I Plumbed A Water Softener Loop In Our Off Grid Home... (Really???)
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
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Installing the water softener loop.
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You are the master of your domain. Your home your land you want certain things for your family. I agree with that.
What a project if you decided later to do a water softener, now if your well water is hard you are good to go... I have not heard in your videos about a grey water tank, most people today with new builds do one. Really no need to run grey water into the septic and ruin the leech field. Many are now using a lint filter system on washer water as the lint clogs the leech field.
Can't wait to see the kitchen set up...
You are living off-grid, not existing off-grid. If you think your family need it and will benefit from it then so be it. Too many 'purists' who seem to think living off-grid involves living like you are in the 1800's. Fantastic work my friend, I am really impressed.
Karl Davison thank you!
Looking good, we have a tankless water heater (Rinnai) on Lp and love it.
This is your home.. Put in what you need and want. Don't concern yourself with what anybody else says.. Good job! Hope Reedys ok.
Gregg Woods thx
I used to live in that area (Idaho Falls). You definitely need a water softener. There's a lot of minerals coming from the surrounding mountains in that region that are in the water supply.
I am so happy to follow you and hear you say those words with being truthful... off grid the words I respect and adore 🧐
Makes sense to me. Home is coming together nicely. Best wishes.
I've been watching since you started I wish I had all the knowledge you have a building and plumbing and all the things you've done you're doing a great job
kirk olsen thank you!
It's your homestead your dream. I agree you don't need to go without in this day and age. If you want off grid be off grid if you don't then don't. It isn't people having issues with homesteading being off grid only,it's that some people out their are making all these remarks and then back flipping. Just do what works for you and your family end of story . Xoxox
Molly Mayor thank you!
I agree it's his dream do what works for you. Everyone wants something different. I have seen from other videos that being 100% off the grid is a lot of work and not easy as it sounds.
Many ways to homestead, and it is your home. Do it the way you want!
Looks like it is coming along quite well.
Looks fantastic sir. I appreciate your commentary as much as the actual work being demonstrated. Keep building!
When I first bought my house.....definately a fixer-upper, the water lines were all that HORRIBLE CPVC.....every spec of that was removed removed. I replaced all of it with copper. A couple of years later, I installed an outdoor wood boiler.....I hated the idea of using "plastic" lines (with my experience of getting soaked from the slightest touch of a CPVC water line). I researched PEX like there was no tomorrow........even talked to many contractors that use pex......there was one consensus.....best material ever. Still reluctant......I jumped in and used it to plumb in the boiler......and WOW.......why was I so reluctant.......zero leaks, and so quick and easy to use.
Chris Bruinsma I was reluctant to use pen for years... copper was king until I moved to cold country.
One day closer to a dream come true. Get some well deserved rest sir, stay safe and God Bless
Martin Chavez thanks Buddy!
As a young young man I told my great grandma that I wish I was born in her day. Growing up on the homestead. She said "the life you live is a homesteader". "The only difference is that we didn't have the amenities we have today they were not available then". "But as they came available we upgraded". " technology has evolved to new levels I just bought an Atari". Want to play PAC-man? She went on as we played PAC-man to explain that things one day would come full circle and people would go back to the ways they lived. Just with a twist of the luxuries of today. This lady lived a long long life to be some 98ish. She passed in the early 80's. Born on a homestead without water, and electric. Although she knew nothing else when it came available to them they acquired it. She went on to say her dad remembered the first time they got glass for there windows. Your doing well brother. Add anything you want or can have. Homesteading is in your heart as it's in mine, as it was in hers.
Love this... Great perspective!
In short ppl confuse being off grid to being amish
Hi Heath. It looks great ! Seems there are always folks out there that dislike whatever a person does. It's your home and you do what you need to do. Ha always I Liked,Shared and added to playlists.
All my very best to you and yours.
Bobby
If you've got the chance to do it now, go for it. Looking good.
You could do like alot of Canadians do is have a grey water hole for softner and sinks .
