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DryCreek
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2025 07:46am
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Location is western Montana, so above ground tanks freeze. The common 55 gallon poly drums don't care as long as they are 80% full so there is expansion room; ours freeze every winter, and that in spring.
We'd like to put in a bigger tank, something like this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/VPC-2500-Gal-Dark-Green-Polyethylene-Vertical-Water-Stora ge-Tank-85-40867/328984544
to have water onsite for wildfire purposes. No well, so draining in the fall doesn't really work. The idea is to slowly fill it with hauled water, then (hopefully!) let it set unused for years unless needed by us or the pros to help save the cabin from a fire someday.
Has anyone let a similar tank freeze over winter, and did it survive?
I'd pay special attention to plugging the outlet in a way that didn't have water in a narrow channel, by making a solid NPT plug that was flush with the inside.
Thanks!
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2025 11:11am
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For your purpose I think one of those surplus caged hd plastic tanks (IBC?) would do, filled 'short' too, and last I knew they were fairly inexpensive compared to so much on the new retail market. The cage should help keep it from blowing seams?
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DryCreek
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2025 03:21pm
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"For your purpose I think one of those surplus caged hd plastic tanks (IBC?) would do, filled 'short' too, and last I knew they were fairly inexpensive compared to so much on the new retail market. The cage should help keep it from blowing seams?"
Those are in the 275 to 300-some gallon range; we're looking for 2000 to 3000 gallons.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2025 03:24pm
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I wouldnt let it freeze. I bet it will break. Even IBC totes prob wont last to long. The valve will freeze and break.
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2025 05:48pm
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Have you contacted manufacturers of tanks and asked the question?
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2025 10:36am
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I think Dry can get by with a plastic water tank filled short. There tough. I'll compare it to this. We use pint glass canning jars and able to freeze in them. As long as the ice can expand and probably slip a bit on the sides. We have ol 25 plus years plastic drums around that hold water and they are probably built for a 1 time used. I'd try n protect it from UV mostly. I don't believe that the frame around the totes is structural to it but more for stacking.
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spencerin
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2025 09:07pm
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Yes, contact the manufacturer. It wouldn't suprise me if they say it can handle frozen water. At the same time, I'd be very hesitant to risk wasting $2,500.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2025 06:01am
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Quoting: spencerin At the same time, I'd be very hesitant to risk wasting $2,500
Exactly. Not to mention its only due to not wanting to drain and re fill it.
OP have you thought about just filling many 55gal drums since there alreaty working for you and way cheaper? I assume the biggest fire risk times are when the water is not frozen.
I have family that is a federal wildland firefighter. One of the first things he did at his 70ac AZ property was run a fire road/ break all the way around it.
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