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Across the Fence:  Huge project involving hot water tank - question  |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
 Posted - May 02 2009 : 11:04:47 AM
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Ok, I have a 5X5 foot room that was added on many, many years ago to the North wall of the kitchen as a pantry. But, it also holds a breaker box and the hot water tank. Well, my entire house was built without a foundation and that includes the pantry. The bottom of the pantry is now so rotted that it is sagging and pulling away from the house at the top. I've known this for over a year and had planned to move the hot water tank (maybe myself?) and hire an electrician to move the breaker box. Then tear the pantry down; before it falls off and causes a fire I plan to move the contents to where the bathroom is now (also off the kitchen) and move the bathroom to a spare room where I REALLY want it. This addition will NOT survive another winter of heavy snows. So, it must be done this year before winter comes. However, money is a bit short to hire an electrician and do all that other stuff, too.
So, today, I got a new idea...temporarily move the pantry contents to the spare room until I can afford to buy new bathroom fixtures and pipe and all that goes with that project then, start tearing the pantry down piece by piece until I get back to where the hot water tank is located. It's right up against the kitchen wall. Then re-use the lumber that is still good and re-frame just the tank plus a foot with an access door on the outside (I have other plans for that corner of the kitchen). I even have a nice solid exterior door out in my shed. Now, I've seen hot water tanks in unheated garages here but I'm wondering if this little enclosure would be too small and if there is a chance of the tank actually freezing? If so, would a tank blanket and or batted insulation help with that?
If this idea is a good one, I can start it as soon as we get a forecast without rain for a couple weeks. So, what do you gals think?
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog:
http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My apron website:
http://lisamariesaprons.bravehost.com |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 2:58:16 PM
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I have my pressure tank for my well in a small addition on the back of my house. My best advice is insulate it really well and then keep a couple of light bulbs on in there in the winter to keep things from freezing. I don't know how cold your temps get but we tend to have periods of sub-zeros. I use two light bulbs because you can never predict when one will burn out and then you have trouble. I never replace both bulbs at once either. With it well insulated and the light bulbs the coldest it got in there was 40. Keep a thermometer on the wall so you can keep track. That's what I do. A tank blanket is always a good idea for saving energy.
Sheri |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 08:01:15 AM
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Cool! Well, I'm going to get started moving the stuff out of there, then. It might help keep it from falling off before I get to it. I have a lot of weight in there with all the big storage tins and jars of canned goods. There is already one light fixture in there which I can leave on during the coldest part of winter and I could put another one in there if necessary. I have lots of rolls of insulation laying around, too. It's a big project (for me), but now it doesn't seem so difficult since I don't have to move the tank or the breaker box. This will actually be nice. Someday, when the tank will need to be replaced, it won't have to be dragged through the house!
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog:
http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My apron website:
http://lisamariesaprons.bravehost.com |
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Across the Fence: Huge project involving hot water tank - question |
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Huge project involving hot water tank - question
