Last year I redid my water supply, pulled the old set-up out and drove a new point, dropped a smaller pipe down to the point for a supply line for the pump. Poured a pad and laid up block for the walls.
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| This is how I left the pump house last fall. |
When I got back UP on the Tundra this year, I had problems with the pump not building up enough pressure. Turned out the pump got wore out last year when the water had a lot of fine sand in it after driving the point and I ran it a lot trying to clear the water up. Should have probably let it sit for a week or two to let it settle out. Anywho, I bought a new pump, which fixed the problem.
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| The roof or lid for the pump house in progress. |
Last week I started to make a cover (lid or roof or whatever) for the pump house. So far the only money I've got in the project is for the hinges and the handle. The wood is salvaged material I had and the tin roofing is part of the roof off an old house trailer I tore down 5yrs ago. Bought the trailer (or shoebox as The Old Lady called it) in the early 70s and lived in it off and on until shortly after Y2K. Had primer left over from painting drywall in the cabin and the blue paint has been here for many years and is still usable after freezing several times.
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| This is it with the first coat of paint applied. |
Had some pieces of 2 inch foam and other insulation that I used to insulate the cover. I'm going to buy a sheet of 2 inch foam to line the inside of the block walls and hopefully it'll keep from freezing during next winter. I figure the only other thing I have to do to winterize it is to hang a 40 watt lightbulb under the line to the pressure switch. Because of the small diameter of the line, that is the first thing to freeze in this type of pump. My past experiences have shown that a light will put off enough heat to keep the line from freezing. By the time the bulb burns out there will be enough snow to cover everything and it will be good until spring when the snow melts away and I have to put in a new bulb. This is the only way the old bulbs are better than CFLs as they give off a lot more heat!!
And a damned fine pump house it is. If I were in need of some such, I'd be calling on you. But I'm not...at least, until the uprising comes.
ReplyDeleteI love projects that are completed with used materials, btw.
You used a point? We haven't used them around here for years. Well, lots of rocks and 75 feet to the best water.
ReplyDeleteBuy a rough service bulb like mechanics use, they are rated for 130 volts and last much longer.
Obvious you don't like spending when recycle can work; but you might consider heat tape - unthawing frozen pipes in the winter is a pain in the ass.
ReplyDeletethe Ol'Buzzard
Funny how CFLs aren't the big energy saver they are touted to be. Up to 10% of winter heat came from light bulbs and now has to come from the furnace. surprise surprise.
ReplyDeleteGood looking pump house.