Also the amount of sodium will NOT hurt your septic.
Really enjoying your journey.
Gday i dont know if this will be some thing you might like or not but just a thought for you to think about ok place water sprinklers up on the roof say 6 or 8 ish of them if a fire ever breaks out its just a smart idea to have your house surrounded in a wall or a cocoon of water hey it may even be nice during hot summer days ok , all the best big pete ..
peter donaldson thanks Buddy!
Very smart to build options into the home while you're in there anyway. Retrofits are way more expensive. And even off-grid homesteaders should consider resell value. God forbid something should happen to you, and Cedar decides to sell and move back to her hometown. A house already wired and plumbed for grid will sell much easier.
Looking good
Put in as comfort as you need or want. It is your home.
Looks great.
You do a great job as always.God bless
The best battery you will ever have is the grid. You will likely put a lot of energy into the grid during the summer and then can draw it backout at 100% during the winter. I will be in Teton Valley on Fall River Coop. They allow you to balance your electrical usage out over 12 months. Idaho Electric seems to be moving to previous month only (which really sucks). Just something to consider when grid power is available to you.
Looking good ,really impressed with the fore thought used. You can use thermal foil paper in the bays on the exterior help keep the pipes warmer ,we do this in older cabins when we replace the plumbing,between the thermal foil paper and god insulation we had had great sucess.
Agree 100% on the water softener. Extra expense to have and operate, but save all appliances over their life. Easier on whoever does the cleaning in the house too! I always say it's easier to put it in now, even if you don't use it later. I rough plumbed all kinds of things in my house when building it in case I wanted to install something later (sink in garage, bathroom in basement, kitchen in basement, hose bibs on every side of the house, etc)
Micah Watson agreed
You could use an ion exchanger instead. You can make the interior housing that fits inside a standard 10 inch filter housing or purchase one and then just change out the media when needed.
hartstudebakerkid they don’t work very well.
Mine does and my Finel disk type did but the company got bought out.
Folks, this is the guy you want on your side....one tough hombre....millennials, you all think you could do 1/10th of this man's work without retiring to a safe space moaning an' whimperin'? Nah, you'd still get nothin' done with all tha' bellyachin'.... so, buck up and shut up and learn what real men do.
moses strathern thank you!!! I’ll show this to my kids in the morning
And women - I'm not a militant feminist - just want to encourage girls :)
Awesome bad day at work then saw this :)
A. Magnum. Thanks for watching! Tomorrow’s a new day...
great job looks good
screw those "some-people" people will never hesitate to tell other what they should do. Keep up the good work!
You explained early when you said it saves appliances. It's not a luxury if you have hard water. It's also great that you understand the chemistry and possible effects on the septic system. Potassium is also good for people's internal plumbing and electrical systems! And soap in the shower! Plumb away...
Consider building a well house for the well pressure tank, put the water softener out there save the room and mess in the main house. Just have to be sure and insulate well and have some small heat source to keep the temp above freezing.
Solar and wind off grid only work when you size the system correctly. You are a plumber. It makes sense to put in all possible lines in before you sheetrock the house
So far looks good.
Nice work man! It's fun for me as a Swedish plumber to watch the difference between material, solutions and laws between our countrys in plumbing but also the other works! Keep it up:)
Thanks!
Great job. Vinny 🇺🇸.
Great thoughtful build. Agree 100% on the well, septic, plumbing and propane. Don’t need to live like a caveman to be off grid. Very interested to see your plan for solar and wind power.
Nice job bubba.
comments like that are great. Same logic as not changing the oil in your car to save money. lol like he said, how could you not do something that you know increases longevity. preventative maintenance pays!
Great work !!
You don't need to use the potassium in the softener if you discharge the salt brine somewhere other than the septic tank. You can dig a pit next to the house, fill with gravel and run the discharge tube into it. If freezing is a concern, you can put a T in the discharge with a vacuum break so that the pipe completely drains when the flow cuts off.
