RO Membrane Shutdown Tips: How to Avoid Costly Damage
RO Membrane Shutdown Tips: How to Avoid Costly Damage
Blog Article
Reverse osmosis systems aren’t always running 24/7. Whether due to scheduled maintenance, seasonal pauses, or temporary production stops, shutdowns are inevitable. But without proper membrane preservation procedures, those pauses can quickly become expensive headaches.
Here are a few critical points to keep in mind whenever you shut down your RO system:
1. Short Downtime Is Not Harmless
Many operators assume that downtime under 48 hours doesn’t require attention. In reality, even short-term stagnation can lead to microbial growth, membrane drying, and air intrusion — all of which impact system restart performance.
2. Always Flush Before and After
Before a shutdown, flush the system thoroughly with permeate to clear out concentrate and feedwater. After downtime, flush again — first under low pressure, then gradually ramping up — to prevent backpressure damage and reintroduce fresh water.
3. Long-Term Storage Requires Chemistry
For shutdowns longer than 48 hours, simply filling the system with water isn’t enough. Use a sodium bisulfite solution to prevent biological growth and monitor pH regularly. Refresh the solution every 30 days, or more often in hot climates.
4. Don’t Skip Temperature Considerations
Storage temperature matters. Keep systems between 5°C and 45°C to avoid freezing or accelerated degradation. Higher temperatures mean faster microbial reproduction — and higher fouling risk.
Neglecting these simple steps can lead to irreversible membrane damage, higher cleaning frequency, and shortened service life.
Want the full preservation guide?
We’ve created a complete walkthrough covering both short-term and long-term shutdown scenarios, with step-by-step procedures, chemical tips, and recovery protocols.
Read the full guide here: How to Properly Preserve RO Membranes After System Shutdown
This post is published by STARK Water — experts in reverse osmosis system design, preservation, and performance optimization.
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