Larger Amounts of Stored Water

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I have maxed out on water I can store in the house and am considering buying some 30-55gl barrels. They would have to stored in non climate controled areas such as a shed/garage or even in the open. I will probably only be able to start with one. My issue is with freezing. Any ideas?
I have thought about those electric wire wraps used on pipes that you plug in and wrapping it around the barrel but I don't know if that will work or not. Anyway need some help.

[Klayton]

interesting, never thought about freezing barrels (gotta love Texas).... But when I was stuck up north in my growing years, we use to put a rubber ball in the horse trough to prevent it from freezing... Seems that the wind blowing was just enough push to keep the ball moving and that was enough to keep the top water from freezing... obviously this wont work in EXTREME cold areas, or in a 55gal barrel... so I am interested also in Matt's question... :)

[All Talk]

What it the precise concern about freezing? Is it the ability to access the water in liquid form (I don't imagine you get long-term freezing in OK, but I could be wrong) or is it just concern of the barrel bursting? If the latter is the case, the simple solution it seems to me is to only fill the barrels up to 90% of capacity (I think the density of ice is 10% less -- and hence volume is 10% greater -- than liquid water.

Also, if you are able to tap your barrels near the bottom, you could at least partially solve problem number one, as Ice forms on the top and works its way down.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I'm worried about them freezing and bursting the barrel. If they are airtight how much will the barrel take before popping?

[All Talk]

Air is quite compressible, and those barrels are reasoanbly thick plastic if they are what i'm imagining (and hence reasaonbly strong to compressed air -- just like a [weaker] soda bottle is to [the weaker pressures of] carbonation). I imagine a little coillege physics and/or chemistry could get it precise, but i'd say if you fill them no more than 80% going into winter, you should be plenty fine. You could also install some sort of pressure releif valve (two-way) in the top, that lets out air (on air back in during a thaw), in which case you could fill probably up to 90%, but it hardly seems worth that complication.

In the spring, fill to 98%. In the fall, drain it down again a bit.

Here's a test -- use a soda bottle in your freezer and try different fill perencentages (by volume) and see how they do.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Good thoughts! I got 2 used barrels today. I'm going to fill one up and put it in the well house which is heated and the other I will try at 80% and see what happens. Maybe I will post this spring and let everyone know.

[mosinfan]

you could try to find a small blow down valve of sorts....similar to a hot water heater valve....pressure gets to high and it opens to discharge the pressure,but still would keep the air tight seal you would be looking for.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Put up 55 gallons of water in a 65 gallon drum today treated with bleach. It's supposed to hit single digits next week and stay below freezing for a while so we will see what happens. I only paid $12 a piece for the barrels on craigslist so I won't lose a ton of money if it ruptures. I'll let you all know what happens.

[Klayton]

$12 a piece? You lucky dog! :)

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Ok we had a week with solid below freezing temps and many nights in the single digits. I filled the 65gl containers up with 55gls. The top 4-6inches froze but the rest stayed thawed. When I removed the lid today there was still a noticable seal and it opened with a pop. I am stoked. I have 2 more barells to finish cleaning then fill. This will be a good start post SHTF or even a wether event.

[All Talk]

Excellent.

[Monel]

What was in those barrels before you got them? Just wondering. I would use those open end drums to store mylar bags of rice, beans, and wheat. Good score!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

What was in those barrels before you got them? Just wondering. I would use those open end drums to store mylar bags of rice, beans, and wheat. Good score!

Pickles - one my very well see that yet! There are more out there on craiglist for my okie brethern

[Matt In Oklahoma]

We had a nice day and I washed out the 2 remaining pickle barrels and I believe I found the key to the persistant smell, Pool Shock. Good scrubbing afterwards and a few rinses and no more smell other than clean.

[arcangel911]

Matt, I was curious and forgive my curiosity... but are you going to convert them to convert drain water from the roof or are they just going to hold drinking water? And or are you going to do the up and vertical in this storage shed?