plumbing from tank to pump

[CCPC]

I'm in the process of upgrading and plan to use a hudson on a 25g tank as a water back up. My question is, how do you plum the line from the tank to the pump? Will a belt drive machine have the ability to pull the water from the tank with out any water pressure? Basicly, I'm wondering weather I need to plum the feed from the tank to the pump with a bulk head fitting from the bottom of the the tank or can I just run a feed line to the pump from a hose going through the top of the tank?
Can the pump pull water from the tank or must there be some amount of flow i.e. flow created from plumbing the hose from a fitting at the bottom of the water tank.

 

[Mark]

Assuming your p/w is a 4-5 GPM unit
I would suggest you run a 3/4" ID hose
from a bulkhead / tank adapter fitting
at bottom of tank the pump should pull
a few feet with a flooded suction as
long as the pump is not more than 18"
aboce the source.

 

[CCPC]

Thanks Mark.

 

[Mike Gwas]

Put a filter on it !!!!!!

 

[Mark]

Good point Mike!

One of the major problems affecting the proper functioning of pressure washers is contaminated water. By nature, water is a carrier of minerals, iron, dirt, rust, and other contaminants. Problems caused by this contamination could be clogging of the float tank, and pump inlet. The particles can get into the pump and cause wear on the packings and valves or crack the ceramic pistons. Unloaders are prone to damage if the water is not clean.

 

[Don Phelps]

Are you going to bypass back to the tank or the pump?

 

[Mark]

Don,

Good question!
****************

CCPC,
If you are not running soap through
your pump, it would be easy to run your
bypass line to the 35# gallon tank as
opposed to bypassing to the pump inlet.

This will extend the time you can safely
operate your p/w in bypass mode.


HAVE A HAPPY 4th [hello]

 

[MR ALAN]

Even if running soap theu the pump, you can always install a 3 way ball valve to have both options.

 

[CCPC]

Thanks for bringing that up. I was wanting to do that, but need some guidence on whats the best way to rig the bypass hose and what kind of hose/fittings to use.

 

[MR ALAN]

Thanks for bringing that up. I was wanting to do that, but need some guidence on whats the best way to rig the bypass hose and what kind of hose/fittings to use.

The bypass is low pressure, so regular brass fittings will work just fine. In the spot where you would have a barb at the pump inlet for the line from the unloader, install a 3-way ball valve with 2 barbs.
One barb will be the line from the unloader and the other is the discharge to the supply tank.

When running upstream or in my case, recycled water, turn the valve to run thru the pump. All other have it run to the tank.

 

[CCPC]

Anyone know where I might find bulk head/tank fittings locally? Not barbs and what not, but the fittings to add to the tank after drilling the desired wholes.

 

[MR ALAN]

I have been told that Tractor Supply Stores have them. A local PW dealer may have a stock as well. Do you have a Harrington Plastics near you?

 

[Doug T]

Tractor Supply caries them and there are about 30 stores in Fl, so hopefully one is close be. My local plumbing/heating supplier also carries them, so that may be another option for you.
Doug