Have you tried contacting him for a refund before leaving a negative feedback? If you are eligible for "buyer protection" you can try to get a refund through paypal.
Ebay R/O unit
Recently bought an R/O unit off ebay. Seller lives in Singapore. Anyway, a 125 GPD unit cost me $130. Not bad. Guy has good reviews too.
I have the plumber come over today to install it. Turns out it's illegal. The R/O fitting it came with parts are illegal. Something to do with cross-contamination of waste water to clean water. Chances are remote, but it remains illegal in most municipalities. This guy represented it as a unit suitable for drinking water, and said it can be installed under the sink, a blatant lie.
Sure, he's based in Singapore. But, he knows full well all of his customers are from the US. I think this is borderline deceptive and bad business.
Looking into it, there appear to be two seperate sellers. One that distributes in the US, and the actual registered seller in Singapore. Whether this is some loophole in the law or whatever, I'm still angry. Leaving negative feedback.
PM me if you want to know the seller.
I have the plumber come over today to install it. Turns out it's illegal. The R/O fitting it came with parts are illegal. Something to do with cross-contamination of waste water to clean water. Chances are remote, but it remains illegal in most municipalities. This guy represented it as a unit suitable for drinking water, and said it can be installed under the sink, a blatant lie.
Sure, he's based in Singapore. But, he knows full well all of his customers are from the US. I think this is borderline deceptive and bad business.
Looking into it, there appear to be two seperate sellers. One that distributes in the US, and the actual registered seller in Singapore. Whether this is some loophole in the law or whatever, I'm still angry. Leaving negative feedback.
PM me if you want to know the seller.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
I'm interested in how it was illegal. Do you have any pictures or specific details?
Local and state regulations govern drinking water connections, not anything national or global. There is no way your guy could possibly know that. Additionally, did your plumber mention installing a double check backflow preventer? Its a double check valve that eliminated water from backing into the potable system. Even a single check should suffice.
I would double check your plumbers advice, most laws govern the connection AT the meter, not inside the home. Most municipalities havent even required homeowners to install these devices, mostly commercial and industrial applications, where the contamination risk is high.
I wouldnt leave a negative.
chaz
I would double check your plumbers advice, most laws govern the connection AT the meter, not inside the home. Most municipalities havent even required homeowners to install these devices, mostly commercial and industrial applications, where the contamination risk is high.
I wouldnt leave a negative.
chaz
Do you have a picture of said unit?
My parents bought me one off eBay and I still can't figure out how to hook the damn thing up. Sellers instructions are p*ss-poor.
My parents bought me one off eBay and I still can't figure out how to hook the damn thing up. Sellers instructions are p*ss-poor.
If its a check valve you need and the unit you purchased uses plastic tubing that is common with RO's, this valve should work http://www.johnguest.com/part_spec.asp?s=SCVI_D1. As others have suggested, it would be wise to consult the local plumbing codes.
Sorry, heres a link where it can be purchased.
http://www.rowatersystems.com/John-guest-fitting-catalog.htm
http://www.rowatersystems.com/John-guest-fitting-catalog.htm
Picture? Here is the auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=120086560088&rd=1&rd=1
Check valve? I'll have to look into that. I haven't left feedback yet. I'm waiting on his response.
Either way, this seems to be a fairly widespread municipal law, and the way the seller describes it to be installed seems to also be in violation of the cross-contamination law. Since it only ships to the US, he should know that.
Also, the instructions are a tad confusing.
I hooked it up with a faucet adapter I took from my Coralife 24 GPD R/O that I had another bad experience with. They wouldn't replace the canister that had broken, and damaged my floor. Also, I am reminded of how much I need a roll of teflon tape.
The unit seems to be working but I have encountered another problem. The quarter turn ball valve (for waster) will not shut off flow. Flow is severely reduced, but definitely not stopped. I would have ran into some problems if I had it installed like the seller recommended.
Check valve? I'll have to look into that. I haven't left feedback yet. I'm waiting on his response.
Either way, this seems to be a fairly widespread municipal law, and the way the seller describes it to be installed seems to also be in violation of the cross-contamination law. Since it only ships to the US, he should know that.
Also, the instructions are a tad confusing.
I hooked it up with a faucet adapter I took from my Coralife 24 GPD R/O that I had another bad experience with. They wouldn't replace the canister that had broken, and damaged my floor. Also, I am reminded of how much I need a roll of teflon tape.
The unit seems to be working but I have encountered another problem. The quarter turn ball valve (for waster) will not shut off flow. Flow is severely reduced, but definitely not stopped. I would have ran into some problems if I had it installed like the seller recommended.
Update:
In Champaign county, the law states that it is illegal if a system is hard wired into both potable and waste water lines. Even if there is a check or double check valve. It can be placed into another one of the aforementioned lines, but hard wiring into both is illegal.
The plumber says this is a fairly widespread law. Some municipalities may allow it if there is a check valve. I have not looked into it, I just know that here it's illegal.
In Champaign county, the law states that it is illegal if a system is hard wired into both potable and waste water lines. Even if there is a check or double check valve. It can be placed into another one of the aforementioned lines, but hard wiring into both is illegal.
The plumber says this is a fairly widespread law. Some municipalities may allow it if there is a check valve. I have not looked into it, I just know that here it's illegal.
