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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Hand Water Pumps
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getoutdoors
Member
# Posted: 11 Oct 2011 16:31
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Hi, I am new to this forum - from Canada. I just recently completed the process with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in Ontario to transfer a Commercial Land Use Permit to me. I'm now the proud holder of Commercial Outpost Camp! It was a fairly involved process, but with the help of the current permit holder and doing a bit of research, it went quite well. Also found the MNR staff at the Blind River District to be good to work with. In a couple of months, I've created a website, registered a company, written a business plan and am in the process of renovating the little cabin to make it a little cozier and attractive for renters and myself.

But the topic at here is water pumps. In order to avoid having to go to the lake and get pailfuls of water, I've researched the options and have come up with the little pump as per the link below. Wondering if anyone else has used something like this and your thoughts. Just seems a heck of a lot easier to be able to pump water into the cabin this way.

http://www.handpumps.com/hand-pumps/oasis.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flyp age_new.tpl&product_id=81&category_id=43

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 11 Oct 2011 17:30
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We have a shallow model Oasis. Good pump as long as you are only lifting a low head. 20 feet or so is the maximum, less any correction needed for high elevation... 1 foot per 1000 feet I think it is.

getoutdoors
Member
# Posted: 11 Oct 2011 20:53
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Great, that should be perfect for my spot then. Thanks so much.

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 11 Oct 2011 22:53
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MtnDon-
Question for you: would a hand pump work if we were to put it at the kitchen sink but pump water from a 300 gallon water tank that sits outside maybe at a distance of 25 feet max horizontal and no more than 3-6 feet rise? Thanks.

hattie
Member
# Posted: 11 Oct 2011 23:05
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Hubby says "yes". The vertical lift is the important thing. A hand pump in good shape will lift 20 ft. vertically. The only problem you may have is the pump holding its "prime". Many hand pumps have a large hole in the top around the pump rod where you can pour water to prime the pump; however, if the seals are all in good shape it shouldn't be an issue particularly if you are using it frequently.

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 11 Oct 2011 23:14 - Edited by: trollbridge
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Thanks hattie :) Does it take a bit of time to prime the pump? What would we do when we leave for the weekend( summer temps-not winter). Un-prime it?

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 11 Oct 2011 23:16
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BTW- congratulations and welcome getoutdoors!

hattie
Member
# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 00:59
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Hubby says it takes some pumping to prime the pump because all you are doing is moving the water through the pipe. When you leave for the weekend, you don't need to worry about it as long as the temps. aren't freezing. You can probably put a check valve in the pipe near, or in, the source tank. This would keep the water from draining back into the source tank and will help keep the pump primed (keep the pipe full of water). Hubby says he's never done this but he doesn't see why it wouldn't work.

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 10:15
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Thanks hattie and hattie's hubby :)

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 12:47 - Edited by: MtnDon
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The Oasis pump will not hold prime for a long time, maybe a few hours tops. A check valve could be used but then you have to remove it in freezing weather.

Our pump is used on an inground cisctern with a maximum depth of about 10 feet from the pump location to the cistern bottom. The top of the Oasis is sealed, which is a plus for keeping crud out of the system. It makes priming a little more tedious. The picture below shows a "horn" I installed. It has a rubber cap which can be removed to pour in priming water.

The hose connects to the cabin to fill a tank under the counter and sink. There is a 12 VDC RV water water to supply pressurized water to the sink and shower.

The ball valve below the pump does two things. In warm weather we close the valve to hold the prime. In cold weather we close the valve and pump air into the standpipe below the valve. That forces the water in the standpipe down to where it cannot freeze no matter how full the cistern is or how cold the weather gets. I pump air in until I hear bibbles, then open the valve and the built up air blasts any water remaining in the pump body out the spout. Then I close the valve and pump air again. It hasn't failed to keep the pipe free of ice.

I also have a fitting fopr the spout that allows attaching a garden hose. That's handy for filling jugs with water. In winter that's what we usually do if only staying for a weekend, rather than fill the under counter tank and then have to bllow out the cabin plumbing.



trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 13:08
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Thanks MtnDon. It is amazing to me the many different ways members have made things work for them! Your info and picture is very helpful. I really want to get water figured out by next summer so starting to gather together information now will help us decide this all out over the long winter.Being in a cold climate also complicates everything. Thank you!

larryh
Member
# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 19:43
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Many old basic Cistern type pumps are still around, some with brass cylinders. Those are the best for increasing leather life. A vintage type cistern pump normally has an open spout and you simply pour water into the top to get it drawing water up the line. Having a foot valve while nice is summer is a drawback for sure in cold weather. Many of the vintage pumps also are made so that if the handle is lifted all the way up it causes it to drain the line as long as no foot valve is in place.

Larry

neb
Member
# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 20:52
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I didn't know you could still buy those pumps.

getoutdoors
Member
# Posted: 12 Oct 2011 23:07
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You all know much more than me about these pumps! Rintoul Pumps is not far from where I live in Ontario and they were very helpful when I've spoken to them. I think I am just going to screw it down to my counter in the cabin and leave it for the summer. He did say though that it had to be drained for the winter - it gets to be -40C where my cabin is. In the winter, it will have to be an ice auger in the lake.

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 13 Oct 2011 01:48
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There are some very nice iron and bronze hand pumps made with the lift to drain feature. pricey as I recall. The Oasis is made with a sealed top so they can be used outdoors with no danger of squirrel pee and birdshit getting into the water system. And they are less than $100 IIRC.

smitty
Member
# Posted: 13 Oct 2011 11:45
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I don't know if this helps anybody or not. But there is a video on Youtube of a guy, who bought one of those harbor freight hand pumps, and he is pumping 200 feet with it. He reduced it to 1/2 inch line, and it was pumping like crazy. If I find the link I'll post it.

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