Using Water Butts

[Siblood]

The Brewshed gets ever closer to the first brew. Klarstein boiler ready, Sparge "tea urn" ready, Cooling plate in place (minus the reducers to connect the wort pipes!) and today set up two water butts (with a water pump in one) behind the shed for the ultimate experiment - to see if we can cool the wort using recycled water. Hopefully when brew day comes within the next week, we can use the water butts to cool it all down. Two 100l butts - anyone worked the same method?

 

[foxy]

The Brewshed gets ever closer to the first brew. Klarstein boiler ready, Sparge "tea urn" ready, Cooling plate in place (minus the reducers to connect the wort pipes!) and today set up two water butts (with a water pump in one) behind the shed for the ultimate experiment - to see if we can cool the wort using recycled water. Hopefully when brew day comes within the next week, we can use the water butts to cool it all down. Two 100l butts - anyone worked the same method?

I use one of my rainwater tanks for cooling, 6,000 litres still can't get it low enough to pitch the yeast in the summer, its behind the shed in the shade too.

 

[samale]

It depends on where you live. If your in Australia like the fox then it's difficult. Ireland or Scotland your good for 11 months of the year

 

[Agentgonzo]

Yes, I've used an external water butt for the cooling water for a wort chiller. I think ours was about 230l so similar to yours.

Attach a pond pump, connect it to your gear and away you go. The flow rate is lower than mains pressure, so it takes a bit longer to chill down than with tap water.

You will probably find it struggles in the summer months when the water butt is 15-20 degrees though

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

I am also looking to save water by using water butts to supply water to my immersion chiller. Any advice on what water pump to consider?

 

[Agentgonzo]

I don't I'm afraid. I just bought one years and years ago. I've moved since then and don't use it any more.

 

[RichK]

I have a single 50L tank which I fill & then gravity feed through a coil for cooling. Works well enough for me & gets wort down well towards pitching temperature.

 

[Joetp]

Also thinking of a similar set up! Also getting a brewshed set up, but my shed is pretty far from the nearest water supply, so thinking of installing a water butt collection on my shed for chilling and cleaning after brews!

I don't suppose anyone knows a decent pump for this? There are bespoke designed ones that fit the water butts nicely, or just go all in with a flood pump. I'm not sure!

 

[Agentgonzo]

Also thinking of a similar set up! Also getting a brewshed set up, but my shed is pretty far from the nearest water supply, so thinking of installing a water butt collection on my shed for chilling and cleaning after brews!

I don't suppose anyone knows a decent pump for this? There are bespoke designed ones that fit the water butts nicely, or just go all in with a flood pump. I'm not sure!

I used a pond pump submerged in the water butt. Had sufficient flow for cooling. It wasn't like a tap on full tilt, but it doesn't need to be.

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

I have one of these. I haven't got round to using in anger yet though. It will also double up to water the garden

 

[Nottsbeer]

I planned to get a pump and set up using my water butt, but never got around to it. I use an old container instead as a header tank and fill that using a watering can. Works perfectly as well. Planning to brew tomorrow and will take a pic of the setup if I remember. Great way to save water

 

[foxy]

Also thinking of a similar set up! Also getting a brewshed set up, but my shed is pretty far from the nearest water supply, so thinking of installing a water butt collection on my shed for chilling and cleaning after brews!

I don't suppose anyone knows a decent pump for this? There are bespoke designed ones that fit the water butts nicely, or just go all in with a flood pump. I'm not sure!

Depends on the size of the tank/ butt. You need something with a large capacity, at least 1,000 litres. If you can collect that from your shed then all good, I have installed a sump which collects water from the house with a submersible pump to pump into other water tanks. You will need a pump with some grunt to recirculate from your butt through the immersion chiller and capacity to not let the water warm up.

 

[Nottsbeer]

I planned to get a pump and set up using my water butt, but never got around to it. I use an old container instead as a header tank and fill that using a watering can. Works perfectly as well. Planning to brew tomorrow and will take a pic of the setup if I remember. Great way to save water

Here's my set-up. Uses about 50l to cool 14l wort.

 

[Agentgonzo]

Love it @Nottsbeer .
I used to have a 220L butt. In winter, it would chill my (25L) wort no sweat as the water was 0°. In spring and autumn, it would chill it just about. In summer, the 220L (recirculated) would cool the wort down to about 25° minimum before it ran out of thermal mass.