MEMBRANE REMOVAL AND
REPLACEMENT
Changing membranes in pressure
vessels is easy with the proper tools.
The pressure vessel may have to be
removed from the system. Please
refer to Figure 11 and 12 on page 30
when following these instructions:
1. Remove the hoses and fittings
from both ends of the pressure
vessel.
2. Remove the pins holding the end
plugs in the PVC vessel. Note:
Most fiberglass pressure vessels
use a snap ring to hold the plug in
place. Use properly sized snap
ring pliers to safely remove the
snap ring.
3. Thread a nipple and tee into the
feed or concentrate port. The
nipple must extend past the end
of the pressure vessel.
4. Pry off both end plugs using a
pry bar. WARNING: Do not pry
directly on the edge of the
pressure vessel, damage may
occur. We recommend using
either a ball joint separator, also
called a "pickle fork," which is an
automotive tool, or a slide
hammer (see page 30 for
examples of these tools). Remove
any fittings used to extract the
end plugs.
5. Remove the membrane from the
pressure vessel, noting which
side the brine seal is on.
Note: ALWAYS remove and replace
the membrane in the direction of the
feed flow. This protects the brine
seal from folding over. The brine
seal should ALWAYS be on the feed
side of your membrane.
Do not pull the membrane out
using the permeate port as this
may cause damage.
6. Replace the membrane. Always
feed the new membrane into the
feed end of the pressure vessel.
Feed the membrane in the
direction of water flow. Failure to
do so may cause damage to the
brine seal. Make sure the brine
seal is on the feed end of the
pressure vessel.
7. Replace any damaged O-rings.
Lubricate the plug and O-rings
with a food grade lubricant. Do
not use a petroleum based
lubricant or silicone.
8. Tap the plug securely into place
using a piece of soft wood or a
rubber mallet.
9. Ensure that the backing plates on
fiberglass pressure vessels are
installed between the end plugs
and the snap rings.
10. Replace the retaining pins on the
PVC pressure vessels. On
fiberglass pressure vessels that
use snap rings, insert the snap
ring back into its groove.
11. Reattach the fittings into each
plug.
CAUTION: New or factory
cleaned membranes are shipped
in a preservative solution. With a
new membrane, flush the system
at 50 psi for at least 1 hour to
remove the preservative from the
membrane. Discard all
permeate and concentrate
produced during the flush.
EPRO 150-8000 O&M MANUAL Rev.04/03 Page 29 of 55
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