As a former steam engineer a water softener is a great investment power plants couldn't run without them
It's your house. You put what you want in it. :)
I would reconsider 2:36. If you can tie in to the electric grid you can install several more strings of solar panels and make money from the local utility company. Your face will be smiling every time the sun smiles. Not only that but seems you have a friend in the business (Zero Point) now. I'd also put some tall shrubs in back of them leaving enough walking room to work on them so they are not eye soars. If you get on the grid you can also install cameras on the utility poles for security. An FYI, the USA is putting satellites up so everyone everywhere will have WiFi. Knowing this (if you didn't know) may help you plan better.
I don't need to tell you what to do. You are remarkable and have outstanding talents. Your kids are really lucky. What I enjoyed most was their first visits there. They had so much fun just being there playing with each other and enjoying each others company. They took to the new place like fish to water. I hope you continue to your channel so your home will have its own history channel.
When you put down more concrete, your family ought to put together a hard copy and computer (USB or DVD) time capsule. It would be nice for your grand kids. That home you built will be there a long time to come.
Great Job! Great humble Man. Great Wife. Great kids. Great Dog. Great A/V editing! OK cat. Great family home! You are blessed with riches far beyond what money could ever buy. What you've done cannot be bought. When will my cabin be ready for me to move in?
I agree w/your point about amenities and being off grid. The technology exists. Use it. If it improves the durability and comfort of your home & investment, why not utilize it?.
I appreciate you taking the effort and time to create the best home you can for your family. You're showing that all of this isn't just some kind of thing for "hippies" or crazy survivalists. If more homes could be built this way, the world would be better for everyone.
Yes yes red puppy ranch #1
Great work!
Time for a nice warm meal and a nap! :D
captainjerk I’ll sleep like a baby tonight...
I know different people have different interpretations of it but "Off-Grid" does not have to mean 'devoid of everything'.
You can still have anything you need/want...off grid just means you are more self-reliant for your living situation.
To me it means that I simply do not have access to the grid... Everybody seems to have their own interpretation of the term.
Do you just use measurements to find the hole centers when drilling the framing for water lines and such? All but a few look perfectly straight. Looks like you could slide non flexible tubing thru the holes if you wanted.
By the time wired power is available at a cheaper price, you will already have your off grid power paid for making the wired power still more expensive. Only benefit would be convenience. Keep up the great work.
tbirdracefan I measured the holes.
dear Sir. what a nice project and i can only wish that you accomplish a truely loving home for your family.
one question came across my mind and i beg your pardon if you've already answered it another video: did you and your wife consider a wood burning kitchen oven with a water heat exchanger that can be used for heating and or hot water supply?
i personally find them very attractive for such a lifestyle.
all the best for you and your family.
We considered this and even purchased an older antique kitchen stove but decide against it... I think they can be beautiful but maybe not as practical as imagined.
nothing wrong with a few luxuries , I have a tin shed with air conditioning , works for me
Your place, do whatever you need to. Quick question have you considered harvesting rainwater from the roof into a cistern and then filter that?
Gary Moncrieff yes but there can be many days between rain. Just going to drill a well.
Does your code require galvanized plates to protect the pipes from drywall nails? Also just for consideration have you thought about a water spigot above your stove? I see it being added to many homes and it seems like a neat idea
Art Landry nail plates, yes. Not really on the bib near the stove. Not a bad idea though.
Good video As always.
Common sense. Sure one could live in a lean-too under a tree; but one of the reasons we build houses is to have some level of comfort and convenience. Sad that some 'homesteaders' or wanna-be 'homesteaders' feel that unless you are intentionally depriving yourself of convenience that you are not really 'homesteading'. Roll-on my friend - you are really moving along !!!
You might enjoy our new video on "Authentic Gun Smoke" here on Relentless Homesteading - info on a cap and ball revolver and out shooting it.
Thanks! I'll check it out.
Hope Reed feels better quickly.
