Y'know Maximus, your videos should be shown in schools. They are both practical and inspirational through realising, that as Human Beings we may not have control over the future, but, we do have control over our destiny. Thank you making these videos. They have given me a whole new vision on social responsibility and a possible path to take, enriching my life and that of my family. Many thanks. Your efforts are much appreciated.
cluxseltoot That's a great point. I couldn't of said that any better myself. We're always taught how we are stuck in a debt system, but this video really changed my perspective of life too. Thanks for sharing 👍🏽
I'm sceptical about those ceramic filters, I'm not certain that they really do filter out viruses, despite the claims made by sellers on ebay which other TH-camrs say are false claims, I would probably use a LED UV system in conjunction with the ceramics just to make sure, or I would at least boil the water.
I came for the off grid basics and stayed for the Land Rover restoration... and the tractor... and project awesome... and the blacksmithing. Pretty much been binge watching whenever I get a spare hour or two! Top videos, Max. Looking forward to seeing more! Cheers, Bob.
so just been through the channel, watched a load of vids....speechless. What is more impressive is you seem to be the most competent and established BRITISH homesteader i can find online. My passion for all things self reliance related started with camping, survival, and bushcraft skills which you would safe to assume ray mears and bear grylls was responsible for, then i started discovering programs about homesteading...people actually living full time of the land!! Blew my mind, but then after probably thousands of hours going through youtube, reading blogs and informative webites, I heard the call, so i started researching a bit further, it became painfully obvious it wasn't going to be easy to get to the point i would be free to explore self reliance and homesteading without having to go through a ridiculously arduous battle with the system due to its ridiculous rules and regulations about living on your own damn land, but here you are!! you absolute legend!! Although determined, I'm no closer to owning my own land and setting myself up, but it has to be said, being British, you are a true inspiration to people like me. I'm so tired of the many american accents, all of which i struggle to tolerate, and of course our laws are completely different to america's so information can get skewed. You are awesome, and to say i envy you is an understatement. Fair play and congrats with regards to everything you have accomplished on your own, and even more so, thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you. You might be surprised how many people live like I do in the UK, it's just that most of them don't feel the need to plaster themselves all over TH-cam!
i know its why i said your the best i can find. I can't find any that are all out off grid in the uk like you are. Its nice to have an example/ rolemodel to reinforce the possibility of it being a feasible option, having a real operational example of how to get set up, and the chance to learn from your mistakes. Its real value for people like me. so again, Thank you. You are a legend.
Just found your channel and binge watching your videos! Up to now it's been nearly all US videos, which while very good and generous, tend to have kit we can't get or methods of doing things we would get shot for! I live off grid on a canal boat as a continuous cruiser. It's a different kind of life to being land based but I would not have the money to buy land! I am working at becoming more self sufficient even in my type of life. You are an example of someone who made the dream come true! Your are a gentleman and a scholar, sir! You are also an inspiration! Thank you!
Woah man what's life like on a boat? The cost of utilities and rent are murdering my wage and my tax is 24% every paycheck. Which keeps me in a cycle of debt.
I wonder if it would be worth harvesting water off the roof of a narrow boat? Certainly satisfying, and I don't suppose you have to worry about the weight since you are bobbing about on the stuff already. Might take up a fair amount of room I suppose - big tank with intermittent rain. I just googled rainfall ( guessing this is near Bristol) and it's about 800mm a year in Bristol, only 500mm in London. Here in Western Australia people in the country still live off rain water, lots of corrugated iron roofs and tanks, no fancy ceramic filters either!
Drink beer, save water ! Thanks for the very complete video about all the water system. That gives one a pretty good idea on how to build things from scratch !
Great videos Maximus. My dad and I are looking to build him an off the grid log cabin in Wales so this is very helpful detailed info. Love it when the clipboard comes out.😁
Very informative - outstanding presentation - rainwater for drinking water - here we go!!!! Thank you so much for your knowledge and your expertise - brilliant stuff!!! Blessings; Johnny 😃
Is amazing how easy water system can be resolved off grid . South west weather ideal for it and technically it pretty basic or at least start pretty basic and evolve your system over a few years . You just need perfect your offgrid beer, landrovers love being power washed with beer lol .
