Keeping water tank or buckets from freezing

[Horsechick200]

I’m in Canada, so it gets cold! I’m having a lot of trouble with my water tank heater. It keeps blowing the fuse in my barn. I’ve tried to trouble shoot it (changed the heater and cord) but had the same result.

I finally had an electrician out and it was determined the barn doesn’t have enough power to run the heater. I was a given a quote to have some work done, but it cannot be done until spring due to the fact he has to dig up ground to run more power from the house.

Anyhow, can anything be done to keep my water tank or buckets from freezing? I’d rather find a solution for the water tank, but I’m not opposed to bringing buckets down from the house if needed. Running an extension cord won’t work, as the next closest outlet would be my garage, about 600-700 feet away.

Thanks in advance!

[goodhors]

I am using a couple of insulated bucket holders with floating plastic caps. They do seem to hold the heat very well after putting hot water in them. There are a couple tricks to using them. First is putting sliced apples on the floating cap to entice horse to drink. Second is only filling bucket to the top of INSULATED HOLDER, not bucket top. The part of bucket above the holder will will freeze quickly.

Cashman’s sells them under insulated bucket holders if you search their site, though at times they can be found used. Replacement floater can also be purchased there.

My friend has been using them for several years, no power to her various paddocks. She loves them, just checks and refills water a couple times a day. Says water can still be warm with bitter cold after several hours, and stays liquid for a long time after that. Has never had a floater problem or broke one, never needed to replace one with her numerous animals in that time of use. They are not cheap, but work free, even if the power is out! Ha ha Good luck with a solution

[Lord_Helpus]

I read somewhere (maybe COTH?) about using several empty soda bottles (the big ones). Put some water in and then put lots of salt in (obviously I forget the amounts – you can search for it).

The salt keeps the water in the bottles from freezing and the bottles move around on the surface, keeping the ice from covering everything.

Worth a try.

[beau159]

@Horsechick200

I’m in Canada, so it gets cold! I’m having a lot of trouble with my water tank heater. It keeps blowing the fuse in my barn. I’ve tried to trouble shoot it (changed the heater and cord) but had the same result.

Anyhow, can anything be done to keep my water tank or buckets from freezing?

Keep changing the fuses until spring arrives. ???

Tough spot to be in.

Currently how insulated is your water tank? Can you build a box around it or something to create more insulation, just to help keep more heat?

I’m in North Dakota so I know how cold it gets. Worst case scenario is you’ll need to break the ice for the horses morning and night every day. Not ideal, but it gets the job done.

[walktrot]

Are the horses out 24/7 or stalled and turned out? If you can bring buckets from the house I’d add hot water straight out of the hot water tank when they are turned out, or a couple of times a day. Don’t fill buckets in the barn until it’s time to bring them in and add hot water. My horse is on outside board, but I note that the BO still fills stall buckets in the morning so they have all day to cool off and freeze overnight. I think the logic escapes her. She did, however, install Nelson heated waterers outside and they are terrific. They have not frozen even with temperatures well below zero and are extremely reliable. If you have the wherewithal and the electrician coming in any case, maybe look at getting a heated unit installed, or at least do the wiring. Years ago I helped with chores, which included pounding a lot of ice and dragging hoses out of the basement. Big farm, lots of horses, big PITA. No gator either. Kids today have no idea how easy their life is.

[Leather]

Most of the standard tank heaters are 1500W, but the smaller tub like danacat posted are around 250W.

K&H makes heaters with different wattages and has a chart to determine the right one for your tank size/region: http://www.khmfg.com/ultimate-stock-tank-de-icer.html

If you used a smaller tank, lower wattage heater, and insulated your tank/put a cover over it I think you could get by.

[candyappy]

No way you will get by without a heated source if your daytime temps are below 32 on average. At least I couldn’t in MN. Try the green 200 watt 16 gallon bucket .

The better choice is the blue made by Allied Precision not only is the heating source not able to be seen the bucket itself is insulated. It is 260 watts. Look on Ebay.

I have 1 of each of these and much prefer the Allied.

[tazycat]

Agree with candyappy I’m in northern mn. Insulating trough won’t keep it from freezing. Were in the teens for highs going to be below zero next few nights.

think the 16 tub would work and not blow fuses. Chopping ice gets old fast. Not only that trough becomes totally glazed in ice and freezes over faster. If trough isn’t a rubermade it will break in time.

[SashaBast]

@beau159

Keep changing the fuses until spring arrives. ???

Tough spot to be in.

Currently how insulated is your water tank? Can you build a box around it or something to create more insulation, just to help keep more heat?

I’m in North Dakota so I know how cold it gets. Worst case scenario is you’ll need to break the ice for the horses morning and night every day. Not ideal, but it gets the job done.

[SashaBast]

http://www.ranchtanks.com/ This will give you a starting point for a functional electric free winter water tank that has been proven to not freeze. It is the glazing in addition to the insulation that keeps it from freezing. There are diy plans too as well as other manufacturers of this type of system.

For in the barn, the insulated buckets are great. I use the cheaper not quite as effective Smart Pak bucket insulators. Filled with Lukewarm water at 6pm and a barn reading 12 degrees in the morning 7am and there was no ice.

[Equibrit]

Let the sun help you;
https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/…k-zmaz10onzraw

and a water circulating pump; http://solarhomestead.com/off-grid-circulating-pumps/