Flushing your watermaker is the difference between a clean, high-performing system and one that clogs, smells, and dies young. It is the easiest maintenance task to perform, but also the one most boat owners neglect. The good news is that flushing can be simple, fast, and pressure-free—especially with a system like the LEDI Scout.
Why You Need to Flush a Watermaker
When a watermaker runs, it pushes seawater through a reverse osmosis membrane under high pressure. This strips out salts, bacteria, organic material, and everything else you do not want to drink. But when you stop the system, that leftover brine and biological matter just sits in the membrane. Within hours, it starts to grow bacteria and biofilm. Leave it too long and you are dealing with membrane fouling, salt scaling, taste issues, and eventual failure.
Flushing clears all that out. It rinses the membrane with clean freshwater, prevents salt from crystallising, and starves bacteria of anything to feed on. Flushing keeps your watermaker fresh, safe, and ready to run.
How Often Should You Flush?
Here is a no-nonsense rule of thumb:
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If you run the system every day, flush every 3 to 5 days
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If you use it once or twice a week, flush after each use
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If you are storing it for more than a week, flush it and then pickle
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If the water is warm and tropical, flush more often
In warmer climates, bacterial growth accelerates. A 30 degree bay can foul your membrane in two days flat. Treat flushing like brushing your teeth. Do it regularly and you prevent all the ugly problems later.
Start and Stop Fast Flush: The Zero Pressure Trick
A proper flush should not involve high pressure or long cycles. In fact, the best way to flush is with zero pressure and just a few minutes of gentle flow.
Here is how the Scout makes it easy:
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Switch to your source of clean freshwater
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Run the system briefly with the pressure valve fully open (no pressure buildup)
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Let the water flow through the membrane housing and discharge
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Shut it down once the flush is complete
That’s it. No tools. No disassembly. No plumbing gymnastics. Just a low-pressure rinse using your onboard tank or even a jerry can of rainwater. This approach keeps the membrane hydrated without driving solids deeper into the membrane surface.
Why the Scout Makes Flushing Easy
The LEDI Scout is made for portable, practical use. Unlike hard-plumbed watermakers that need dedicated flush lines and permanent installations, the Scout is a standalone unit. That means you can flush it anywhere, with any clean water source.
No need to modify your plumbing
No need for permanent install
No need for fancy timers or automation
Just connect your freshwater input, open the pressure valve, and let it flow. You can even flush from a bottle if your tanks are contaminated or questionable. And because the Scout is compact and user-accessible, all components are visible, serviceable, and simple to manage without crawling into a lazarette.
What Happens If You Skip It
Neglecting to flush might not kill your watermaker today, but it will bite you eventually. Expect:
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Slower output
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Foul-tasting water
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Shortened membrane life
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Costly replacement bills
A good membrane should last years. Skipping a five-minute flush can reduce that to months. It is like running an engine without oil. You might get away with it once or twice, but the damage adds up fast.
When to Pickle Instead
If you will not be using the system for over seven days, flushing is not enough. You need to pickle it. That means filling the membrane with a biocide solution that prevents biological growth. The Scout includes simple instructions and an optional pickling kit for this exact reason. It is easy, safe, and adds serious lifespan to your gear.
Bottom Line
Flushing does not need to be complicated. With the right system, it becomes part of your normal end-of-day routine. The LEDI Scout is built for this—fast flushes, no pressure, no install, no stress.
Own your water. Flush it. Forget it. And when you need it again, the Scout will be ready.
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