I boil all my Water and drink teas..it kills most bugs..ginger and lemon with teas , often available in the Garden..or orange Pekoe Red Rose, Salada (it seems there is fluoride in it though not so good ).
HI, I just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos. You explain things in a very easy to understand way. I am impressed that even I see how it all works. I would truly love to live like that. Thank you for sharing bits and pieces of your great life. It helps me dream of that way of living.
Living in Southern California, I wish we got the type of rain you do (this year being an exception, as we've had a year's worth of rain by February, with no end in sight). Great work on your system, man. Very inspirational.
Interesting watching this from Australia. People here have been living of rain water since Victorian times, so it's much more familiar. I've worked on a sheep station where the water runs through some shade cloth into a corrugated tank with a layer of parrafin on top to stop the mossies breeding in it. No ceramic filters, pumps, or IBCs! Rain water is highly prized, bore water often tastes aweful!
Just discovered your channel and three observations: 1) Absolutely loving it. Great content. Currently binge-watching. 2) You sound remarkably like the comedian Simon Evans. 3) Love the fact you hate bureaucracy, yet have used a clipboard in all vlogs I've seen to date :o)
I've been looking into doing this for a few years now and have been totally overwhelmed by the books advice videos etc all telling you different things! I have some of my own 'food sources' so to speak but I'm limited to what I can grow etc. I try and recycle water and everything else I use and try to buy as little as possible from shops and places. Then I found this guy! And in the UK!! I am now so very optimistic and enthusiastic again! I'm now looking for some land where I can start with my 'shed' and gradually turn my life around and live the life I've wanted to for so many years! To be as self sufficient as possible.....a lot of hard work ahead I think but I have the passion and determination which I hope will help me get there!! Thankyou thankyou thankyou!! 👩🌾🐔
This is great exactly what I was hoping you would show when I asked on fb. I experimented with rain water colection on a boat but atm refilling a tank, my system is pump to hoselock. Love your setup thanks so much for showing. Hoselock plumbing is an art and a science.
Excellent. I recently watched your "Experiment in Solar Hot Water Pt1" video; and it has greatly interested me. So I am looking forward to Pt2. I also wanted to research extra info on your original setup, & I found this video & the "Off Grid basics : Heat & Hot Water", which I will watch next. All really interesting. I have read a few books on building low impact houses and sufficiency books & not many have much about water in any detail. So I am finding this all very informative & useful.
Great video, you are awesome dude! Bought an old tiny farmhouse a few years ago, I am going to try some of these ideas, can't afford to pay someone else so time to get stuck in myself. Your vids have very clear explanations, thank you very much for them.
I'm in the process of building off grid set up in Wiltshire at mo. Going to be vlogging on our Retro Renovations channel. This video has been a great insight. Love the filter explanation. Thank you. I look forward to giving this a go in 2018.
What a very knowledgable and hardworking man you are, and are to be admired, if there's ever an apocalypse I'm definitely coming to find you, I don't mean to freeload, but to contribute my skills to yours lol 😂. Why not get a couple of goats 🐐, free milk and a free grass cutter all the best Carol
I think it's amazing that 800 gallons (~3000L) is plenty of water. You must get consistent rain all year round. I have twice that capacity and it is not near enough in North Texas.
Hi Max, Just watched this video and really enjoyed it. If you remember I commented on your electricity video about the lack of specifics but this one was absolutely bang-on. Great detail on how you harvest the rainwater and then pump it through filters etc. to end use. I'm looking forward to the heating episode to see how you tackle that. Regards.
Haha more beer than water, thank you for this clip, it was very easy to understand, thank you so much for sharing, I needed this information for starting our of the grid life later this year.
Absolutely great videos, simple but effective water filter system. I use the 4 stage Ultracarb filters and think it’s the same as yours, but just remember to clean the first black water storage tank that you have outside on a regular basis as I left mine for about six months and it was a mess and full of nasty shit 😂
Thanks for making these videos! you have answered so many questions that have been in my head. Awesome! Im planning on doing something similar in the future and this really helps!
