water butt pumping
Fred
I have connected some water butts to our drain pipes so we now have
lots of free water. Buckets and watering cans are fine but being lazy,
we would like to use a hose pipe occasionally ;)
So I am looking for some sort of pump to generate a decent flow: what
are my options? I see machine mart sell all sorts of water pumps:
submersible ones:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/submersible-pumps-clean-water
I presume you have to remove these in winter to stop them freezing?
and centrifugal ones:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/booster-centrifugal-pumps
Does being centrifugal mean they generate better flow, just like
centrifugal extractor fans do ?
Am I right to think that these pumps are on for as long as they are
powered, so they could be pumping when I don't want them to? Is a
pressure switch like this:
the answer? It's a shame it costs as much as the pump.
I have heard that some pressure washers will connect to a water butt
but it seems a bit over the top to water the roses with 120 bars!
I see that water butt pumps are available but these appear to be just
another submersible pump without pressure switch. Is that right?
Any ideas what would work best?
TIA
Andy Dingley
> submersible ones:http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/submersible-pumps...
> I presume you have to remove these in winter to stop them freezing?
Go for a cheap submersible - Machine Mart, or Aldi.
They won''t freeze in Winter (too deep), but they don't like Autumn's
dose of cruddy sediment, so it's generally a good idea to only leave
them under water for the Summer when they're in use. It's also useful
to attach some sort of "feet" to them (Mine have a garden pond
perforated planting basket held on with tiewraps) so that they're not
sitting directly in the crud layer.
They don't last forever.
The Medway Handyman
> Hi,
>
> I have connected some water butts to our drain pipes so we now have
> lots of free water. Buckets and watering cans are fine but being lazy,
> we would like to use a hose pipe occasionally ;)
>
> So I am looking for some sort of pump to generate a decent flow: what
> are my options? I see machine mart sell all sorts of water pumps:
Made for the job
http://www.hozelock.com/watering/garden-pumps/water-butt-pump.html
BTW - don't Google for 'butt pumping' :-)
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
spamlet
"Fred" <fr...@no-email.here.invalid> wrote in message
news:e658u555sdavvbtoh...@4ax.com...
If your garden is below your butt - ours is - you can siphon the water
reasonably easily (fill the hose *before* you put the input end in the butt.
Wrap some lead flashing around the end to hold it down.).
If you are really keen, you can do this with the bath water too.
S
Bob Minchin
small flow through the switch before the pump will start so should be ok
if your butts are above ground level.
Bob
1501
wrote:
> if your butts are above ground level.
>
Usually is
spamlet
"1501" <brian....@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:d31fa6fa-08d6-4e3a...@j33g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
I buried a plastic drum once as I thought it looked untidy on the back of
the garage. It, however, gradually rose back out of the ground.
S
D.M.Chapman
The Medway Handyman <davi...@no-spam-blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>Fred wrote:
>> I have connected some water butts to our drain pipes so we now have
>> lots of free water. Buckets and watering cans are fine but being lazy,
>> we would like to use a hose pipe occasionally ;)
>Made for the job
>http://www.hozelock.com/watering/garden-pumps/water-butt-pump.html
Wickes have one as well - no idea what it's like...
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Water-Butt-Pump/invt/194554
Darren
Matty F
> Hi,
>
> I have connected some water butts to our drain pipes so we now have
> lots of free water. Buckets and watering cans are fine but being lazy,
> we would like to use a hose pipe occasionally ;)
Why not build a platform for the butts, or put them on a convenient
hill.
Then use gravity for water flow.
Anita Palley
find anyone who can help me out.
--
Remember Dr Folkman
Fred
<din...@codesmiths.com> wrote:
>Go for a cheap submersible - Machine Mart, or Aldi.
>
>They won''t freeze in Winter (too deep), but they don't like Autumn's
>dose of cruddy sediment, so it's generally a good idea to only leave
>them under water for the Summer when they're in use. It's also useful
>to attach some sort of "feet" to them (Mine have a garden pond
>perforated planting basket held on with tiewraps) so that they're not
>sitting directly in the crud layer.
