one well with two holding tanks

I have a barn with an apartment on the second floor. I need to run water from my well to supply the apartment which has a small kitchen and a bathroom with shower. The barn is abount 150' from my home and my well is in between both.

My question is, since my pump is in the well, can I run a line from the well to the barns holding tank instead of running a line from my home to the barn, which is twice the distance? Or would there be an issure regulating the pressure of the two tanks with two pressure switches?

Also, I live in Michigan where freezing can be a problem. The barn is on a monolythic slab and was never prep'd for electrical or water. Any suggestions on how to get the water to the barn would be appreciated. I can't make up my mind if I should go through the floor or come up outside the barn wall. I don't want to be concerned with freezing pipes.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

 

It all depends on where your check valves are. As long as you TEE into the line on the tank side of the check valve on the supply line you do not even need a tank in the barn.

 

That would be defeating the purpose. I want to eliminate running a line 150' to my home. If I tee into the supply at the well I will only have a 75' run.

Thanks anyway.

 

Like I said, it depends on where your check valve is.

I assume from your comments that you have a check valve close to the tank at your home. Move the check valve from the tank at your home to the well, just on the well side of the TEE you install to run to the barn. No additional tank or pressure switch necessary.

 

Ahhh. So if I understand you correctly, as long as the check valve is before the tee I can accomlish what I want.

If this is correct, why doesn't the barn need a holding tank and how whould the pressure be maintained? How would the pressure switch in my home sense the loss of pressure to turn the pump on for any demand in the barn?

Sorry for the confusion.....

 

From your description it sounds like you have a submersible pump. If that is the case then there should be a check valve in the well below the pump(a foot valve). If that is the case then you can just T into the line from the well to the house. You don't even need a tank in the barn. You definitely don't want two pressure switches on the same pump.

 

The only place you would likely run into problems is in flow rate. When you turn on a valve at the barn you will be drawing water out of the lines all the way back to your house where your tank is. You should have a pipe of sufficient size to accomodate the need.

If I were you I'd just make sure the only check valve above ground is at the well and the TEE is after the check valve, then run a pipe to the bar and plumb it as you desire. IF you think you are not getting sufficient flow rates then you can add a tank at the barn later. Just make sure it is a properly precharged tank. No pressure switch will be necessary.

 

Thank you for all your comments, but just so I'm clear....There must be pressure in the water line from the pump, (at the point), all the way to the holding tank which is sensed by the pressure switch. So....if I tee from the well to the barn, when the barn, or the house, demands water the pressure switch in the house will sense the loss of pressure and turn on the pump until pressure is met.

If this is correct, then I understand why the barn doesn't need a holding tank. If not, I'm lost.

 

You're pretty much right. Think of it like this...

Pump --- < check valve > --- everything else.

Yeah, it's that simple.

 

I see what you mean regarding the flow rate. What about siphoning....could the barn potentially draw water from the holding tank in the house since the check valve is in the well?

 

Yes, that's what you want it to do, and that's what it will do.

 

Thanks mdtaylor for all the great advise.