I have found there is much more muck in the rainwater from a tiled roof and slime builds up in the loft header tank even though this water goes through a sand and gravel filter. I suspect the rough surface of the tiles holds on to moss and algae which maybe doesn't happen with your tin roof surface, Cheers, Andy
Hi, yes that's not a problem as the tanks are in a dark shed. Sand filters are a right pain and need regualar maintenace, so I am interesed in a coarse filter to process general washing water. It would be interesting to hear about the maintence intervals of these carteridge filters, cheers, Andy
@@TheInfoworks... cartridges need replacing about every 6 months or 2000 litres but will last even longer if the water is pretty clean before it goes through the filter. I use x2 of them in a gravity water purifier which runs the water out of the tap 10x faster than his 25psi water system. Also running water through ceramic filters using gravity rather than under pressure is more efficient at eliminating anything dodgy in the water.
Great videos, thinking of doing a similar thing myself, you have probably done it already or someone has already mentioned it but if you put an expansion tank/accumulator tank on the pressure side of your water pump you will get smooth higher water pressure and your pump wont cut in all the time. As there is no compressible space on the pressure side your water pump is only realising its max pressure output for a split second when your tap is turned on. You will fill those baths quicker and thus save more heat.
I love your videos! Always super useful and packed with details! I feel like most of your systems can be used in Canada as well. I'm currently planning to build my own natural home and I can't wait to test the best practices I've been reading (and watching) about. THANK YOU! Cheers! XO
Because it is not legal to collect water for running your house, if you are found to be doing so the local water authority will send you a bill on a regular basis or take you to court and make you pay. This has been tested in court in the past. The judgement was that all rainwater belonged to the local water authority.
@@Carrion00 rainharvesting.co.uk for some clear facts. Not illegal in the UK. www.rainharvesting.co.uk/collecting-rainwater-illegal-uk-everything-need-know/
I have been pondering about installing such a water collection system for my house but i am curious , does the water in the barrel freeze in cold winter weather? If yes, how do you deal with that? It doesn't happen often but we do sometimes get winternights with temps to as low as -10C
You have to do what is possible to live . ill be keeping up to date with all your videos im a blacksmith and engineer and all your videos are very interesting
Thanks for the video, the info was useful. I am planning my next home to be off grid. For the water supply I also want to collect rain water, but I want to use a solar panel to pump water up from bulk storage to an elevated water tank. That way I get gravity pressure and if I do things right I can use excess power generation to pump water to height then use the water as an energy store.
Thanks for a very interesting explanation and demonstration of water harvesting. Just a point, I have heard that garden hose has a high lead content used in the manufacture to keep it flexible in use. This can leech out into your water supply in your use of it.
Great channel Max - came here for the Series 2a restoration and stayed for the rest - now i'm looking in to my own self-build sustainable home! Tell me, how has the recent heat wave in the UK impacted on your water source? Worth a quick video to show us how you've dealt with the lack of rain??? All the best, keep it up!
Thanks, glad the videos are of interest! Not much to say about the heatwave, it's been the driest summer I can remember here,but I've still got 500litres or so left and we are due rain this weekend which will be a relief. More of an issue has been the plants outside, I planted a couple hundred trees which were doing nicely after a wet spring but they are looking very unwell now, I suspect most are dead.
Thats an idea from how people get there water supply in India , You can really get a lot of information if you find out how people dig wells and purify the water and then Use it on their farms and daily lives. Its a wonderful Idea.
Whilst we're on grid, we use an old 5,000 litre plastic tank, which used to hold heating oil, to catch rain water. That took some cleaning, and even now we don't use it for drinking, but it does run the washing machine and toilets. We used an old power-shower pump to lift it, seems to work pretty well. It's got a 3 stage filter set on it, which is probably overkill for what we do with it, but we didn't want to kill the washing machine! We've also got one of those IBC cubes. It's used to collect the bath/shower water, which goes straight to watering the garden. the plants don't seem to care about the detergents and they're very dilute anyway. They probably like some of them! Plus there's not worry about it going green, although in hot weather, stored bath water doesn't smell the best! lol!
You can get detergents that are more easily broken down for that sort of set up. There's a fair bit of salt in washing powder that can build up in the soil if you rely on irrigated water too much. I imagine the rain would wash it through in winter though?
Hi Maximus. Thanks for posting these simple to understand videos. You are making the whole world of simple living look doable and less overwhelming. I have a question about filtered rain water. Are you missing out on the minerals that are in ground water and I presume tap water? Do you try to replace these minerals and if so, how?