So, with the fittings being the freezing failure point of the Pex system, why all the fittings? Were the turns too sharp to just bend it around?
Will you be running gas Pex or hard pipe for the gas? Guess I'll see the gas line in an upcoming video.
Thanks for sharing. So many folks don't understand why water softeners can be necessary, in the long run.
Thomas Russell I probably could have bent the pipe but it was cold and the pipe like to kink when it’s cold.
you can by a saltless softener they are more expensive than a regular softener but no bach washing and no wasted water.
They don't soften... I've watched a dozen different products come and go claiming to soften. From citrus to magnets... Nothing works as well as a good quality traditional softener.
Its crazy how u have done this mostly by yourself. I am wondering if you will do the sheetrock by yourself?
yes.
You can you salt you just have to put the bacteria in the septic tank once a month, it is pretty cheap. A couple of bucks.
Are you running a second system just for the toilets or are you intending to flush with softened water? My father ran a seperate feed so the toilets were not flushing 2 gallons of softened water away each time you flush. Keep on keeping on.
Andy P Sunshine Isle definitely using soft water to flush with.
We had a problem with freezing water lines so we solved the problem with a water circulating system mounted on our hot water heater.
Super nice bud !!
I love PEX!!!!
Refresh my memory Heath, did you decide to drill a well or are you still getting water from brother in laws creek? Also I know nothing about the type of plastic line you are using I would love to see a closeup video of how to cut crimp install. Maybe you thoughts on it.
Bluescity Garage we are drilling a well. I’ll do a how to close up on the pex.
Great job, Heath. Bet Reed is hard to handle when he is sick. Hope he gets well quick. Would you be able to use reverse osmosis in the house?
Yes and yes!
👍
Who cares about what other people think. It’s your house. If you want put jacuzzi in every room. Lol. Do you know what solar your getting? I ask because I’m thinking on getting it.
Jon Bozzy we have suniva panels and US batteries
Under the stairs? That heater under the stairs isn't a PROPANE or GAS "Heater" UNDER wooden stairs?! Please say it isn't any type of pilot light heater under stairs to sleepinng family. They'll need STAIRS in the event of fire...NOT the first thing to burn. Just wondering what a TANKLESS WATER HEATER is. Love every video. Thank you from Canadian North.
Better
3 , 4 vwind turbine. semi truck batteries inverter z & Solar 😂👍
Hello...can you please list the piping type, clamp tool tools etc. that you used?
I enjoy the videos, I see that your using pex for supply lines . Would using cpvc pipe a good alternative if your on a budget?
I personally would never use cpvc no matter what. I don't care if someone gave it to me. I still wouldn't use it. It's garbage. Pex isn't that much more expensive. Use pex.
What's potassium in water softner? I don't know what that is? Like potassium chloride or something? I love my copper plumbing in Michigan got to keep your heat on.
andy sarles yes. Potassium chloride
Thanks! Never knew it was used in water softeners? It's your sweat,blood and tears, If you want to have an indoor pool or whatever in your house the only people you have to convince is you and your family! I've learned from years of homesteading make your family comfortable first then deal with negative feedback!!!!
I forgot to say I hope your Child gets well soon.
Bobby Tectalabyss thank you!
Weird question....how tall are u? Ur height has helped speed up alot of this build it seems.
russell crase 6’5”
Red Poppy Ranch yep, that definetly helps! Ha!
Why not use the potential power of the stream close to you . Hydroelectric power is a very good source of energy .
it's not my stream.
You can test the water in your well with a simple water hardness test kit that costs just a few $ that way you would have known if you need a water softener... relying on the claims of other people as to water hardness does not always provide an accurate water hardness measure... so test it, you might save yourself some cash...
I have a test kit just not a well... It'll get drilled in the summer.
just don't drain your brine line back into your septic tank, we run ours into the yard far away
I thought the difference with hard & soft water is that... hard water is ICE.
