Step One: Measure & cut all connectors for L pieces:
Step Two: Lay PVC Pipes on 6 - 8 ft. ply board
Step Three: Join PVC Pipes with connector pieces & L's:
Step Four: Screw brackets in to hold PVC pipes in place
Step Five: Paint PVC Pipes & Board with flat black
That will do it for Part 1 of our DIY Solar Water Heater. Part 2 is coming soon, so keep checking back!
Looking good! Ma Kettle
ReplyDeleteShould of used treated plywood. Tom
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ma Kettle!
ReplyDeleteTom - would it make a difference as far as when it gets rained on? Our cabin is built with treated lumber and has molded where we didn't we a water sealant.
The plywood you used is not for outdoor use, it will fall apart the first time it rains. Treated wood will not rot but can warp. I'd make a simple frame out of treated 2x4's and screw the treated plywood to it. It'll last for years then. Also leak test your pvc pipes before attaching them to the wood. Easier to fix if it leaks. Mold comes from not having proper ventilization. My guess is your cabin is to air tight and condensation is forming on the wood roting it out. If the mold is on the outside it's from to much vegetation and not enough sun and air flow. Hope that helps. Tom
DeleteDid you use pvc primer/glue on the connections? If not, it will leak. Tom
DeleteIt has poured twice since building it ... the wood doesn't look damaged at all. We are considering taking the brackets & pipes off the wood though, and putting a few coats of a water sealant on. We didn't use the primer/glue yet ... but have it. We wanted to put it all together & get it painted before hand. The plan is to do the primer/glue the day before we run any water through it (which will be this week, I think)
ReplyDeleteWhen we build the next one, we'll do that before we paint it. Thanks so much for all the info & help, Tom!
Hate to keep raining on your parade-spray paint won't work on exterior wood. Buy exterior paint and brush it on. Also use deck screws and galvinized brackets-they won't rust. I would stay away from water sealant, it doesn't work unless you apply it 2-3 times a year. Buy exterior treated wood-lasts forever. Living in the great outdoors is a lot of work. Do your research and build things to last so you can enjoy life. If you need feedback post what your thinking of building and let myself and others give you tips. Also I was wondering if you have a basement/storm selter? With the weather tonight and what's coming later this month it's going to be a wild one! Be safe. Tom
DeleteNo, no ... I don't think of you as raining on our parade. I think you might actually be our umbrella! We will get the paint & wood on the next trip for supplies. We used what we had (as far as the wood) ... really, just to see if it would work. We plan on building two other water heaters.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a basement or storm shelter ... not enough funds for it & we don't want to build something that could come down on top of us. We're thinking about a steel culvert, dug in to the ground & then covered with about 2 or 3 feet of earth ... entrance would be from inside our home & an exit at the opposite side of the culvert too. Do you think that's doable?
Thanks so much for all your help & useful information!!!
I would put a storm shelter at the top of your list. If someone gets hurt or God forbid killed in one of our storms you'll be second guessing yourself rest of your life. Culvert is a good idea-try craigslist under free or materials, they do come up every once in awhile. Tom
DeleteWe'll definitely keep an eye on Craigslist! My husband told me to ask if plumbers tape would be a good substitute for the the PVC primer/glue. We have it to use but he said he'd prefer to use the tape if it would work, because he would rather not permanently seal it off, in case there are issues that require taking pieces off.
ReplyDeleteRetta what about building an old fashioned root cellar with storm doors flat on the ground?
ReplyDeleteIf you made one entrance from the house, and the exit outside (8 feet or so?) and shore the inside up with heat treated lumber, or stone-walls...?? Think old style house cellar.You could cull the stones from your land, and if wanted after the initial build, make it larger to use as an actual root cellar/storage for harvests.
I've just finished building my solar water heater but unfortunately it's not great. I may need to have a rethink and use something a bit more along the lines of what you have done here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration