Watermaker cleaning solutions. Am I a sucker?

[FlyTheCoop]

Hi fellow cruisers, we have an Aquabase 180L/hr AC watermaker on our cat and have just gone through the wintering/pickling procedure. I've contacted the manufacturer in France regarding the replacement powders and solutions and here's my quote:

cleaning solution 55 EUROS
storage solution 20 EUROS
oil HP pump 20 EUROS
filters 15 EUROS

This is before 24% VAT and freight.

The cleaning solution mentioned is in powder form and is only used at end of season wintering. It is supplied in 2 x 250g containers marked "alkaline clean" or "acid clean''. What's in these things?? Could it just be regular baking soda for the acid clean?

I can probably live with the high cost of the pump oil (300ml bottle) and the 'storage solution'(?). The question is, am I paying top dollar for cleaning products to be freighted to me when it's likely they are readily available locally at a hardware store or supermarket?

[newhaul]

You don't normally need to use any cleaning solutions. For my watermaker I use a simple mixture storage solution. Consisting of the following
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Sodium-Metabi...49&_mwBanner=1
At about a tablespoon in a gallon of product water and run through the unit.
( My unit is a powersurvivor35).

[Tellie]

An extra 75$ a year plus shipping to protect an $8,000 dollar investment. (don't leave home without spares)

[Badsanta]

I have been told that some water maker storage solutions do not protect from freezing.
Some care is involved depending the location of winter storage.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by Badsanta

I have been told that some water maker storage solutions do not protect from freezing.
Some care is involved depending the location of winter storage.

MOST DON'T....
Most are simply biocides that kill the bacteria, plankton, and algae.

If you want to both pickle your water maker AND protect it from freezing then you should be use a Good alcohol free Propylene Glycol (PG) in a 50% strength. PG is actually the BEST pickling reagent I know of so even if your water maker doesn't have a risk of freezing, it's still a great pickling reagent.

[hellosailor]

I would suggest that rather than speculating, you ask the supplier for the MSDS (material Safety Data Sheet) or whatever the French call their version of that. For interstate shipping in the US, and for international shipping, shippers generally require access to information on all chemicals they will be shipping. Many businesses, schools, etc. also require this information, to know what chemical hazards they might be getting involved with. So any reputable supplier can point you to an MSDS online or send it by email within a few hours, at most.
This may not tell you the exact makeup of proprietary "stuff" but it will give you a good general idea of what they are selling you. Then you can compare it to what else is available.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Tellie

An extra 75$ a year plus shipping to protect an $8,000 dollar investment. (don't leave home without spares)

thread jack. One oil question on the powersurvivor35 and Pickling / layup is Propylene Glycol acceptable or will it cause issues?

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by newhaul

thread jack. One oil question on the powersurvivor35 and Pickling / layup is Propylene Glycol acceptable or will it cause issues?

Absolutely....PG (Propylene Glycol) is an excellent pickling/layup chemical for a Powersurvivor 35, Cruise RO, Spectra, Echotech, you get the point.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

Absolutely....PG (Propylene Glycol) is an excellent pickling/layup chemical for a Powersurvivor 35, Cruise RO, Spectra, Echotech, you get the point.

thanks rich. Just didn't want to cause problems with this proprietary system I got. Propylene Glycol is a lot easier and cheaper to use .

[a64pilot]

Food grade propylene glycol seems to be pretty expensive, about $15 a qt on Amazon, how much is needed?

[billknny]

Originally Posted by newhaul

thanks rich. Just didn't want to cause problems with this proprietary system I got. Propylene Glycol is a lot easier and cheaper to use .

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.

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.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Food grade propylene glycol seems to be pretty expensive, about $15 a qt on Amazon, how much is needed?

4 bucks a gallon at gasp west marine
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...48?recordNum=2

[chuckr]

Not sure what you are doing. We have a Katydyn E80 for the past 8 years and never had to do an acid wash or the other stuff. All we do at the end of the season is pickle it and leave it. Not sure what the cleaning solution and storage solution are for unless your particular watermaker brand requires it, ours does not.
As for filters we just shop at water filter stores and take one of ours with us to make sure the size is the same and the microns are the same.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by newhaul

4 bucks a gallon at gasp west marine
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...48?recordNum=2

Bingo
I carry that at my shop in La Paz....works great at 50% dilution with chlorine free water!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

Bingo
I carry that at my shop in La Paz....works great at 50% dilution with chlorine free water!

stop teasing us . We all know you are in cruisers heaven. Next you will start the " street taco" talk.