Let it run for a bit, it will shut off when the unit is full and compressed, it does not shut off instantly, it takes it a few, then when you start collecting RO, it will start to drain again.The unit seems to be working but I have encountered another problem. The quarter turn ball valve (for waster) will not shut off flow. Flow is severely reduced, but definitely not stopped. I would have ran into some problems if I had it installed like the seller recommended.
I have never dealt with RO units, so this is beyond my expertise, but do they really have to be hard wired into the waste line? Could you just run flexible tubbing to something like your washingmachine (or other) drain?
The RO's I install generally go under the sink. The waste is plumbed into the sink p-trap via a drain saddle that clamps onto the pipe. Once the saddle is on you drill a hole into the p-trap (actually just above the p-trap) through the pilot hole in the saddle then thread on fittings and waste tube.
Feed water is taken from an adapter tee that screws onto your faucet (Under the sink) cold water valve. Same thing you would use to hook up an ice maker in your freezer.
Feed water is taken from an adapter tee that screws onto your faucet (Under the sink) cold water valve. Same thing you would use to hook up an ice maker in your freezer.
You got a sweet price for that. We sell our ro/di units for about $675 installed.Picture? Here is the auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=120086560088&rd=1&rd=1
Check valve? I'll have to look into that. I haven't left feedback yet. I'm waiting on his response.
Either way, this seems to be a fairly widespread municipal law, and the way the seller describes it to be installed seems to also be in violation of the cross-contamination law. Since it only ships to the US, he should know that.
Also, the instructions are a tad confusing.
I hooked it up with a faucet adapter I took from my Coralife 24 GPD R/O that I had another bad experience with. They wouldn't replace the canister that had broken, and damaged my floor. Also, I am reminded of how much I need a roll of teflon tape.
The unit seems to be working but I have encountered another problem. The quarter turn ball valve (for waster) will not shut off flow. Flow is severely reduced, but definitely not stopped. I would have ran into some problems if I had it installed like the seller recommended.
If I'm reading your post right, I don't know why you have a valve for the waste side, doesn't make sense. You wouldn't want to shut it off if its trying to make water.
If you have it hooked up right, the last filter I'm guessing is a di, from there it should tee, one side going to the storage tank the other going to the faucet. It will be slow until the tank fills. If there in no storage tank it can only go as fast as it can make the water, which isnt very fast.
It is for back flush, which is connected to the waste line, it is auto shut off and has a lever for back flushing the unit.I don't know why you have a valve for the waste side, doesn't make sense. You wouldn't want to shut it off if its trying to make water.
When the water is open for collecting the RO, it drains, of course, when you shut off the RO and water is still on to the unit, it will auto shut off once the unit is packed or compressed/full of water.
depending on how hard your water is, it is recommended to open the lever on that valve to back flush the unit once a month.
You will only get about 5gal of water an hour, if water is very cold, it will run slower.
You guys are making a killing a $600+ a pop...
After its all said and done its a fair profit. Some are easy some aren't.It is for back flush, which is connected to the waste line, it is auto shut off and has a lever for back flushing the unit.
When the water is open for collecting the RO, it drains, of course, when you shut off the RO and water is still on to the unit, it will auto shut off once the unit is packed or compressed/full of water.
depending on how hard your water is, it is recommended to open the lever on that valve to back flush the unit once a month.
You will only get about 5gal of water an hour, if water is very cold, it will run slower.
You guys are making a killing a $600+ a pop...
BTW, that pinch valve that comes with the kit shown on ebay, I would not recommend using it. They clog easily with hard water and once installed your stuck with it.
What do you mean "stuck with it"?
There is nothing wrong with that valve, I've been using one for a few years now, never a problem.
It is a JohnGuest fitting, if anything was wrong with it, it pops right off and put another on, or not.
Out of curiosity why would you not recommend it? :icon_smil
There is nothing wrong with that valve, I've been using one for a few years now, never a problem.
It is a JohnGuest fitting, if anything was wrong with it, it pops right off and put another on, or not.
Out of curiosity why would you not recommend it? :icon_smil
I dont think were talking about the same part. The seller is calling it a water feed device, commonly known as a pinch valve. Once you clamp it on and screw down the needle valve you have a hole in your copper pipe. Many do last a long time, some dont. There are situations when this is your only way to get water but should be avoided if possible (IME).What do you mean "stuck with it"?
There is nothing wrong with that valve, I've been using one for a few years now, never a problem.
It is a JohnGuest fitting, if anything was wrong with it, it pops right off and put another on, or not.
Out of curiosity why would you not recommend it? :icon_smil
Yes we were not talking about the same, I agree with you on that, I don't use or like those piercing valves either.
Can you hook it up the way the old one was hooked up? I don't think it is really the seller's fault, sounds like a stupid law is to blame. You could just hook it up and not tell anyone.
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do for the filter, but try to get RO filters from airwaterice, they have really good RO filters (yes kinda expensive but they save you money in the long run). The ebay stuff, from what I heard they break easy, are hard to clean, and they WILL cost you more in terms of water bill because the fittings they use, etc are not really great. Try looking in the water works section of simplydiscus forum (forum not just simplydiscus.com, there's a website and there's a forum site). There's an article that explains in great detail why ebay filters suck. Hope that helps, sorry that you had to be ripped off by this guy. Dont hate on Asians though, I'm one of their kind ><
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
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