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spillenger
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2014 01:36pm
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I have a moderately primitive running water set-up at my cabin. I collect rainwater in a 300-gallon tank. I send it to a demand Shurflo pump, which is powered by a solar battery and pushes water to my shower and kitchen sink. I use garden hoses, hose clamps and t-connectors. It works okay. However, I do get leakage, which means among other things that the pump goes on and off intermittently because the pressure drops. This is a small thing, but it gets annoying after a while.
Yes, I use Teflon tape. It's not the screw threads that leak but where the hose connects to the t-connectors.
My question is: is there other hardware one can use other than garden hoses, hose clamps and t-connectors that ensure a tight fit and are easier to reconnect when I come back every year to the cabin?
Thanks.
Paul
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2014 04:23pm
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I will be watching this thread with interest since I also have a cycling issue. I have a similar setup with storage barrels, 5/8" garden hose, connectors, "Y" fittings and shutoffs, all plastic and a Shurflo 12v demand pump. I don't have a leakage problem but my pump "growls" every half hour or so for about 2 seconds. Not an issue but it does cycle the pump and drain the battery.
Reading the Shurflo manual I see they recommend a minimum 12" lead-in WITHOUT CONNECTORS OR "Y's" at the pump fittings. Admittedly this is something I've not attended to primarily due to lack of space, but probably will experiment with soon.
Will be following this with interest.
bob
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Atlincabin
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2014 07:17pm
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You should be able to get these connections tight enough to not leak. Perhaps check your hose washers? If they're old they get hard and don't seal as well. A possible alternative is to install a small pressure tank in the system (we have a 2-gallon Waterworks brand one that works well - Shurflo sells something similar that they call an "accumulator") and that should keep the pressure up much longer even if you do have some tiny leaks. Third alternative would be to go to another type of pipe, like poly (cheap) or PEX (more expensive). With the PEX you can buy fittings like the ones on the Shurflo (compression rubber with NPT threaded pipe) so it is easy to connect and disconnect your system.
Greg
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spillenger
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2014 07:28pm
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Thanks, Greg and Bob. I appreciate your taking the time. I am assuming that poly doesn't have those fittings. I saw the accumulator, but I wasn't sure it was worth the money. Good to have a recommendation.
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tcmatt
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jul 2014 07:30pm
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You might try maple syrup hosing and connectors
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jul 2014 08:20pm
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I've used pex with clamp rings. Real easy to set up. The clamp press/pliers thing was 70 bucks, but I have no leaks. No cycling. And two shurflos and hot water and multiple sinks and ... plus it's real cheap.
To the dishwasher, the pumps etc I used sort of pricey fittings. A couple bucks each. But pex is very inexpensive. Cheaper than hose that's for sure. And the rings aren't much more than pennies each.
Once I got the hang of it, the fittings go together fast. And I have yet to do a fitting that leaks.
Two thumbs up from me.
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jul 2014 08:54pm
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I got to wondering if there might be a back flow problem causing the cycling. Could it be that garden hose is so flexible that it expands with the inflow pressure and then back feeds water through the pump? It really sounds implausible to me, but I want to throw it into the mix for opinions. I don't see any kind of adjustment on the Sureflo for holding pressure. I thought about a check valve, but I don't think there is one made for a garden hose.
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jul 2014 10:23pm
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I believe there is a internal check valve in a Sureflo pump maybe it is defective ???
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jul 2014 09:29am
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Thanks Just. I have to believe there is something in there, but I don't want to disassemble it to find out. That's sure trouble for me. I might wait and do this after we close up the camp.
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jul 2014 04:06pm
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spillenger did mention he has leakage at the t connectors. so.
go buy a roll of pex. the price of clamps vs. the price of pex rings is ridiculous. Pex is way cheaper. Way-y-y-y-y cheaper.
Big box comparison.
50 feet of garden hose (not potable water approved) $30 bucks. 100 feet of pex (potable/hot water approved) $30 bucks. Double your length for a better product. or 1/2 price.
Hose clamp, stainless. $3.50 each. Pex crimp ring. 50 for $15. So. .30 cents ea. One tenth the cost.
I know. I know. The fittings get pricey. But if you want to save money... and not have leaking issues... and have a potable solution that will last decades longer. Pex appears to be the way to go.
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jul 2014 04:25pm
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Quoting: bobrok but I don't want to disassemble it
bob mine would not shut off once , so i had to look inside found a small peace of my plastic tank in there wasn't hard to get back together . been working well ever since .
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