I'd like a windmill as a backup to our electric pump at our BOL and maybe a hand pump too. I have no idea where to start, though. I know ranchers still use windmills to fill cisterns for their cattle. The cisterns have a float like a toilet tank and when the water gets low enough it engages something like a clutch on the windmill and it starts pumping water. We'd like to do the same thing but with an elevated tank to gravity feed the house. If it's economically feasible, the ideal situation would be to have several very large tanks so that we could irrigate a couple acres of vegetables. I imagine I'd need to find out how deep our well is and the diameter of the pipe but I have no idea how to do that. Any help would be appreciated.
"I imagine I'd need to find out how deep our well is and the diameter of the pipe but I have no idea how to do that."
I'd go out and look at the pipe and take a ruler to it.
Then I'd tie a rock on a 100' string and drop it down the pipe and pull it up and see where it got real wet.
I believe some places keep records of well drilling. Check with your county. As for windmills,
American Windmills is about the only company that makes them I think, and they are priced accordingly.
ETA: American Windmills apparently restores old windmills. There are some others out there, but they are all expensive.
http://www.simplepump.com/
I was looking at these for my well.
These folks have been in business since the 1880s IIRC
http://aermotorwindmill.com/
They would probably be able to tell you all that you need to know to get the correct windmill to meet your needs.
Originally Posted By PA22-400:
These folks have been in business since the 1880s IIRC
http://aermotorwindmill.com/
They would probably be able to tell you all that you need to know to get the correct windmill to meet your needs.
Ah, that's the place I meant to link in my other post. American Windmill just rebuilds aermotors.
Thanks, guys.