Follow yourself,,,This idea that "homesteading" has any hard and fast "rules" is plain stupid..The better the water supply the least problems down the line...About those lines,,,a simple wood jig with a hole cut into it allows pre marking the holes to be drilled and lowers friction when pulling lines..70 years walking here and learned that from a 19 year old plumbing helper on a new construction site several years back...I knew that kid was going to become a licensed plumber back then and he hold a NJ licence today.
its your house do it the way you wont to
As a plumber for 10 years you would know it's code that you cannot put plumbing in the outside walls.
It was hard to tell but it looked like you were using CPVC, if so why not use PEX A, B or C?
Those fittings look sketchy. I like the PEX A with the sharkbite fittings you can remove in about 2 seconds and seem to hold up pretty well. Wouldn't bury one but inside where they are accessible like under my sink or in the wellhouse they are certainly easy to use although expensive as hell. With the PEX A the plumbing distributor said crimp was a bad idea because the memory pipe is better not being compressed. Ultimately I guess the expander is the way to go not sure about brass vs. plastic fittings. I'm sure a plumber would say plastic because it will be about 1/4 the price, right? For the PEX B the crimp fittings with stainless rings and brass connectors seem to work well and I like them where freezing isn't a possibility although it would probably be "OK".
Work well, but beware of construction work is dangerous
What brand of water softener do you recommend?
Ppl confuse being offgrid with being amish
A tankless water heater will be extremely brutal on your electrical production system. Bad idea for off-grid!
It's so strange when people don't do a solar thermal type hot water system but instead make electricity or use grid power to run a silly tankless water heater. I don't get it!
I am confused by the idea that off-grid means anything more or less than not connected to external suppliers of anything. What you can do off-grid is only bound by imagination.
Oh, I forgot to mention....you should drill oversized holes where running PEX through the lumber and use plastic "insulators" to protect the pipe on every other member. The pipe will move with use and expand/contract with hot/cold cycles. If it is tight in wood holes, the wood may wear the pipe.
You know how long that's going to take? Probably 20-30 years! Try to keep a sense of perspective, rather than blindly following code. Besides, you don't *KNOW* how tight the pipe runs in the holes that he has drilled, because you weren't there. The Number 1 sin of UA-cam commenters is to assume that the person making the video doesn't know what they are doing.
Addicted to Projects - yes, I do know how long it's going to take - way less than 20 years. And where did I say anything about blindly following code? The holes are tight enough for me to comment about it and if you can't see that, you are either blind, or not experienced enough to see it. How many years of plumbing repair experience do you have? How many years of new plumbing experience do you have? The number 2 sin of UA-cam commenters is to assume other commenters are not experts in the field they are offering advice in.
Addicted - I guess you missed the part here and in several other videos that Heath's been a professional plumber (new and repairs) for 10 years - I'm sure he's done a cost-benefit analysis on this
It's not the size of the hole,,it's the offset of the holes that causes friction....
Couldn't Agree more! After plumbing all day i come and watch this and thought the same thing about isolators! we drill all our water lines that are 1/2" and 3/4" pipe in 1 3/8" holes and use isolators. The Other issue that you didn't mention Micah Watson is that they hotline with creak and pop when it heats up any time that hot water is used in the house! Same thing happens with ABS lines that are too tight to the wood
You put your water lines in your outer wall... Aren't you concerned about your line freezing?
Where are you located at? What state?
Idaho
Hey Heath, I thought you were going to leave the joists exposed... I just saw you feeding your pex through it. What gives?
I'm going to leave 3 - 4x8 sections of the ceiling exposed.
Very awesome Heath, take care.
I only have one question, what the heck business is it of others what you do on your own property? It isn't.
Not a fan pf pex, too many known failures after being installed correctly.
Ur not paying monthly payments ur not making money for the GRID then ur off grid the no luxury part is just added by ppl whi dnt want ppl to go off grid
Has nothing to do with a water softner. Do not waste your time!
DIY build water softener? Where the hell is it? Click bait title buddy. Ill know next time Not to bother watching your video's!