.

1. Disconnect the tube from the RO membrane (big horizontally mounted housing).
2. Unscrew the large end of the RO membrane housing.
3. Slide out the used membrane and discard.
4. Clean and flush out the inside of the membrane housing using R.O. water.
5. Insert new membrane, making sure it is fully seated into the bottom end.
6. Screw cap back onto the housing, making sure "O" ring is still in place. The "O" ring may need to be lubricated with a water-soluble lubricant.
7. Re-connect the tube.
8. Flush the system thoroughly.

How Do I Start Up The Unit?

1. Disconnect the stage three filter outlet tube at the automatic shut-off valve and place in a bucket. The automatic shut off valve is the big square valve block with four lines going in / out.
2. Turn on cold water supply and allow water to flow through the stage 1,2,3 filters and into the bucket until it turns clear. Turn off incoming water supply. This step allows you to flush the excess carbon that comes of the new filters to the drain so it does not plug the auto shut off valve.
3. Reconnect the tube to the automatic shut-off valve.
4. Turn on cold water supply valve and the under sink water valve.
5. Open R.O. faucet at sink or refrigerator. (Move the black lever to the "up" position).
6. Check the system for leaks. In the event of a leak, the cold water supply can be turned off and the leaking item tightened.
7. After about 20 minutes, or when water is dripping out of the R.O. faucet, flip the handle to the closed position. It will now take between 6 and 10 hours for the tank to fill, based on your local water temperature and pressure.
   
   Caution: Do not drink the water from the first tank produced by your newly purchased system or newly replaced membrane.
8. After the tank is full (you will hear no water running to the tank), flush the system by placing the R.O. faucet in open position until the water is completely discharged from the storage tank.
9. Upon complete discharge of the storage tank, flip the handle to the closed position and let the tank refill. This process may take another 6 to 10 hours.
10. Check for leaks daily for the first week and periodically thereafter.

What Is The Annual Sanitization Procedure?

We recommend sanitizing the R.O. system storage tank at least once a year in all systems. For RO’s using non-chlorinated supply water, we recommend a more thorough sanitization procedure than just the storage tank.

The best time to do a storage tank sanitization or complete system sanitization is while changing your filters. First, shut down the system in the same manner as with a filter change. Drain the system, including the storage tank, and then disconnect the tubing from the shut-off valve to the storage tank. Put about ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Hydrogen Peroxide or household bleach into this tube, using an eyedropper for best results. Reconnect the tube to the shut-off valve and follow normal start-up procedures, including draining the tank. If you have an icemaker hook-up installed, be sure to flush the icemaker line so it gets sterilized as well.

If you are making your drinking water with lake or stream water or un-chlorinated well water, it is necessary to more thoroughly sanitize your unit semi-annually following these steps.

1. Remove the RO element and stage 1,2, and 3 filter elements.
2. Put 4 oz. of household bleach or hydrogen peroxide in the empty housing of the stage 1 filter.
3. Run the system until chlorine smelling water is coming out of the tap.
4. Shut the supply water off for 30 minutes to allow contact time between bleach and bacteria.
5. Flush system and replace RO element, stage 1,2,3 filters and replace the stage 5 taste and odor filter as it was ruined when the bleach water ran through it.