Soft Water Filter

[bobbecky]

Originally Posted by BeagleMan

The little silver thing?

Prior to taking the photo, I had replaced our water pump and just had the old one sitting in front of the softener. Not connected to anything.

[LHaven]

I would just take a bucket I wouldn't mind losing, wrap the softener cylinders in Saran Wrap, buy an aerosol can of Great Stuff, and then foam it "permanently" inside the bucket until I'm ready to move it to a heated area. Then just slice open the bucket, carve off the foam, and remove the Saran.

[shermris]

I would opt for heating the bucket with a trouble light. A 40 watt incandescent bulb should give off plenty of heat for a 5 gallon bucket. While I was building my home in MN I heated my water line where it came out of the ground in an insulated 4' high x5' long x4' wide box all winter with 2 60 watt bulbs and maintained 65 to 75 degrees all winter. Just cover the top with a piece of styrofoam.

[BeagleMan]

Originally Posted by Whitewolf

Lots of great ideas here. Lewy64's idea for a styrofoam cooler makes a lot of sense to me. With that in mind you could take 2 of the styrofoam 6pk coolers and put them top to top (one upside down on top of the other). That could make it tall enough for your unit. If not, you could add a ring of foam between the coolers, maybe even from the lids.

The heat from the heated hose may be enough. If you don't think so, you could always add a 25w bulb making sure it doesn't touch anything.

Years ago we had an above ground well pump. It was in an insulated structure we called a 'Dog house'. About 2' square by maybe 30" high. We heated it with a 100w bulb and never had a problem.

Is the hose from the water softener to the Montana heated also?

No, it sure isn't. Do they make a 6-8 foot heated hose? Or should I just put pip insulation around it?

Have not been able to work on it since making the post. My Dad died last Sat afternoon and I have been busy with the funeral arrangements. Luckily, its been pretty moderate here at night, temp wise.

[Whitewolf]

First and foremost, I’m very sorry for the loss of your dad. I completely understand how that can delay projects.

I don’t know what the shortest heated hose there is. I think mine is 15’. You might need to use heat tape and pipe insulation. Not sure if heat tape gets too hot for water hose tho.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by BeagleMan

No, it sure isn't. Do they make a 6-8 foot heated hose? Or should I just put pip insulation around it?

Have not been able to work on it since making the post. My Dad died last Sat afternoon and I have been busy with the funeral arrangements. Luckily, its been pretty moderate here at night, temp wise.

https://www.amazon.com/Pirit-PWL-04-.../dp/B07VLL94FS

[BeagleMan]

Originally Posted by Whitewolf

First and foremost, I’m very sorry for the loss of your dad. I completely understand how that can delay projects.

I don’t know what the shortest heated hose there is. I think mine is 15’. You might need to use heat tape and pipe insulation. Not sure if heat tape gets too hot for water hose tho.

Thank you, sir, for your condolences.

I think Javi is on the right track. Just get another heated hose for the outlet part of softener. Think I will go ahead and get some closed cell foam and insert it in the excess and use whatever is left to fashion a round piece for the cut out in the convenience center. Thank you all so much. I knew there'd be something better than just towels shoved in. Next 60* day I get, I'm gonna work on getting inside the basement. I'll post it up when it's done.

[Bill-2020]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Reckon you could find something to go around the water softener so that you could fill the bucket with expanding foam? and then pull the softener out - sort of making a formed, insulated bucket?

Stretch wrap/cellophane wrap. Whatever the wrap protects will come right out after the foam has begun to set. Some of the wrap might get stuck a bit, but it can usually be pulled out after the foam has set and cooled off. I've made several foam forms using this method.

[BeagleMan]

Originally Posted by Bill-2020

Stretch wrap/cellophane wrap. Whatever the wrap protects will come right out after the foam has begun to set. Some of the wrap might get stuck a bit, but it can usually be pulled out after the foam has set and cooled off. I've made several foam forms using this method.

Something to think about, thats for sure until I get in the pass thru

[jimborokz]

Originally Posted by BeagleMan

No, it sure isn't. Do they make a 6-8 foot heated hose? Or should I just put pip insulation around it?

Have not been able to work on it since making the post. My Dad died last Sat afternoon and I have been busy with the funeral arrangements. Luckily, its been pretty moderate here at night, temp wise.

First, my condolences for your loss, that's a tough one.

Here is a heat tape that I use on our water spigot at our private winter site. I have used it for 5 years now and it has not failed me. Our overnight temps will sometimes drop into the teens. I believe you can cut this stuff if you need a shorter piece. Just run it along the hose and attach with wire ties and cover with foam pipe insulation or if you are filling the bucket with insulation that's all you would need.

https://www.truevalue.com/pipe-heati...egulating-5-ft

[BeagleMan]

Originally Posted by jimborokz

First, my condolences for your loss, that's a tough one.

Here is a heat tape that I use on our water spigot at our private winter site. I have used it for 5 years now and it has not failed me. Our overnight temps will sometimes drop into the teens. I believe you can cut this stuff if you need a shorter piece. Just run it along the hose and attach with wire ties and cover with foam pipe insulation or if you are filling the bucket with insulation that's all you would need.

https://www.truevalue.com/pipe-heati...egulating-5-ft

Thank you for your thoughts. Dementia is a bad thing to watch to take away a loved one. At least it took him fast with no pains.

I am gonna try that. Next time i'm in town. I found a piece of good closed cell foam someone had thrown away and I fitted and cut it and had enough to do my cutout and stuff the rest into the bucket. Supposed to rain tonight, so I have the softener covered and stuffed to hopefully warmer and as close to the under belly of coach I could get, for tonight. Think I'll be ok till I get the heat tape in the next couple days. Thank you, sir.

AC