ᐅ Water supply line for backflow replenishment and irrigation

Created on: 31 Aug 2022 15:41
D
DASI90
Hello everyone,

We have decided to install a pool and want an automatic water refill system as well. This means we need water supply in our outdoor storage area, where the pool equipment and irrigation control will be located. Of course, we didn’t consider this during planning and construction, as the desire for a pool and automatic irrigation came much later. Anyway.

The outdoor storage is part of the house but is outside the thermal envelope and has no direct access from the house. Now the question is how to get the water connection into the outdoor storage. We would definitely install a backflow preventer. There are basically two options:

1) The pool installer suggested running an additional cold water line from the utility room on the opposite side of the house into the outdoor storage. We could tap off from there. However, this would require a core drill through the concrete wall and insulation, which I would prefer to avoid. The pool installer says this would pose no problem if the drill hole is properly foamed/sealed afterwards. So neither thermal nor sound insulation should be affected, especially since the outdoor storage already has a door and is otherwise tight.

2) I’ve only recently considered this option. We already have a frost-free outdoor faucet at the front. Would it theoretically be possible to modify this faucet or run a line from it through the garden and the front, uninsulated wall of the outdoor storage to supply the equipment? Or is this not advisable or feasible for some reason? The missing outdoor faucet could potentially be replaced by a water outlet if this works out.

Technical floor plan: Outdoor storage, utility room, cold water line, pool equipment; frost-free outdoor faucet.


What do the experts say? Is the solution with the additional line harmless and cleaner? Or am I risking creating a hole that wouldn’t be necessary otherwise?

Best regards
DASI901 Sep 2022 11:55
Ok. Usually, it’s not the case that everything is open all at once or permanently.

Can I increase the pressure using a splitter station? The landscaping contractor once mentioned something like that if the pressure is too low.
rick20181 Sep 2022 12:07
Not above the system separator but via a pressure boosting station. Should not be necessary at 3.5 bar.
DASI901 Sep 2022 17:35
How significant is the comfort improvement with the automatic refill? Otherwise, is the garden hose constantly left connected to fill the pool?
rick20181 Sep 2022 17:40
Otherwise, you constantly have to check the water level, refill it after flushing, and so on. The hose is always lying around. I would never build without an automatic refill system.
DASI901 Sep 2022 20:34
I just tested the pipe. At 3.5 bar, I’m only getting about 0.6 m³/h (0.21 cubic feet per hour). That seems really low, doesn’t it?
rick20181 Sep 2022 20:58
At the outdoor faucet? Usually, a thin pipe is used there...
In the basement, you can branch off directly from the main water line.
The refill doesn’t need to balance out in just a few minutes anyway.