Frequently Asked Questions

There are two shut off valves. One is near the cold water line going up to your hot and cold kitchen faucet. It is on the line feeding the RO system. The second one is located on top of the metal tank. Turn both handles ¼ turn to shut off the water. You can only turn the handle one way. The handle will be perpendicular to the body of the valve when it is shut off. When the handle is parallel to the tubing, it’s open.

The first time you use your new reverse osmosis system or after the filters have been changed, the water may have a dark tint to it.  Do not worry this is normal.  The carbon filter is brand new and just needs to be flushed a little more. Open the reverse osmosis faucet and allow all the water to run out.  This will empty the tank and flush out the carbon filter.

There are several reasons this may have occurred. Fill a glass of water and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Does the color disappear? If yes, then it is air bubbles in the line of the new system. Don’t worry; this will stop once all of the air is out of the lines.  Open your new reverse osmosis faucet and allow all the water to run out. This will empty the tank and should remove all the excess air from the system. If no, it is most likely caused by a coral calcium mineralizer.  Open your new reverse osmosis faucet and allow all the water to run out.  You may have to do this more than once to flush the excess from the mineralizer.

This noise is normal and is caused by the little black pump on the system. This pump makes your RO system more efficient by minimizing the amount of water going to the drain. The noise will stop once the tank is full of drinking water. It could take several hours.

This can happen for many reasons.

• The storage tank may be empty and simply needs time to refill.
• After several hours the storage tank is not full, the system probably needs servicing.
• The pre-filter may be clogged and needs replacing.
• Leak detector may have been tripped and the water coming into the
• RO has been turned off. Remove the sponge and put the lever down.
• Check for leaks in two (2) hours and call us if the RO is leaking.

This depends on the feed water quality. The chart below is the average schedule.

To insure you are getting the same water quality as when your system was new, it requires periodic maintenance. The most important of which is the timely filter changes. Failure to change filters may reduce membrane life and water quality dramatically.

• Did you know? Advanced Water Solutions, Inc. recommends changing your reverse osmosis filters every 12 months. Even if the system is not used on a regular basis.
• Reason: It is not just the usage level that causes the need to be changed, but time the filters spend in the system. Leaving the filters in place can increase the possibility of bacteria growth on the filters.

• There are several different types of salt that is sold for water softeners. We recommend using solar salt.
• Solar or coarse salt has far less insoluble matter than rock salt. We sell and can deliver salt should you need it.

• Sodium chloride, known as salt, is a naturally occurring mineral.
• Potassium chloride (KCL) is also a salt and functions exactly the same in your water softener as sodium chloride.
• Potassium chloride is a naturally occurring mineral that is primarily used in agriculture. It promotes plant growth and conditions soil.
• It is safe to use on your plants; whereas sodium chloride is not.

• The salt or potassium (KCL) is added to the brine tank. This is a short round or square plastic tank with a lid on it and is usually black.
• Lift the lid and add to the tank. Do NOT add to small white tube inside the tank. Keep salt level below the top of the white tube inside the tank.

• Humidity or wrong type of salt may create a cavity between the water and the salt. This action, known as “bridging”, prevents the brine solution from being made, leading to your water supply being hard.
• If you suspect salt bridging, carefully pound on the outside of the brine tank or pour some warm water over the salt to break up the bridge. This should always be followed up by allowing the unit to use up any remaining salt and then thoroughly cleaning out the brine tank. Remember to add water to the brine tank after cleaning.
• Allow four hours to produce a brine solution, and then manually regenerate the softener.

See Manual

No, you will want to use 3/4 the amount of detergents and soaps than you did with hard water.

See Manual

• On some models, the brine tank will always have water in it. This is the brine solution that will be used during the regeneration.
• If the brine tank is more than half full the system may need servicing.

Nothing, just add the new material to the brine tank. You do not have to remove the material that is currently in the tank.

This depends on a few factors.

1. Amount of chlorine/chloramines in the supply water. (Chlorine shortens resin life) Chlorine can be removed with a carbon pre-filter. Average life span with a carbon pre-filter is 11-15 years.
2. Resin Quality. Average life span without carbon filter is 7-9 years.
3. How often the system regenerates.

• There are several different types of salt that is sold for water softeners. We recommend using solar salt.
• Solar or coarse salt has far less insoluble matter than rock salt. We sell and can deliver salt should you need it.

• Sodium chloride, known as salt, is a naturally occurring mineral.
• Potassium chloride (KCL) is also a salt and functions exactly the same in your water softener as sodium chloride.
• Potassium chloride is a naturally occurring mineral that is primarily used in agriculture. It promotes plant growth and conditions soil.
• It is safe to use on your plants; whereas sodium chloride is not.

• The salt or potassium (KCL) is added to the brine tank. This is a short round or square plastic tank with a lid on it and is usually black.
• Lift the lid and add to the tank. Do NOT add to small white tube inside the tank. Keep salt level below the top of the white tube inside the tank.

• Humidity or wrong type of salt may create a cavity between the water and the salt. This action, known as “bridging”, prevents the brine solution from being made, leading to your water supply being hard.
• If you suspect salt bridging, carefully pound on the outside of the brine tank or pour some warm water over the salt to break up the bridge. This should always be followed up by allowing the unit to use up any remaining salt and then thoroughly cleaning out the brine tank. Remember to add water to the brine tank after cleaning.
• Allow four hours to produce a brine solution, and then manually regenerate the softener.

See Manual

See Manual

No, you will want to use 3/4 the amount of detergents and soaps than you did with hard water.

See Manual

• On some models, the brine tank will always have water in it. This is the brine solution that will be used during the regeneration.
• If the brine tank is more than half full the system may need servicing.

Nothing, just add the new material to the brine tank. You do not have to remove the material that is currently in the tank.

This depends on a few factors.

1. Amount of chlorine/chloramines in the supply water. (Chlorine shortens resin life) Chlorine can be removed with a carbon pre-filter. Average life span with a carbon pre-filter is 11-15 years.
2. Resin Quality. Average life span without carbon filter is 7-9 years.
3. How often the system regenerates.

The intervals for Changing the KDF 85/ Catalytic Carbon Filter will vary depending on your water quality. Please be sure to check your Required Maintenance form included in your packet.

1. We recommended replacing the KDF 85/ Catalytic Carbon every 6-12 months.
2. Read more about the importance of this service in your packet.

• The GAC in your system is generally placed in the mineral tank, before the water softening resin.
• Some systems have a plate between the GAC and the softening resin, but this feature does not apply to all models.

See Manual

See Manual

See Manual

The intervals for re-bedding of the GAC will vary depending on your water quality. Please be sure to check your Required Maintenance form included in your packet.

1. We recommended replacing the GAC once every 2 to 3 years.
2. Read more about the importance of this service in your packet.

• The GAC in your system is generally placed in the mineral tank, before the water softening resin.
• Some systems have a plate between the GAC and the softening resin, but this feature does not apply to all models.

Your system was designed to change the effects of hard water. You will continue to have spots on your dishes, but they should be easily wiped clean.

The intervals for Changing the KDF 85/ Catalytic Carbon Filter will vary depending on your water quality. Please be sure to check your Required Maintenance form included in your packet.

1. We recommended replacing the KDF 85/ Catalytic Carbon every 6-12 months.
2. Read more about the importance of this service in your packet.

The intervals for changing of the scale reduction media filters will vary depending on your water quality. Please be sure to check your Required Maintenance form included in your packet.

We recommended replacing it once every 6 to 12 months or when spots are hard clean off.