[dankay]

Hello,
Need some advice before I break my back soon!
Have 210l water butt on 2nd floor balcony and want to transfer water into 25l barrels to ground floor level, then into my car.
Have no lift in my block so I used to carry 25l barrels (2 at the time at times!) down the stairs,...murder!! And it kills time.
Please advice on best way to make my life easier ie, "pump" water via hose into barrels? What pump, etc do i need? how much will it cost?

Thanks.

[roundbuilder]

mate if i was you id g trad. You will do yourself an injury if your not carefull doing that.

[dankay]

I appreciate the comment.

I'm sure there was a similiar topic about transfering water from flats but i cant find that topic from maybe 2 months ago? Anyone know?

[J-W-C]

Have you not thought about using a siphon.


Chuck a hose over the side and fill below, would at least save your arms and back a little.

[G Griffin]

 Use smaller barrels. Maybe 10 litre ones. It means more trips but it would be a lot easier.

[sherco]

Have you not thought about using a siphon.


Chuck a hose over the side and fill below, would at least save your arms and back a little.

Thats what i would do, put a tap on the end of the hose and let gravity do its work...so easy.

[wezzy32]

has said b4 just put a hose over the side and fill barrels like that job dun

[mci services]

you dont need a pump or a syphone as said throw hose out and suck till water starts flowing, or if you water butt has a tap just let gravity do the work

[dankay]

Would have done that but my balcony is at the back of my block of flats and my car is at the front. Only practical way is to let the hose run through the flat and out the bedroom window which would  mean I'd need some pressure.

[dankay]

Would have done that but my balcony is at the back of my block of flats and my car is at the front. Only practical way is to let the hose run through the flat and out the bedroom window which would  mean I'd need some pressure.

[wezzy32]

cant u fill at the back then and just carry them from there

[dankay]

I could, however our block is quite long and the entrance to the garden is the opposite end of the block.

[dmlservices]

have you not got a friend or family who would let you site your static setup at their house?

daz

[AuRavelling79]

Would have done that but my balcony is at the back of my block of flats and my car is at the front. Only practical way is to let the hose run through the flat and out the bedroom window which would  mean I'd need some pressure.

The 210 litre butt with a tap at the base will provide it's own pressure. I know because I used to have one on breeze blocks and fill my barrels underneath. Now I do the same with a 600L tank to my van tank via a 2.5" hose.

The flow from the standard tap on a butt is slow so go to a garden centre or hose supplier and get a bigger tap. Then attach enough hose (as big bore as you can manage bearing in mind you have to store it and run it through the flat) to it so that when you uncoil it through the flat and drop it "over the side" then there is enough to reach the tops of the barrels. Make sure you have another tap at the end of the hose.

This is how you operate it.

Make sure the tap at the end of the hose (bottom tap) is "shut". Uncoil the hose and drop it over the side out the back window. Open the tap in the barrel. Line up your empty barrels and fill each one by opening the bottom tap.

When you have enough shut the bottom tap, go upstairs and shut the barrel tap, go back down and open the bottom, go upstairs and pull in the hose and coil it round the water butt. Go to work.

Job's done and off you go! No need to siphon or pump. If you have an assistant to operate the upper tap it will be quicker.

[chris@c.m.s]

If you need to raise the level of the hose above the tank level before it drops then do what Gold said but fill the hose with water first then turn off both taps before you sling it out the window then open the barrel tap go downstairs and fill your containers, when the syphoning gets started it will flow. 

[prestigeclean]

thats some weight on a balcony ? regards alan

[dankay]

Thanks for all the advice!

Looks like i have sorted the problem by using my Purefreedom trolley also to pump the water down to the barrels!! 
 ..........I extended the submisable pipe of the trolley with hoselock bits.
Then another hose reel that will permanently stay upstairs to "drop down the window" and connect into the trolley and another lil pipe out of the trolley filling up the barrels. 

Sounds sweet? It works!

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

do a deal with a custy and do there wind free in return for filling barrels saves ya arms mate 

[John Walker]

Hi

I really feel for you.  You obviously want to make a go of your venture but are not in a position to do it without a lot of hassle.  I was in a similar situation when I first started up six years ago.  I used to be knackered before I did the first job each day.  A fortunate move more recently means I have a garage now and operate from there.

Hope you sort it out and your venture is successful.

[Paul Coleman]

I can empathise too because I was in a similar situation when I first switched to WFP.  I ended up working from a very large storage shed owned by a customer's son and daughter in law.  Although it worked, unfortunately it was a wooden floor and no matter how careful you try to be, there is always likely to be some accident with the water.  After a recent mishap I got lucky and found a reasonably priced place that I have just started working from.  I may need to review things again in the coming weeks/months as I am now on a water meter while using a merlin RO and it looks like a lot of waste is being used.  I have a waste restrictor fitted if I need it though that would just increase the resin usage.  I will be monitoring this one closely.
So I think your best bet is to ask around and keep your eyes open.  It's surprising what can turn up if you put the word out.