Thanks. I had a flyer from Machinemart saying there is a VAT free day,
so I will look what they have. Aren't they on whenever they are
powered though? Won't I still need a flow sensor to switch it on and
off? Are they lime pressure washers: the more expensive ones being
quieter and lasting longer? Do they come in plastic and metal
varieties, the metal ones being long lasting?
TIA
Fred
<davi...@no-spam-blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>Made for the job
>http://www.hozelock.com/watering/garden-pumps/water-butt-pump.html
But does it have a flow sensor to switch it on and off? I found a
gardening web site (can't remember which) selling these and a customer
reviews said that it did not currently have a sensor but Hozelock were
hoping to add one to future models. Have these new models reached the
market yet I wonder?
Fred
wrote:
>Wickes have one as well - no idea what it's like...
>
>http://www.wickes.co.uk/Water-Butt-Pump/invt/194554
Thanks. I shall look to see if there is one in my local store and read
the box to see whether this includes the flow sensor. Without one I
would guess it won't last long?
Fred
<matty...@yahoo.co.nz> wrote:
>
>Why not build a platform for the butts, or put them on a convenient
>hill.
>Then use gravity for water flow.
The butt is raised but the flow from gravity alone is not enough.
Andy Dingley
> Aren't they on whenever they are
> powered though?
Yes. That's up to you and a manual switch.
Float switches only work for emptying to a level. Flow switches
require an accumulator and a pressure switch. Although there are cheap
pumps with cheap float switches around, I've not seen a cheapie with a
flow switch.
www.GymRatZ.co.uk
> They won''t freeze in Winter (too deep),
their distance from the outside of the butt in the same way a bucket of
water will freeze solid when the pond has only just started to look like
it's going to freeze over?
Fred
<din...@codesmiths.com> wrote:
>Flow switches
>require an accumulator and a pressure switch. Although there are cheap
>pumps with cheap float switches around, I've not seen a cheapie with a
>flow switch.
Thanks. You mean something like:
Is the accumulator essential because I see you can get a pump and
sensor without:
Though for reasons I don't understand, the one without costs more than
the one with it.
The flow sensor is available separately:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/epc1000-electronic-control-unit/path/booster-centrifugal-pumps
I was hoping I could just but this and use it with any pump of my
choice?
I don't know what advantage these centrifugal pumps have over the
submersible ones but one disadvantage is having to find somewhere
weatherproof to put them. At least with the submersible pump, it is
placed in the water butt.
By the way, do you recommend using a "clean water" submersible or a
"dirty water" one? I know you lift yours above the bottom of the water
butt but is there still a chance dirt might get in?
Thanks again.
Andy Dingley
> On Sat, 8 May 2010 11:18:00 -0700 (PDT), Andy Dingley
>
> >Flow switches
> >require an accumulator and a pressure switch. Although there are cheap
> >pumps with cheap float switches around, I've not seen a cheapie with a
> >flow switch.
>
> Thanks. You mean something like:
>
>
> Is the accumulator essential because I see you can get a pump and
> sensor without:
For a hosepipe (long periods of operation, no urgency in starting)
it's not, provided you have an electronic control that stops the pump
short-cycling (cutting in & out very rapidly with the slightest
fluctuation, even from unrolling a hose). For supplying taps, you want
the accumulator.
> http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cbm240e-1in-multi-s...
>
> Though for reasons I don't understand, the one without costs more than
> the one with it.
Twice the flow rate.
>
> The flow sensor is available separately:http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/epc1000-electronic-...
>
> I was hoping I could just but this and use it with any pump of my
> choice?
For seventy quid and the use pattern of a hosepipe, I'd use a switch.
My own is a submersible with a float switch - when it's dunked in the
butt, it starts. Lift it out and it stops.
> I don't know what advantage these centrifugal pumps have over the
> submersible ones
Not much, for pumping lumpy water from a butt.
> By the way, do you recommend using a "clean water" submersible or a
> "dirty water" one?
I don't know of any electric "dirty water" pumps. My petrol pump has
2" hose connectors and will pump water with small rocks in it. A real
dirty water pump is a diaphram pump and can pump damp soil. The
electric submersibles range from "clean water" to "the odd leaf".
