We have an undersink RO system. It was running “slow” lately. First thought was that the filters needed replacing, but I did that less than 3 months ago (the filters last about 6 months). Then I remembered…the air bladder.
Took a bit to find a tire pressure gauge that was working (I didn’t know those things could break, but the first two I got weren’t working). That stem on the side of the tank is for adding air to the bladder. Checking, it was low. When “in operation” (i.e. full), it’s supposed to be about 60 psi (empty it’s supposed to be about 5 psi).
So, after searching for my bicycle tire pump (and not finding it!), I dragged out my air compressor. Let it pump up, set the regulator for 60 psi, and filled the tank bladder.
Voila! Water pressure again.
Lessons: don’t forget to check the bladder pressure before changing filters; make sure you have a pressure gauge (note to self: buy a new one, and not one of those that look like a pen with the graduated stick that slides out…I had two that failed); and always have a spare set of filters handy (which I always do, but didn’t need them this time). Oh, and an air compressor is a good thing. When you need it, you NEED it…car tires, wheel barrow or garden cart tires, bike tires, etc. I most commonly use it on the garden cart (4 tires).
Made me look it up! Reverse Osmosis! Never had one, but I imagine some areas need it, we make do with the refrig’s carbon filter, or just grab a Bud Light instead!
Those gauges do get sticky if not used for long periods… I can’t remember the last time I needed to use one, maybe better tires.. Garden cart I swapped the wheels, tires out for airless, no more flats! Wheelbarrow in a steel wheel, was my Dads so likely from the '40s, he, then later, I, mixed a lot of concrete in that heavy old thing…
Compressors… One in the garage is a 1.5HP large frame motor driving an old CAT compressor my brother gave me many years ago, In the Shop I have one I built up from a Champion 2 cylinder the Ingersoll dealer gave me, needed new reed valves, it’s been going great for decades… A couple portables, one a Emglo has been handy, another smaller one I use on little things, easy to toss in the trunk n go.. Somewhere there’s another unused, still in the box compressor, another 2 cylinder, just in case one of the others fail, price was right, $10 at the flea market…
Thanks for the reminder. I did this last year. Originally I thought I was going to have to buy a new RO system, but a little research revealed that it was the air bladder…doc
DW wanted to know what the “toy” was, so I had her check the tires on her car. They were low so I talked her through screwing it on the valve stem, dial the pressure and press the button. She did the other 3 on her own!
It goes to 160 PSI, light, uses the same batteries I have for tools. I have used it on 30+ tires so far.
A lot more convenient because it “goes to the tire” instead of putting 100 feet of hose on my big compressor, dragging it over to the garage or driving the car from the garage to the shop and back.
I was in the shop today cutting out nest cups for our “swallow motel” and saw a low tire on our RTV. I hooked the inflator up, pressed start, and went back to sawing. When I finished 4 of 12 cups, the tire had already finished so I walked over, unhooked the pump, pulled the battery, put the pump on the shelf and used the battery in the miter saw to cut those cups apart.
It would be convenient to use under a sink in the house, etc.
I looked at the Ryobi and others but all the hand tools in my shop are 20V Dewalt so that made it easy to decide. Drills, impact drivers, impact wrench, hand saw, sander, jigsaw, miter saw, reciprocating saw, hand pressure washer, etc.
Yep that’s the thing. Once they’ve got you on their proprietary battery design, it’s cheaper to just keep buying the same brand. It’s what Microsoft found out with their OS; it’s a lock-in that’s hard to escape.
Me<— has both DeWalt and Ryobi batteries - and Ryobi’s in three flavors, both the typical 18v, 40v, and the small battery pack for things like power screwdriver.
I only pointed to a comparison of pressure gauges, not inflators.
OT: I have two inflators that work off a car’s “cigarette lighter” power point. Using them is a PITA. I have a two gallon compressor in the garage. It is handy for tires, but I mostly got it because I really appreciate having compressed air to blow things out. And recently I picked up an 8 gallon Campbell Hausfeld for the basement. Regular price for that one is over $200. Costco had them for a little while for somewhat less, (maybe $170?) and I had no problem walking past that, but when they put them on remainder for $100 I succumbed. Now I can blow things out in the basement too!
