Watermaker cleaning solutions. Am I a sucker?

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by billknny

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In case anyone does not know, all desalinating membranes are made by FilmTec, a division of Dow. There is a LOT of great technical info on their website. It is especially valuable if you have a custom system without manufacturer support.

Actually, there are many others that make salt water membranes as well as Dow.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by billknny

Using PG on its own CAN work if you can be 100% sure you get the entire system flushed to the point that nowwhere is it less than 40%PG, but be aware that PG is not a strong biocide when more dilute That is the reason that the membrane maker recommends storage in a mixture of sodium metabisulfate solution and PG as a winterizing solution. It will do a better job a keeping critters from growing and clogging the membrane.

Not to pile on with Tellie.....but PG is a great pickling reagent as long as it is in a concentration above 24%. We recommend staying above 50% because...well...why not, it's cheap and easy. Below 24% concentrations will act as FOOD for certain bacteria rather than kill them!

I'm also not familiar with a water maker company that recommends mixing PG and Metabisulfite. Doing so doesn't make sense from my point of view as a water maker manufacturer that through cases of membranes per week.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by newhaul

4 bucks a gallon at gasp west marine

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...48?recordNum=2

I hadn’t thought about it but guess that if you can use it in your water system it’s “food grade”.
All I did was searched food grade propylene glycol in Amazon.

So Rich, I assume you still need a full 5 gls of it for your dual membrane watermakers?

[SV THIRD DAY]

2 gallons of PG and 2 gallons of chlorine free water....suck it in and your are done.

[a64pilot]

OK four gallons then, and I assume the -50 stuff, cause I think they sell a diluted version too, sort of like already diluted car antifreeze.
I know I can pump 2gls of water through my carbon block filter, but distilled water is only a buck a gl, and if I’m going to the store to buy the PG, why not 2 gl of distilled water too?

[SV THIRD DAY]

sure...you can use distilled water vs just chlorine free water to mix your 50% strength PG mixture...but distilled water ain't available everywhere and it don't really matter. So I try to not make things more complicated and scary sounding than they actually are....which of course runs contrary to the standard internet chat room advice these days.....hahahha