Glad i found your vids. No idea how though. I've been on bit of a binge. I live not too far from you, i think- just north of Keynsham. With the house prices and rent in the area your setup seems highly appealing.
absolutely fabulous a real joy to watch and very useful thank you for taking the time to explain and offer appropriate and practical advice , may the force be with you :-)
Found your channel today and have been binging your videos! Very informative, lots of great information. There were just a couple of things I would like to point out in case anyone comes across this: 1. Around 7:20 when talking about the filter bucket, the diagram should be reversed - the big things like rocks and pebbles go where the water comes in, and the finest, smallest filters go right at the end. Otherwise, the small ones get easily blocked up and need replacing, and the bigger filters afterwards will have no effect since the particles that get through are already at least smaller than the previous filter stage. 2. I would also suggest some kind of charcoal / activated carbon stage added to this filter (see below point) 3. You mentioned that since switching to the black tank, you no longer get algae / growth due to sunlight. However, I would still recommend everyone installs a UV light to kill any remaining bacteria and nasty stuff that may be in there, and remove any particulates that may be harmful. Other than those two small points, very good content! I hope to live off-grid and self-sufficient one day and I think that learning as much as I can from the wise people that have been doing it for a while is a great starting point, and I learn things I wouldn't have if it was from sources that don't demonstrate real world experience.
If you google 'slow sand filter' you can see why the contents go in the order I described, this is the system I talk about at 4.28 and is what I used to clean the water from a well. What I'm talking about at the point you mentioned (7.20) is a different system (for rainwater). That system has a sediment filter and then a ceramic one at the tap end, the ceramic filter works to a very fine degree, removing even bacteria. It's a very old video and I do a bad job of explaining things!
@@maximusironthumper Interesting, I had never seen that before. While the ceramic filter would do a great job, I would personally still be a little paranoid so would want to 100% make sure nothing slipped through. If I am out in the middle of nowhere I would want to reduce my risk of illness in any way I can. A ceramic filter is certainly enough for most people, but I would just want to be completely sure. Also, where would you get the minerals if not in the drinking water? Would you get it entirely from food? If in a limited environment with not much selection of food, how can you ensure you are getting everything your body needs?
A UV light is not a panacea - although UV will kill microbes, it is possible for tiny particulate matter to shield the UV and so it is possible to not be fully protected, also with some setups it is not obvious if the light fails. Personally I have more faith in a ceramic filter, of course it's perfectly possible to have both! As for minerals, yes a decent balanced diet with not too much highly processed food provides all the minerals needed. It's worth reading up on the government guidelines for rainwater usage in places like Australia and New Zealand where large parts of the population are completely reliant on rainwater.
Sadly, Down Under water is as rare as hens teeth. We catch what we can but bore water is the norm, failing that, river access but you pay for that premium. Great setup.
If you install a potable expansion vessel (pressure tank) after the pump and filter, then provided it's of the correct capacity you will get better water flow and pressure consistency ....
Im learning so much today.....this morning i hadnt a clue about living completely off grid! I do wish Discovery channel had paid you to make a series about this! So few people now, (me included) cannot even afford to pay the inflated greedy prices of even a basic flat. The future lies in self sufficiency and living off grid, this could also help the homeless if they were prepared to put in the work to maintain it? Where can you buy the big tanks please?
Maximus: Two thoughts a 5 gal pressure tank after the pump would reduce even further the pumps cycling and extend it's life. With climate change the rain patterns could change radically in a given year so I would keep the totes for garden back-up. Bert
Yes a booster tank would be a better setup, having said that, the pump has been working happily in the current setup for ten years or so! Where I am it looks like climate change will be bringing even more rain. I will keep some spare capacity though. Thanks for making some good points!
'climate change' is a con Gentlemen, designed to get more tax out of us and make us grateful for that. Where I live they were calling it 'Global Warming' until about six or seven years ago when we had a remarkably cold winter, and I remember saying to someone, "If this global warming keeps up we're going to freeze our knackers off".
Springs almost always pop up on top of the hill! We’re just looking to set up a rainwater harvesting set up at home on the small holding. We surrendered the bore hole as the pump was shot and extraction licence was getting to be a pain.
