RO/DI Water Stinks

I'm a bit worried and confused. I noticed a slight odor to my RO/DI water the other day, but wasn't terribly concerned. I thought it was my barrel needing cleaning. However, I've thoroughly cleaned my trash can, and just made a fresh batch of water last night (approx 30 gallons) - when I woke up this morning and checked the water, it smells badly.

RO/DI unit is about 8 months old and it isn't anywhere near time to replace the cartridges yet.

Ideas?

 

Check the carbon filter. Have you done a TDS reading?


Luna

 

Yea, it's sitting at 0, where it should be. Unit has about 600-700 gallons through it, think it's time to replace the carbon?

 

Can you describe the smell? Is the unit inside or out?

Luna

 

Just to be double-sure, try making about a cup of water in a clean glass and smelling that?

 

Inside. It smells nasty. Not like rotted eggs, maybe like - gassy, just ... bad. Maybe like something dead?

 

Good point, I'll make a glass of RO/DI water and smell the glass.

 

Is your unit hooked up to city water or a well?
I said to check your carbon b/c carbon gets rid of odors in the water, among other things. If you have notice a decline in pressure or water production, it may be that the "entrance" to the carbon section is clogged or being "by-passed" some how. My first reaction would be to replace the carbon filter.


Luna

 

My tap water doesn't smell like a dead animal. I'll check at the LFS today and see if I can get a replacment carbon block for my filter though, becuase it's probably time it be replaced anyhow. I don't need chlorine getting in my tank.

I made a small container of water, and it doesn't seem to have much of an odor - not like what's in the can. I think it may actually be my trash can.

Anyone have their RO/DI trash can or holding container develop a bad odor??

 

I used to work decades ago as a materials engineer for a consumer electronics company.

I can say with some certainty that a trash can is filled with numerous polymers, some known and some unknown. There are structural polymers and perhaps some protective polyemers such as anti-oxidants or anti-biological agents. There are recycled low molecular weight polymers of who could know what.

All of these materials could perhaps break down further with exposure to the elements. Small amounts of unknown polymers might not be compatible with others.

It wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination if some of the polymers in this 'trash can full of polyers' (hahaha) might begin to 'bloom' to the surface, and perhaps into your water. It is a true possibility, but everyone's case will be different due to the variability in manufacturing.