Freeze-proof water system? Mebbe I'm crazy...

[danomac]

Hello all,

I've been trying to figure out a clever way to set up a watering system for my horses that won't freeze up in the winter.

I have a barn with an insulated pump house in one end of the barn, and the horses live - and get water - in the other end of the barn (no way to change either one of those).

In the warmer months I just leave a hose connected to an automatic valve out in the barn. Last winter I kept the hose rolled up in the heated pump house, but it was a pain in the butt to pull that out to fill the water tank twice a week.

I know the ideal solution is to dig a trench below the frost line, lay some pipe and install a hydrant near the stock tank, but thats not gonna happen just yet.

I have a crazy idea that perhaps someone could weigh in on. I'm thinking that I can run a PVC water pipe along the rafters, but built with a lot of pitch and a drain into it so that it wouldn't hold water and freeze up. It would be relatively simple and quick to install, as long as I was sure to drain it whenever it was used I think it might work.

So, am I crazy? I'd appreciate any thoughts on this, including if you think PVC would be a good option.

thanks for the replies!

dan m
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[Beni]

Well it could work for the sloped part with a vacuum breaker at the high point. But the vertical pipe up to the rafters would still freeze.

How about running electric heat trace cable along the pipe and insulating it. Get a insulated heated auto horse waterer and you would be good to go.

Here's a link to tyco raychem
http://www.tycothermal.com/application/pipe-freeze-protection/residential-facilities/

 

[danomac]

Hey Beni - thanks a ton for the feedback. Since the span I'm looking at is probably 70-80ft, doing heat wire would probably cost more than renting a trencher and burying some pipe... ya know, the RIGHT way to do this

But thanks again for the idea!

dan
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