Y'know Maximus, your videos should be shown in schools. They are both practical and inspirational through realising, that as Human Beings we may not have control over the future, but, we do have control over our destiny. Thank you making these videos. They have given me a whole new vision on social responsibility and a possible path to take, enriching my life and that of my family. Many thanks. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Thank you very much, that means a lot!
cluxseltoot That's a great point. I couldn't of said that any better myself. We're always taught how we are stuck in a debt system, but this video really changed my perspective of life too. Thanks for sharing 👍🏽
So true!
I'm sceptical about those ceramic filters, I'm not certain that they really do filter out viruses, despite the claims made by sellers on ebay which other TH-camrs say are false claims, I would probably use a LED UV system in conjunction with the ceramics just to make sure, or I would at least boil the water.
@@Galv140577 The whole of the Middle East uses them quite successfully - they work.
Great looking back at these old vids
I came for the off grid basics and stayed for the Land Rover restoration... and the tractor... and project awesome... and the blacksmithing. Pretty much been binge watching whenever I get a spare hour or two! Top videos, Max. Looking forward to seeing more! Cheers, Bob.
Thanks for the video. 100% doing this. Hate paying for something which we can have for free.
Mans a bloody genius
so just been through the channel, watched a load of vids....speechless. What is more impressive is you seem to be the most competent and established BRITISH homesteader i can find online. My passion for all things self reliance related started with camping, survival, and bushcraft skills which you would safe to assume ray mears and bear grylls was responsible for, then i started discovering programs about homesteading...people actually living full time of the land!! Blew my mind, but then after probably thousands of hours going through youtube, reading blogs and informative webites, I heard the call, so i started researching a bit further, it became painfully obvious it wasn't going to be easy to get to the point i would be free to explore self reliance and homesteading without having to go through a ridiculously arduous battle with the system due to its ridiculous rules and regulations about living on your own damn land, but here you are!! you absolute legend!! Although determined, I'm no closer to owning my own land and setting myself up, but it has to be said, being British, you are a true inspiration to people like me. I'm so tired of the many american accents, all of which i struggle to tolerate, and of course our laws are completely different to america's so information can get skewed. You are awesome, and to say i envy you is an understatement. Fair play and congrats with regards to everything you have accomplished on your own, and even more so, thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you. You might be surprised how many people live like I do in the UK, it's just that most of them don't feel the need to plaster themselves all over TH-cam!
i know its why i said your the best i can find. I can't find any that are all out off grid in the uk like you are. Its nice to have an example/ rolemodel to reinforce the possibility of it being a feasible option, having a real operational example of how to get set up, and the chance to learn from your mistakes. Its real value for people like me. so again, Thank you. You are a legend.
@@maximusironthumper Ha ha ha, you're too modest old bean!
Just found your channel and binge watching your videos!
Up to now it's been nearly all US videos, which while very good and generous, tend to have kit we can't get or methods of doing things we would get shot for!
I live off grid on a canal boat as a continuous cruiser. It's a different kind of life to being land based but I would not have the money to buy land! I am working at becoming more self sufficient even in my type of life. You are an example of someone who made the dream come true!
Your are a gentleman and a scholar, sir! You are also an inspiration! Thank you!
Me too, he is a fine example of someone who dreamed of doing something and just did it!
Woah man what's life like on a boat? The cost of utilities and rent are murdering my wage and my tax is 24% every paycheck. Which keeps me in a cycle of debt.
@@samuelmmmk181 have a look at "cruising the cut' You Tube channel. I just watched one where he explains all the outgoings.
I wonder if it would be worth harvesting water off the roof of a narrow boat?
Certainly satisfying, and I don't suppose you have to worry about the weight since you are bobbing about on the stuff already.
Might take up a fair amount of room I suppose - big tank with intermittent rain.
I just googled rainfall ( guessing this is near Bristol) and it's about 800mm a year in Bristol, only 500mm in London. Here in Western Australia people in the country still live off rain water, lots of corrugated iron roofs and tanks, no fancy ceramic filters either!
@@AndyJarman thank you Pal, I definitely will!
Thanks for doing these videos. I am a Farrier in Atlanta, GA USA & have learned so much from you. Cheers! 🙂👍🏻🇺🇸
Drink beer, save water ! Thanks for the very complete video about all the water system. That gives one a pretty good idea on how to build things from scratch !
