APEC RO-PH90 System Filter Change Instruction
3rd
Stage
2nd
Stage
1st
Stage
STEP1 STEP2
Use
Wrench
W
W
Option: Recommend to add a little bit lubricant on double o-rings.
After Taking the housings off, take out the dirty
filters and put the new 3 pre-filters in. Remember,
Stage-2 and Stage-3 use the same carbon filters.
Fig. A2
Fig. A1
Correct direction
Turn counter-clockwise to
open the membrane
housing cap.
Changing Stages-1, 2, 3 Pre-Filters: (should be changed at least every 6-12 months)
1) Turn OFF cold water supply to RO system. Turn OFF the tank ball valve. Turn on RO faucet lever briefly to relieve the built-
up pressure inside the RO system. This will make opening the housings easier.
2) Open housing: Have the RO standing upright. Slip the plastic wrench onto the 1st housing. Looking down from a top view,
you should open the housing turning clockwise. If necessary, lay RO down on the floor to get a better leverage. If the hous-
ing is too tight, use a hammer and gently tap on the wrench handle to help turn the wrench.
3) Discard 3 used filters, wash housings with mild soap, rinse off. Put 3 new filters into their respective housings: sediment filter
in stage-1, carbon block filters in stages 2 & 3.
4) Close up the housings. Make sure each housing has a black O-ring in the threaded groves. First hand tighten the housing,
then use filter wrench to fully tighten each housing. Do not over-tighten.
5) Keep tank ball valve CLOSED and Turn ON the cold water supply as well as RO faucet lever. Please let purified water
run for 10-15 minutes to relieve built-up pressure inside the RO unit.
6) Turn OFF the RO faucet lever and Turn ON the tank ball valve.
7) Check for leaks!
Changing Stage-4 Membrane: (should be changed every 2-3 years)
1) Turn OFF the cold water supply to RO system. Turn OFF the tank ball valve. Turn on RO faucet lever briefly to relief the
built-up pressure inside the RO system. This will make opening the housings easier.
2) See Fig. B. Locate the Membrane housing on the system (labeled “Membrane”). Remove the WHITE tubing from the hous-
ing’s cap at point D. To remove tubing, Push In and Hold Down on the collet ring square against the fitting. With the collet
held in this position the tube can be removed. Open up the cap (turn counter-clockwise) see Fig. A1. Using a plier, remove
the used membrane for disposal.
3) Once the membrane is removed, please tilt the RO system at an angle to drain out residual water from inside of the mem-
brane housing and insert the new membrane using a plier. Push membrane into housing. Avoid touching the Membrane
with your hands to prevent contamination.
4) Important! Make sure the “double-ring” end of the membrane goes into the housing first as shown in Fig. A2. above. The
membrane cannot filter water if it’s inserted in the WRONG direction!
5) Close the housing cap. Reconnect the WHITE tubing to the cap. Turn on the cold water supply and tank valve. Let the RO
system run to re-fill the tank (takes about 2-3 hours).
Changing Stage-6 PH Filter: (should be changed every 6 months).
NOTE: The QC fittings come with an End Plug that needs
to be removed before the tubing can be connected.
See Fig. C
1) Turn OFF cold water supply to RO system. Turn OFF tank ball-valve by turning the blue handle 90 degrees. Turn on RO
faucet briefly to relieve the built-up pressure inside the RO system. This will make removing the tubing easier.
2) Remove the CLEAR outlet tubing at point P See Fig. B. To remove the tubing, Push In and hold down on the collet ring
square against the fitting. With the collet held in this position the tubing can be removed. Once the outlet tubing is discon-
nected, please remove the inlet tubing at point O. Remove old filter and discard.
3) The new PH filter will come with 2 End Plugs. Please remove the plugs before connecting the tubing to the filter.
4) To reconnect the tubing to point O and P, push the tubing into the Quick Connect fitting, then gently pull back on the
tubing to make sure the connection was secure. Make sure “FLOW “ on filter is pointing to the drinking water faucet.
©2019 APEC Water Systems. All rights reserved. v2.1.2019.Nov www.freedrinkingwater.com
Fig. C
Changing Stage-5 Carbon TCR Filter: (should be changed every 2-3 years). The new stage-5 carbon filter
(5-TCR-QC) includes a new Tee Fitting on one end. The stage-5 filter is easily replaced by disconnecting the tubings
from the old filters, and connecting the filter.
1) Remove the OLD filter: See Fig. B. Disconnect the output tubing from point H and tubings at point G & F. To remove
the tubing, Push In and Hold Down on the collet ring square against the fitting. With the collet held in this position the
tube can be removed.
2) Unclip the old filter from the membrane housing and discard the used filter.
3) Sanitize: Use some mild bleach solution to rinse the 1 plastic port of the Tee fitting and the open port of the new filter. This is
to prevent contamination.
NOTE: Only this filter change needs bleach sanitizing. Do Not apply chlorine/ bleach in any way to Membrane for it will
damage the membrane!
4) Connect New Filter: See Fig. B. Attach the new filter onto the clips. Make sure the “FLOW ” arrow on the filter is
pointing towards the pure water output direction. Reconnect the tank yellow tubing and clear tubing from C4 back to point
G & F on the Tee fitting. Then, connect the output tubing to point H.
5) Check for leaks!
Fig. B
C
1 2
3 4
Clear Tubing
From Water
Source
To Drain
To Faucet
To Storage
Tank
6) Check for leaks!
7) Drain the first tank of water (through faucet) to flush out the new membrane! The 2
nd
tank of water is ready for use.
