Botom drain in winter?
 

How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
of valve?

Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel) will
the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?

Botom drain in winter?
 

On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 20:25:10 CST, "Bill Stock" wrote:

How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
of valve?

Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel) will
the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?

My bottom drain will have a ball valve about 2 feet under ground as the
shut off before it enters the filter, so that's what I'll shut. This is how
the D.pond was done. I empty 2 of my barrels and all barrels of the D.pond
in winter, and never had a problem with crushing. The barrels used are
commercial grade juice barrels in Zone 6-7. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Botom drain in winter?
 

On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 20:25:10 CST, "Bill Stock"
wrote:

How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
of valve?

Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel) will
the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?

Aren't you in Texas Bill? I'm thinking Austin. Sorry for rambling.

I installed a knife valve between the pond drain and filter barrels,
but I just use it for flushing the drain pipe, never for shutting off
over winter. In fact I would think most of us would want to leave
it filled over winter. I'm in Zone 8 and seldom get 1/2" of ice in a
pond, but never had a lotus pot, or maypop container (1/2 barrels,
soap barrels from a car wash supplier.) to split from freezing
either. They are annoying as half barrels in that they don't hold a
round shape when split and used above ground as pots, but other than
that, no real barrel casualties.

Regards,

Hal

Botom drain in winter?
 

"Hal" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 20:25:10 CST, "Bill Stock"
wrote:

How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
of valve?

Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel)
will
the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?

Aren't you in Texas Bill? I'm thinking Austin. Sorry for rambling.

I installed a knife valve between the pond drain and filter barrels,
but I just use it for flushing the drain pipe, never for shutting off
over winter. In fact I would think most of us would want to leave
it filled over winter. I'm in Zone 8 and seldom get 1/2" of ice in a
pond, but never had a lotus pot, or maypop container (1/2 barrels,
soap barrels from a car wash supplier.) to split from freezing
either. They are annoying as half barrels in that they don't hold a
round shape when split and used above ground as pots, but other than
that, no real barrel casualties.

Regards,

Hal


No, Zone 5A here.

I'll probably build a box for them, just because the thought of digging them
up for maintenace is scary.

Botom drain in winter?
 

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:22:05 CST, "Bill Stock"
wrote:

No, Zone 5A here.

I'll probably build a box for them, just because the thought of digging them
up for maintenace is scary.

Easier to deal with. I will never dig mine up, but cleaning filter
barrels is done with a Shop Vac. Maintenance would be easier if I
could simply flush and drain allowing the water to run downhill, but
my space is limited and burying them seemed the best option for me at
the time.

I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide. Moving South would
be good too. :)

Regards,

Hal