Imix Muan Tea drinking helped too
Great videos Maximus. My dad and I are looking to build him an off the grid log cabin in Wales so this is very helpful detailed info. Love it when the clipboard comes out.😁
Me too. When he reaches for that clipboard you know he's about to drop some knowledge.....lol
Very informative - outstanding presentation - rainwater for drinking water - here we go!!!! Thank you so much for your knowledge and your expertise - brilliant stuff!!! Blessings; Johnny 😃
Is amazing how easy water system can be resolved off grid .
South west weather ideal for it and technically it pretty basic or at least start pretty basic and evolve your system over a few years .
You just need perfect your offgrid beer, landrovers love being power washed with beer lol .
All seems terribly cozy and romantic. I'd like to live like this.
You have a wicked sense of humour just imagine you down the pub with a couple of beers, water great video as always great
You provide a LOT of information & details, very much appreciated!
I boil all my Water and drink teas..it kills most bugs..ginger and lemon with teas , often available in the Garden..or orange Pekoe Red Rose, Salada (it seems there is fluoride in it though not so good ).
You’re a fucking genius. A humble one.
Felt bad about the badger story then saw the clip of him still alive, awesome :-) very nicely done with the research.
Thank you. You are smart!
HI, I just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos. You explain things in a very easy to understand way. I am impressed that even I see how it all works. I would truly love to live like that. Thank you for sharing bits and pieces of your great life. It helps me dream of that way of living.
Living in Southern California, I wish we got the type of rain you do (this year being an exception, as we've had a year's worth of rain by February, with no end in sight). Great work on your system, man. Very inspirational.
I so enjoy your honesty and simple instructions! I will follow you always 😋
Doulton have been making ceramic water filters for hundreds of years.
These videos are brilliant!,! Thanks for taking the time to produce them.
Very interesting video.
Gave the badger some frankfurters and set him on his way lol.
Interesting watching this from Australia. People here have been living of rain water since Victorian times, so it's much more familiar. I've worked on a sheep station where the water runs through some shade cloth into a corrugated tank with a layer of parrafin on top to stop the mossies breeding in it. No ceramic filters, pumps, or IBCs! Rain water is highly prized, bore water often tastes aweful!
Just discovered your channel and three observations:
1) Absolutely loving it. Great content. Currently binge-watching.
2) You sound remarkably like the comedian Simon Evans.
3) Love the fact you hate bureaucracy, yet have used a clipboard in all vlogs I've seen to date :o)
Speaker smashing intro!
Love this. You’re delivery is really great. Thank you
I've been looking into doing this for a few years now and have been totally overwhelmed by the books advice videos etc all telling you different things!
I have some of my own 'food sources' so to speak but I'm limited to what I can grow etc. I try and recycle water and everything else I use and try to buy as little as possible from shops and places.
Then I found this guy! And in the UK!! I am now so very optimistic and enthusiastic again! I'm now looking for some land where I can start with my 'shed' and gradually turn my life around and live the life I've wanted to for so many years! To be as self sufficient as possible.....a lot of hard work ahead I think but I have the passion and determination which I hope will help me get there!!
Thankyou thankyou thankyou!! 👩🌾🐔
This is great exactly what I was hoping you would show when I asked on fb. I experimented with rain water colection on a boat but atm refilling a tank, my system is pump to hoselock. Love your setup thanks so much for showing. Hoselock plumbing is an art and a science.
Excellent. I recently watched your "Experiment in Solar Hot Water Pt1" video; and it has greatly interested me. So I am looking forward to Pt2.
I also wanted to research extra info on your original setup, & I found this video & the "Off Grid basics : Heat & Hot Water", which I will watch next. All really interesting.
I have read a few books on building low impact houses and sufficiency books & not many have much about water in any detail. So I am finding this all very informative & useful.
Great video, you are awesome dude! Bought an old tiny farmhouse a few years ago, I am going to try some of these ideas, can't afford to pay someone else so time to get stuck in myself. Your vids have very clear explanations, thank you very much for them.
Just discovered your channel and subscribed to it right away. Learning a lot from your videos.
