Freezer "Pump House" Keeps Water System Running

Freezer "Pump House" Keeps Water System Running LIVESTOCK Feeding Equipment 26-6-8 "It's a cost-efficient way to keep water flowing to our cows all year long," says Gordon Kozroski, Gull Lake, Sask., who uses an old chest-type freezer as a "pump house" to keep his water pump from freezing. An electric pump bolts to a piece of plywood that simply sets inside the freezer. The pump pulls water from a pond 100 ft. away and pumps it to a 6-ft. long Ritchie stock waterer. Kozroski got the freezer free from a local appliance repair shop. He removed the compressor and lag bolted the freezer to a cement pad. He cut holes in the side and bottom for water pipe. Water is pulled through a 1 1/2-in. dia. PVC pipe that runs underground to the pond. Foam insulation seals the holes around the pipes. The pump plugs into an electrical outlet that Kozroski installed inside the freezer. Heat tape covers the input and output hoses to keep the water from freezing. Kozroski also wraps excess tape around the pump. The thermostat for the heat tape should be outside the freezer, away from the insulated components. "It's well-insulated, weatherproof, and should last a long time," says Kozroski. "We used it last winter for the first time. The water didn't freeze up even when the temperature got down to 30 degrees below zero." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gordon Kozroski, Box 300, Gull Lake, Sask., Canada S0N 1A0 (ph 306 672-3462 or 306 672-3721).

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