Need some feedback on this drain/fill plan
I need some feedback on this. I already have the "TB PVC/hose special" and use it without dripping but both wife and daughter are complaining about it. I really don't like it either. An integral system could allow daily changes if needed without hassles.
After giving the drain/fill system more thought here's my current plan. The tank sits next to a 2ftx2ft column in the family room. I'll pull up the carpet a bit from the baseboard there and drill a 5/8" hole for the drain line and a 3/8" hole for the fill line. This will be a mostly manual system. The only "automation" will be a mechanical float fill valve to fill the reservoir.
Drain: not much to say here. I'll put a 1/2" barb tee in one of the drain lines, a ball valve in the line and run a 1/2" reinforced vinyl line down into the basement and into a drain to the sump pit.
Fill: In the basement nearly directly under the tank will be a new, unused Rubbermaid Brute trashcan with lid fed by a 1/4" feedline and mechanical float valve. Near the top will be a hole fitted with a 3/4" bulkhead to act as an overflow drain (stuff happens...) and fed to the same sump pit. I've got an Eheim 1260 submersible pump which will be placed in the bottom of the can and used to pump through a 1/4" line to the tank. The line will be equipped with a check valve and fed through a ball valve to a barb tee in the return line.
Draining will simply be opening the valve under the tank. Filling will be opening the valve and going downstairs to turn on the pump. When filled the valve will be closed then back downstairs to turn off the pump.
The reservoir will allow ground water to be tempered to basement temperature and I can also add some gH booster and dolomite to the water to boost pH and kH from well water source 6.2pH and near zero kH rather than doing it in the tank. Total cost for this will be about $60, $30 of which is for the trashcan.
Jim
I need some feedback on this. I already have the "TB PVC/hose special" and use it without dripping but both wife and daughter are complaining about it. I really don't like it either. An integral system could allow daily changes if needed without hassles.
After giving the drain/fill system more thought here's my current plan. The tank sits next to a 2ftx2ft column in the family room. I'll pull up the carpet a bit from the baseboard there and drill a 5/8" hole for the drain line and a 3/8" hole for the fill line. This will be a mostly manual system. The only "automation" will be a mechanical float fill valve to fill the reservoir.
Drain: not much to say here. I'll put a 1/2" barb tee in one of the drain lines, a ball valve in the line and run a 1/2" reinforced vinyl line down into the basement and into a drain to the sump pit.
Fill: In the basement nearly directly under the tank will be a new, unused Rubbermaid Brute trashcan with lid fed by a 1/4" feedline and mechanical float valve. Near the top will be a hole fitted with a 3/4" bulkhead to act as an overflow drain (stuff happens...) and fed to the same sump pit. I've got an Eheim 1260 submersible pump which will be placed in the bottom of the can and used to pump through a 1/4" line to the tank. The line will be equipped with a check valve and fed through a ball valve to a barb tee in the return line.
Draining will simply be opening the valve under the tank. Filling will be opening the valve and going downstairs to turn on the pump. When filled the valve will be closed then back downstairs to turn off the pump.
The reservoir will allow ground water to be tempered to basement temperature and I can also add some gH booster and dolomite to the water to boost pH and kH from well water source 6.2pH and near zero kH rather than doing it in the tank. Total cost for this will be about $60, $30 of which is for the trashcan.
Jim