Good video, Water in the city is cleaned with chemicals and so on,, goes through some 100 year old fifty pipes...
Pucka Max I have enjoyed your vids and will keep watching.
I'm in the process of building off grid set up in Wiltshire at mo. Going to be vlogging on our Retro Renovations channel. This video has been a great insight. Love the filter explanation. Thank you. I look forward to giving this a go in 2018.
What a very knowledgable and hardworking man you are, and are to be admired, if there's ever an apocalypse I'm definitely coming to find you, I don't mean to freeload, but to contribute my skills to yours lol 😂. Why not get a couple of goats 🐐, free milk and a free grass cutter all the best Carol
that water looks good. im tempted in collecting rain water now.
It's free and it falls from the sky! There's not much else you can say that about.
Excellent and inspiring stuff Max, thanks for doing this.
Great videos. Very educational. Enjoyed video on generators battery and solar. Thank you.
I think it's amazing that 800 gallons (~3000L) is plenty of water. You must get consistent rain all year round. I have twice that capacity and it is not near enough in North Texas.
Oh yes the west of England is renowned for its rainfall!
every 60 seconds
for 60 seconds.
for the ibc tanks I just wrap them in black plastic works well keeps the sun off them. black Shrink Wrap is good for finishing the job off
Hi Max,
Just watched this video and really enjoyed it. If you remember I commented on your electricity video about the lack of specifics but this one was absolutely bang-on. Great detail on how you harvest the rainwater and then pump it through filters etc. to end use. I'm looking forward to the heating episode to see how you tackle that.
Regards.
Glad you liked it! Heating and hot water will be next
Haha I was waiting for that last comment, could see you wasn’t best pleased with your pint of water lol great vid
Happy New Year!
loved the video. it might even be easier for some people to put a tank up high to give you gravity pressure.
I need to have a go at that! I'm too easily intimidated by plumbing and electricity 😂
THANKS
Haha more beer than water, thank you for this clip, it was very easy to understand, thank you so much for sharing, I needed this information for starting our of the grid life later this year.
I'm hooked on your videos... liked and subscribed! Even hit the bell button. Looking forward to new content!
Absolutely great videos, simple but effective water filter system. I use the 4 stage Ultracarb filters and think it’s the same as yours, but just remember to clean the first black water storage tank that you have outside on a regular basis as I left mine for about six months and it was a mess and full of nasty shit 😂
Really appreciate your content mate, keep them comming please! Thanks a bunch, happy living to you.
👍👌👏 Well done again.
Thanks a lot for making taping editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck and health.
Very nice
Thanks for making these videos! you have answered so many questions that have been in my head. Awesome! Im planning on doing something similar in the future and this really helps!
Really useful thank you very much
I have found there is much more muck in the rainwater from a tiled roof and slime builds up in the loft header tank even though this water goes through a sand and gravel filter. I suspect the rough surface of the tiles holds on to moss and algae which maybe doesn't happen with your tin roof surface, Cheers, Andy
you have to make sure the light doesn't hit the water.
Hi, yes that's not a problem as the tanks are in a dark shed. Sand filters are a right pain and need regualar maintenace, so I am interesed in a coarse filter to process general washing water. It would be interesting to hear about the maintence intervals of these carteridge filters, cheers, Andy
@@TheInfoworks... cartridges need replacing about every 6 months or 2000 litres but will last even longer if the water is pretty clean before it goes through the filter. I use x2 of them in a gravity water purifier which runs the water out of the tap 10x faster than his 25psi water system. Also running water through ceramic filters using gravity rather than under pressure is more efficient at eliminating anything dodgy in the water.
Great videos, thinking of doing a similar thing myself, you have probably done it already or someone has already mentioned it but if you put an expansion tank/accumulator tank on the pressure side of your water pump you will get smooth higher water pressure and your pump wont cut in all the time. As there is no compressible space on the pressure side your water pump is only realising its max pressure output for a split second when your tap is turned on. You will fill those baths quicker and thus save more heat.
Yes, good idea, I'll put it on the list!
I love your videos! Always super useful and packed with details! I feel like most of your systems can be used in Canada as well. I'm currently planning to build my own natural home and I can't wait to test the best practices I've been reading (and watching) about. THANK YOU! Cheers! XO
Absolutely brilliant.
