8/29/2023 0 Comments Water tower![]() Sometimes so much that they compromise its strength. Both these “forces of nature” tend to weaken timber. Insects like to eat away at trees just below their layers of bark, you know, and woodpeckers–in turn–make holes in that same wood to feed on those insects. If–like me–you make your storage tower’s legs of wood, you’re well advised to take precautions to preserve them. Remember, I used poles that were ten inches in diameter! Whatever you use for your tower’s main uprights, be sure they’re more than strong enough for the job. so I had no trouble finding and felling four 15-foot-long legs (each of which averaged ten inches in diameter, minus bark) for my tower. and having an adequate supply of the vital fluid on hand at all times.įortunately, I had many fine pine trees growing here on my backwoods homesite. I’ve found 375 gallons to be a good compromise, then, between keeping the water tower’s design simple. On the other hand, it’s a fair bet that you’ll soon tire of constantly refilling a tank which is any smaller. That’s quite a bit of weight for a wooden tower to support right there, so you can figure that a storage container any larger might well tax your ability to construct its supporting understructure. Since water weighs eight pounds per gallon, no mathematical wizardry is needed to see that 375 gallons of the liquid (which is what a tank four feet tall and four feet in diameter will hold) tips the scales at a ton and a half. Second–and I consider this point to be even more important–if you purchase such a unit you’ll be supporting the rather unsavory crowd that is currently making a fast buck by massacring our nation’s dwindling supply of redwoods. You should realize, however, that such containers have two drawbacks: First, if one is allowed to dry out it can develop permanent leaks. This will be the most costly part of your system.īy the way, as you flip through those farm catalogs, you may notice a listing or two for redwood tanks (which are often less expensive than steel). Start by obtaining a galvanized steel tank–the kind with a pipe fitting in the bottom and a conical lid on top–through one of the farm catalogs for around $140 (at least that’s what I paid for mine three years ago). and I’d like nothing better than to tell you how you can construct your own version of the Hilton Homestead Water Tower. ![]() In short, I’ve had nothing but success with my make-do water system. but is enough so that my shower delivers a pleasant, gentle spray and my toilet’s flush tank refills without any annoying hiss. This is less than the pressure supplied by most city systems and electric pumps. The weight of the water stored in this elevated container produces about six pounds of static pressure in the cabin’s water lines. The solution to my dilemma turned out to be a 375-gallon steel tank mounted atop a 15-foot-high platform at the edge of the clearing outside my cabin (see Fig. When I imagined what the inevitable leak in that tank would do to my dwelling’s living area, however, I scrapped that idea fast! Initially, I figured that a storage tank (which could easily be refilled by a little gasoline engine-driven pump) perched in the cabin’s loft would probably handle the job satisfactorily. but after giving the problem some thought, I found that I wasn’t at all sure just where my precious water system’s pressure was going to come from. Now that didn’t seem to me to be much to ask. Namely, a shower, a flush toilet, and a sink tap that really worked! ![]() Thus, when I finally built my long-dreamed-of log cabin in Virginia–off in the woods, with no electricity–I resolved that the dwelling would be equipped with certain luxuries. but if there’s one thing my year-round living quarters must have, it’s running water. ![]() Maybe there’s still some city dweller left in me, or perhaps I’ve just grown too accustomed to the conveniences of modern-day American life. Home Organization News, Blog, & ArticlesĬlick on the Image Gallery for referenced figures and diagrams.Energy Efficiency News, Blog, & Articles. ![]()
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