On vacation this week, which for me, means doing some chores around the homestead. I have been waiting a long time to replace the pressure tank in our water system. I had plans to couple 2 new tanks together to double the amount of draw down but because of limited space I ended up only putting in one tank. The new tank was a lot larger than the old tank and I had to remove the door and part of the framework to get it in the small building. I also had to remove the lower shelf that goes around the inside perimeter.
This new tank will draw down about 35 gallons before it kicks on the pump. If I could have gotten 2 tanks in it would have doubled that to 70 gallons. As it is, it is still better than the old tank which probably wasn't even half of that on its best day, which is long in the past. While the draw down helps to minimize the number of times the pump kicks on another important feature is the reserve water it stores for power outages. Later this year I would like to get a power disconnect installed on the power panel so that I can add a generator and recharge the tank as necessary during a power outage. The lack of water during a power outage is the most onerous part of having no power. Kerosene lights are tolerable and the food in the fridge will keep for several days and the freezer will keep its contents frozen for at least 4 days, even in the summer, if it isn't opened. I know, we've been there. But no water creates an immediate major inconvenience. Oh for gravity flow water!
The old tank, as you can see, is well past its prime. It was part of the water system when we bought this place over 25 years ago.
The phlox grows along the entrance to pressure tank building.
This new tank will draw down about 35 gallons before it kicks on the pump. If I could have gotten 2 tanks in it would have doubled that to 70 gallons. As it is, it is still better than the old tank which probably wasn't even half of that on its best day, which is long in the past. While the draw down helps to minimize the number of times the pump kicks on another important feature is the reserve water it stores for power outages. Later this year I would like to get a power disconnect installed on the power panel so that I can add a generator and recharge the tank as necessary during a power outage. The lack of water during a power outage is the most onerous part of having no power. Kerosene lights are tolerable and the food in the fridge will keep for several days and the freezer will keep its contents frozen for at least 4 days, even in the summer, if it isn't opened. I know, we've been there. But no water creates an immediate major inconvenience. Oh for gravity flow water!
The old tank, as you can see, is well past its prime. It was part of the water system when we bought this place over 25 years ago.
The phlox grows along the entrance to pressure tank building.
25 years...wow, that makes me feel old. I can actually remember back that far. Kinda.
ReplyDeleteI remember the cats, Lucky & Chester? And Limon the bird. And Cheena of course. I can remember a ditch somewhere outside the house. And I can vaguely remember the rickety old outhouse. All of those things are gone and now even the pressure tank has said goodbye.
Should be really nice for you guys.
Don't forget when we first moved and we were all sleeping together on the floor in sleeping bags and you peed the bed! HeHe!
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean it won't take 20 minutes to fill the sink now? (;
That's an old tank
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to get something like that off of "the list". (I think mine is on "the list" too - but mostly to plumb another one in sometime.)
ReplyDeleteI would have been tempted to say, "Tank You very much!" Sorry, I couldn't contain that one...