Re-Purposing Old hot water geysers for cold water storage ?

MidnightWizard

MidnightWizard

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I would like to install some cold water storage in the loft / attic of our building.
This due to the unreliability of municipal and other supply.
The tank / s would be filled by municipal water when available -- they merely constitute a reserve
This would be connected via a small pump to the already existing pressure flow hot water geyser

The trick is that whatever vessel is used it MUST be able to get through a standard door ( 813 x 2032 )
The maximum standard indoor hot water geyser is 250Litres

I have had a look at plastic tanks JoJo who do a "slim-line" version however this is a vertical model and I need a horizontal version.
It would appear that there is no-one that produces what I need ?
In the UK / US / Europe these are called "coffin-tanks" due to the shape needed to get though doors and attic trapdoors

I have even considered steel 44Gal drums -- these will however rust when storing water.
The vessel / storage tank does not need to be pressure safe as this is for only cold water -- basically just a closed cylinder with inlet and outlet
I was wondering if an old hot water pressure feed geyser could be used for such an application ? ( without the element etc etc )
Have not looked inside one so have NO idea ?

The other option is to have a custom designed custom made item -- not sure if coated aluminum would be safe for drinking water ?
I was considering one tank of somewhere round 500Litres or two tanks of 250Litres -- this should supply enough water for a couple of days hot water showers

Any ideas / suggestions / case studies / have already done it ....??????
 
So there issue is drinking/cleaning use case of water stored in such a vessel. The old houses do this for water used in toilets.. cool.. but when storing water for bathing know that at a low temp you incur bacteria like Legionella bacteria.

My parents have re-purposed geyser (working) as a dual feed/store with solar geyser such that water cycles between them if either is heating and geyser system goes on for an hour/day too before showering.

Anyway..
 
Thanks
Interesting

Drinking water comes straight from municipality
I am sure they store it in big reservoirs AFTER the filtration / chemical / disinfection processes

I think Legionella only comes about if you heat the water -- but -- NOT enough ( needs about 60C to be safe )

Filtration system not rocket science
 
I'm not sure about the longevity of HWCs, but given that they are prone to "bursting" I'd be cautious about using them until they've been opened and carefully examined.

The greater concern, however, is the effect of the combined weight of multiple HWCs in your ceiling space. You would need to spread that load carefully to avoid an unexpected gravity attack.
 
MidnightWizard said:
Thanks
Interesting

Drinking water comes straight from municipality
I am sure they store it in big reservoirs AFTER the filtration / chemical / disinfection processes

I think Legionella only comes about if you heat the water -- but -- NOT enough ( needs about 60C to be safe )

Filtration system not rocket science
Click to expand...

Just get a JOJO tank. Why a Geyser?
 
lotus123 said:
I'm not sure about the longevity of HWCs, but given that they are prone to "bursting" I'd be cautious about using them until they've been opened and carefully examined.

The greater concern, however, is the effect of the combined weight of multiple HWCs in your ceiling space. You would need to spread that load carefully to avoid an unexpected gravity attack.
Click to expand...
Yes
I am beginning to think that "old" geysers are -- troublesome
Gravity Attack
That would be fun :D
Would place the support across multiple load bearing walls

There is a really helpful thread here ( as aluded to by Krycor )

Vacuum tube solar Geyser

This is mounted on the roof -- so I imagine also needs strong support
 
isie said:
Geyser is +/- 250l
why not get the 260L jojo tank they under 1 meter
Click to expand...
Thank you for the suggestion
Please could you point out the exact one ... the ones I looked at appeared to be too big ?
Please remember it needs to fit through a door AND be Horizontal
 
They not very big but might do the job.


www.frontrunneroutfitters.com

Slanted Water Tank - by Front Runner

This 50l (13.2gal) slanted water tank is intended to maximise space utilisation by fitting behind the back seats of utility vehicles and the slanted shape compensates for the slant in the back seats.
www.frontrunneroutfitters.com www.frontrunneroutfitters.com

or horizontal 240L jojo

stepbuildingsupplies.co.za

JoJo medium horizontal chemical tank 240L

JoJo’s 240 litre Horizontal Water Storage Tank is typically used to transport or store fertiliser, diesel and other safe-to-store chemicals. It can be custom-manufactured for water storage, in which case the tank should only be manufactured in the darker water tank colours as it cannot be made...
stepbuildingsupplies.co.za stepbuildingsupplies.co.za
 
Last edited:
MidnightWizard said:
Thank you for the suggestion
Please could you point out the exact one ... the ones I looked at appeared to be too big ?
Please remember it needs to fit through a door AND be Horizontal
Click to expand...

