Garden Irrigation from HVAC drainage
by
Steve E
Divert HVAC condesate drainage to garden
*Options I considered for this project:
The only option was to continue to pay out the wazoo to water my garden (or, possibly, to plant plastic flowers and shrubs).
*Questions and unexpected events that arose during the project:
I have two compressors on my roof, one for my space and one for a rental unit. The rental unit system drained directly onto the roof, but my system drained into a utility sink in the furnace room, so it had to be diverted to the roof. Luckily, when the system was originally installed, it had an optional pumped drain up to the roof, for use when the temperature outside is above freezing, so I was able to hook the pump up to tha tubing and send it up to where the other unit drained on the roof. You can see from the photos wher the two drains (clear neoprene tubing) on the roof are connected to a single white PVC drain tube.
* Cost Comments:
I already had PVC solvent and duct tape (what respectable handyman would be caught without duct tape?)
*My motivation to do this project:
Again (see my cistern project), I got tired of high water bills and decided to do something to cut my city water usage.
*Project Steps:
1) Diverted the condensate drain from my utility sink up to the roof. If you don't have tha convenience of a drain tube already there (see above), you will need to be sure there is a drainage pump, and attach a drain line (the clear neoprene tubing) to the pump. Making sure the tubing doesn't get crimped, you can run it through a crawl space or attic to a perimeter exterior wall, and through the wall to your garden space. Make sure the penetration point is properly sealed against weather and creepy-crawlies.
2) Once I got both systems draining out on the flat roof next to each other, I hooked them up to a white PVCdrain pipe ad ran it over to the edge of the roof and down into a planted area.
3) I made a splitter (kinda like a Y, but shaped more like a T or L) to hook a couple of lengths of neoprene tubing to, so the drained water could be diverted to two different areas in the planter.
Advice:
Do plan to protect the exposed clear neoprene tubing from the sun (not shown in my photos), or it will get brittle and decompose pretty quickly. I plan to just slip pieces of old garden hose over the exposed sections.
Materials:
(6) 10' x 3/4" PVC tubes - $6.00
PVC fittings - $5.00
Neoprene tubing - $10.00
*Options I considered for this project:
The only option was to continue to pay out the wazoo to water my garden (or, possibly, to plant plastic flowers and shrubs).
*Questions and unexpected events that arose during the project:
I have two compressors on my roof, one for my space and one for a rental unit. The rental unit system drained directly onto the roof, but my system drained into a utility sink in the furnace room, so it had to be diverted to the roof. Luckily, when the system was originally installed, it had an optional pumped drain up to the roof, for use when the temperature outside is above freezing, so I was able to hook the pump up to tha tubing and send it up to where the other unit drained on the roof. You can see from the photos wher the two drains (clear neoprene tubing) on the roof are connected to a single white PVC drain tube.
* Cost Comments:
I already had PVC solvent and duct tape (what respectable handyman would be caught without duct tape?)
*My motivation to do this project:
Again (see my cistern project), I got tired of high water bills and decided to do something to cut my city water usage.
*Project Steps:
1) Diverted the condensate drain from my utility sink up to the roof. If you don't have tha convenience of a drain tube already there (see above), you will need to be sure there is a drainage pump, and attach a drain line (the clear neoprene tubing) to the pump. Making sure the tubing doesn't get crimped, you can run it through a crawl space or attic to a perimeter exterior wall, and through the wall to your garden space. Make sure the penetration point is properly sealed against weather and creepy-crawlies.
2) Once I got both systems draining out on the flat roof next to each other, I hooked them up to a white PVCdrain pipe ad ran it over to the edge of the roof and down into a planted area.
3) I made a splitter (kinda like a Y, but shaped more like a T or L) to hook a couple of lengths of neoprene tubing to, so the drained water could be diverted to two different areas in the planter.
Advice:
Do plan to protect the exposed clear neoprene tubing from the sun (not shown in my photos), or it will get brittle and decompose pretty quickly. I plan to just slip pieces of old garden hose over the exposed sections.
Materials:
(6) 10' x 3/4" PVC tubes - $6.00
PVC fittings - $5.00
Neoprene tubing - $10.00
2 compressors on the roof.
Existing drains (clear neoprene tubes) running into a single PVC drain tube
PVC tubing runs across the roof adjacent to existing decking
PVC tubing routed over the parapet
PVC running down wall (PVC will be painted to match wall)
T-outlet at end to divert drain water in 2 directions
Comments
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2 of 3 comments
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This was a great idea. I did the same type of job for a lady in Helen when the water restriction started. We also added a tank below her gutters and piped it to plants as well.
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Hmmm..... I have a flat roof that pours gallons OVER the gutters. My HVAC simply drains into the foundation -- or did until I put a gutter extender under it. Now I'm thinking it might be just the ticket to water a Japanese maple nearby. GREAT idea!
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