Winter water storage

[Karen]

I found some 55 gallon food grade barrels for sale and I want to buy some for water storage. My problem is that I have no idea how/where to store them so the water doesn't freeze during the winter. I can probably put one or two of them in the house, but what can I do to keep the others from freezing outside?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Karen I have 65gl barrels I will show you when you all come over for our next get together. I fill them 3/4 full and last winter even during that long stretch the barrels held together. It will freeze but theres not much you can do about that. I keep mine on the north end of the house out of the sunlight.

[Karen]

Thanks Matt
Maybe we can work on figuring out of a way to thaw them when they freeze. When we were in Utah, my horse's 50 gallon water container froze solid and it took weeks for it to thaw out!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Thanks Matt
Maybe we can work on figuring out of a way to thaw them when they freeze. When we were in Utah, my horse's 50 gallon water container froze solid and it took weeks for it to thaw out!

Them horse trough heaters will work with an invertor and battery, I can build a homemade one I learned from a slightly different resource http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=stinger (see below desciption)
and that solar magnifier should help some and i will move my barrels in as needed to the kitchen near the gas stove but them suckers are heavy. If it all goes to pot I'm moving them in anyway because that unusable washer/dryer is going outside!!


Stinger

Prison Term

Device used to heat water.

Since hot water can be used as a weapon it is not allowed in many prison settings. Some prisons may have hot water in the day-room but it is not allowed in the cells.

Inmates will connect two wires from any source, TV plugs headphones or even handmade wire from aluminum foil to any 2 separated metal objects, usually metal-plates. By connecting the two wires to the outlet and dropping the stinger in the water the AC current will pass through the water heating it up. It is possible to boil water and with some practice inmates can even make candy with ingredients smuggled out of the culinary.

Sometimes a poorly made stinger will trip the circuit breaker for an entire tier or block causing discontent for both inmates as well as correctional officers.

Stingers are considered contraband in the prison system.

[All Talk]

Try a fresnel lens rig, perhaps? Only works when the sun is shining, but as long as it's not our only sourvce for uyour very next drink, you could perhaps thaw some out from time to time.