Height 92.5cm
Width 62cm

leroymerlin.co.za

Tank, Water Tank, Green, JOJO, 260 liter

Food-grade, black inner lining prevents algae growth and keeps water fresher for longer Greater thickness of polymer at the bottom of the tank provides additional support where most needed Closely spaced ribs add strength at the bottom of the tank. Suitable for domestic, agricultural and...
leroymerlin.co.za leroymerlin.co.za



Lol that's actually not a bad price they normally go for about R750-800


Typical Geyser Dimensions you looking at about:

200L
Height 134CM
Width 60 Cm

250L
Height 164CM
Width 60CM

So the Jojo is slightly fatter but shorter :)
 
MidnightWizard said:
I would like to install some cold water storage in the loft / attic of our building.
This due to the unreliability of municipal and other supply.
The tank / s would be filled by municipal water when available -- they merely constitute a reserve
This would be connected via a small pump to the already existing pressure flow hot water geyser

The trick is that whatever vessel is used it MUST be able to get through a standard door ( 813 x 2032 )
The maximum standard indoor hot water geyser is 250Litres

I have had a look at plastic tanks JoJo who do a "slim-line" version however this is a vertical model and I need a horizontal version.
It would appear that there is no-one that produces what I need ?
In the UK / US / Europe these are called "coffin-tanks" due to the shape needed to get though doors and attic trapdoors

I have even considered steel 44Gal drums -- these will however rust when storing water.
The vessel / storage tank does not need to be pressure safe as this is for only cold water -- basically just a closed cylinder with inlet and outlet
I was wondering if an old hot water pressure feed geyser could be used for such an application ? ( without the element etc etc )
Have not looked inside one so have NO idea ?

The other option is to have a custom designed custom made item -- not sure if coated aluminum would be safe for drinking water ?
I was considering one tank of somewhere round 500Litres or two tanks of 250Litres -- this should supply enough water for a couple of days hot water showers

Any ideas / suggestions / case studies / have already done it ....??????
Click to expand...
i have the same problem with burst municiple water pipes in our area, so installed a 2000l jojo tank with float valve where water main comes into property with a 10bar booster pump.
so when there is no water, the house still has 2000l, then when water comes back, the tank just tops up.
 
Your municipal water is fed under pressure. If you install a JoJo tank you are effectively converting to low pressure with a pressure pump to get it back to the taps. (a JoJo will not not take the 4Kpa municipal pressure).

If you install an old geyser, you will still need a one-way valve + pressure pump to feed in case there is no municipal pressure otherwise the water will be stuck in the container.


My household uses 7Kl per person which means about 220l per day. I do not think you will solve your problem with a 300l backup.... you should aim for 2-5Kl (with some notification to conserve should you dip below 90%)
 
znh said:
Your municipal water is fed under pressure. If you install a JoJo tank you are effectively converting to low pressure with a pressure pump to get it back to the taps. (a JoJo will not not take the 4Kpa municipal pressure).

If you install an old geyser, you will still need a one-way valve + pressure pump to feed in case there is no municipal pressure otherwise the water will be stuck in the container.


My household uses 7Kl per person which means about 220l per day. I do not think you will solve your problem with a 300l backup.... you should aim for 2-5Kl (with some notification to conserve should you dip below 90%)
Click to expand...
that's what the float valve is for, like in your toilet cistern.
 
Thanks for your replies on the JoJo tanks
I did however mention ...

MUST be for safe WATER storage
and
MUST fit in a doorway -- 813cm x 2032cm
and
MUST be Horizontal ( not enough head room )

It would appear that there is nothing that matches these criteria ?

I am quite sure JoJo / Rototank could manufacture something like this -- especially with non-integral tank mount stands
( so you can get the tank through the door )

Water NON-supply is only going to get worse -- MUCH worse ! :thumbsdown:
 
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