Thread: Water tank pump cactus!

Hi all,
While away o/s wife informs me that the small pump connected to our rainwater tank stopped working. It only supplies an outdoor tap at present for filling the pool and watering gardens.
Disassembled it this morning and I hope that it is just the motor start capacitor (wait until NY over before sourcing one).
The numpty previous owners used the smallest avail pump and didn't put a gate valve or ball valve on the tank outlet so I have to decant!

Whilst I didn't need this inconvenience at this time of year, it may well have a silver lining.....I am days away from purchasing a 2nd 5000L tank to sit beside the first and (hopefully) engaging a plumber to connect to all toilets and washing machine etc. It may prove the catalyst to purchase a larger capacity pump and extend the plumbing to include more taps and appliances.


Many businesses are closed at the present so haven't yet chosen a tank supplier or plumber but it now seems I am looking for a tank / pump combo .
Anyone know a plumber experienced in this sort of connection?

Ralph

Hey Ralph,

Can't help with the plumber thing, but I used to be one so have one tip.

Without seeing this I can't say for sure, but I suspect you can still do this work without losing all your water. Buy a ball valve with a thread the same size as the connection on the inlet side of your pump. Or, if unavailable, buy all the appropriate fittings and prefab the lot.

Prep as much as you can, have your thread tape at the ready, all your tools close to hand, the ball valve opened fully, and then prepare to get wet.

Stand to the side, rip off the pump, and whack some tape around the thread as best you can (remembering to go with the thread - righty tighty, lefty loosey), then line the ball valve up and carefully fit it. The open valve should allow the water through and reduce the effort in getting it on. You'll get soaked but you'll save a lot of the water. If the tape comes off or you can't get the tape on beforehand then just fit the valve until it won't fly off and then wrap it with tape. When you tighten beyond this point make sure you don't push the tape off the thread. Oh and obviously you'll want to shut the valve once it's secure. You can tighten properly after that.

An even easier method might be to use fittings that allow for a rubber washer to be used, but you'll have to be careful that it doesn't get blown out while fitting.

I've done this easily on many occasions with full mains pressure so your 2 or 3m of head shouldn't be too difficult.

I hope this makes sense. If nobody comes to the rescue I'm happy to help with specifics. Just PM me.