Either will pump a well-settled butt if they're 4" above the base.
Neither will enjoy pumping the bottom crud layer.
> I know you lift yours above the bottom of the water
> butt but is there still a chance dirt might get in?
Yes, if you disturb the sediment at the bottom. Normally though it
just sits there. Keep a few inches above and inlet suction won't
disturb it.
Andy Dingley
Butts have more insulation than a water surface, especially with a
wind across it. For English weather, it's enough.
Grimly Curmudgeon
drugs began to take hold. I remember "The Medway Handyman"
<davi...@no-spam-blueyonder.co.uk> saying something like:
>Made for the job
>http://www.hozelock.com/watering/garden-pumps/water-butt-pump.html
>
>BTW - don't Google for 'butt pumping' :-)
But surely the keen gardener needs a butt plug?
Grimly Curmudgeon
<spam.m...@spamola.invalid> saying something like:
>I buried a plastic drum once as I thought it looked untidy on the back of
>the garage. It, however, gradually rose back out of the ground.
I recall a post describing a Klargester sewage bottle popping back up
out of the ground and merrily rolling downhill. Istr it was half-full
and disgorged many of its contents as it went.
Grimly Curmudgeon
<dpyd...@hotmail.com> saying something like:
>My butt needs pumping real bad too, I just don't seem to be able to
>find anyone who can help me out.
I'm sure you'll find plenty who don't mind inspecting your plumbing.
Fred
<din...@codesmiths.com> wrote:
>For a hosepipe (long periods of operation, no urgency in starting)
>it's not, provided you have an electronic control that stops the pump
>short-cycling (cutting in & out very rapidly with the slightest
>fluctuation, even from unrolling a hose). For supplying taps, you want
>the accumulator.
>
It is hose pipes that we would be using it for. If we later changed
our plans and wanted to connect taps, could the accumulator be
retrofitted or do you have to buy them fitted to the pump?
>> http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cbm240e-1in-multi-s...
>>
>> Though for reasons I don't understand, the one without costs more than
>> the one with it.
>
>Twice the flow rate.
Sorry, my fault, I didn't read the description thoroughly.
>I don't know of any electric "dirty water" pumps.
Machine mart list two categories:
clean:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/submersible-pumps-clean-water
and dirty:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/submersible-pumps-dirty-water
How good they are and the difference between them, I don't know.
I shall follow your suggestion of placing the pump on a plant pot, so
hopefully even a "clean" water pump would be fine.
Thanks again.
Fred
<din...@codesmiths.com> wrote:
>Butts have more insulation than a water surface, especially with a
>wind across it. For English weather, it's enough.
I have found some more submersible pumps in toolstation(under ground
maintenance). I see the Machinemart pumps are rated around 200W but
TS's offering are 400W. Does the larger power figure mean bigger flow
or does it just mean more energy is wasted as heat and noise? The
flows are 100L/min vs. 150L/min IIRC and I am sure this contains the
usual marketing department stretching of figures. TIA
Fred
<din...@codesmiths.com> wrote:
>Float switches only work for emptying to a level. Flow switches
>require an accumulator and a pressure switch.
I was having another look at the pumps in the Machine Mart catalogue.
Those without the accumulator say they will pump 100L/min; those with
the accumulator only pump 51L/min. The advantage of the accumulator
seems to be that it increases the pressure to 2 to 3.5 bar. Which is
more important: a high flow rate or higher pressure?
Is 50L/min a good flow? What about 100L/min? I guess I'll have to put
some jugs under the tap to see what flow I get from main water to
compare.
Would water pumped without an accumulator be at 1 bar?
Thanks again.
Andy Burns
> Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
>
>> "spamlet" wrote:
>>
>>> I buried a plastic drum once as I thought it looked untidy on the back of
>>> the garage. It, however, gradually rose back out of the ground.
>>
>> I recall a post describing a Klargester sewage bottle popping back up
>> out of the ground
>
> Large petrol storage tanks under garage forecourts have been known to
> rise up through the tarmac after prolonged rainfall
And coffins of course.