Nice! I have a similar system, but with a 110 volt pump, nothing like rain water!!!
Quite so!
This is brilliant. I seem to pay a fortune for water. As you say it falls out the sky so why pay silly amount for it.
Because it is not legal to collect water for running your house, if you are found to be doing so the local water authority will send you a bill on a regular basis or take you to court and make you pay. This has been tested in court in the past. The judgement was that all rainwater belonged to the local water authority.
@@Carrion00 rainharvesting.co.uk for some clear facts. Not illegal in the UK. www.rainharvesting.co.uk/collecting-rainwater-illegal-uk-everything-need-know/
I have been pondering about installing such a water collection system for my house but i am curious , does the water in the barrel freeze in cold winter weather? If yes, how do you deal with that? It doesn't happen often but we do sometimes get winternights with temps to as low as -10C
You sir are a legend I'm loving your vids!
I seem to be hooked on your videos mate 🕯☕️🚬👍🎥
Great videos I admire your way of living and would like to do so myself if ever possible
Thanks. I started out living in a transit van when I couldn't afford a flat so it's a cheap lifestyle to get into!
You have to do what is possible to live . ill be keeping up to date with all your videos im a blacksmith and engineer and all your videos are very interesting
You're a brilliant man.
great start to the video deafen people wearing headphones
Thanks for the video, the info was useful. I am planning my next home to be off grid. For the water supply I also want to collect rain water, but I want to use a solar panel to pump water up from bulk storage to an elevated water tank. That way I get gravity pressure and if I do things right I can use excess power generation to pump water to height then use the water as an energy store.
Yes, if I build another house I'd consider making it taller (or at least have a turret!) to help with that.
Thanks for a very interesting explanation and demonstration of water harvesting. Just a point, I have heard that garden hose has a high lead content used in the manufacture to keep it flexible in use. This can leech out into your water supply in your use of it.
Great channel Max - came here for the Series 2a restoration and stayed for the rest - now i'm looking in to my own self-build sustainable home!
Tell me, how has the recent heat wave in the UK impacted on your water source? Worth a quick video to show us how you've dealt with the lack of rain???
All the best, keep it up!
Thanks, glad the videos are of interest! Not much to say about the heatwave, it's been the driest summer I can remember here,but I've still got 500litres or so left and we are due rain this weekend which will be a relief. More of an issue has been the plants outside, I planted a couple hundred trees which were doing nicely after a wet spring but they are looking very unwell now, I suspect most are dead.
very informative and entertaining to watch. thanks!
Living the dream
Thats an idea from how people get there water supply in India , You can really get a lot of information if you find out how people dig wells and purify the water and then Use it on their farms and daily lives. Its a wonderful Idea.
My friend, I love your videos immensely, but could have got the coarse and fine medium the wrong way around on your filter?
Whilst we're on grid, we use an old 5,000 litre plastic tank, which used to hold heating oil, to catch rain water. That took some cleaning, and even now we don't use it for drinking, but it does run the washing machine and toilets. We used an old power-shower pump to lift it, seems to work pretty well. It's got a 3 stage filter set on it, which is probably overkill for what we do with it, but we didn't want to kill the washing machine!
We've also got one of those IBC cubes. It's used to collect the bath/shower water, which goes straight to watering the garden.
the plants don't seem to care about the detergents and they're very dilute anyway. They probably like some of them!
Plus there's not worry about it going green, although in hot weather, stored bath water doesn't smell the best! lol!
Brother, you dont have to drink it. if you wash clothes in it you are still exposing the chemicals to you and the fam.
You can get detergents that are more easily broken down for that sort of set up. There's a fair bit of salt in washing powder that can build up in the soil if you rely on irrigated water too much. I imagine the rain would wash it through in winter though?
Hi Maximus. Thanks for posting these simple to understand videos. You are making the whole world of simple living look doable and less overwhelming. I have a question about filtered rain water. Are you missing out on the minerals that are in ground water and I presume tap water? Do you try to replace these minerals and if so, how?
Maybe you should put some kind of hydropower system between your roof, and the tank, so you could use the rain to generate electricity during winter.
Top stuff. Great bit of info.
Glad i found your vids. No idea how though. I've been on bit of a binge. I live not too far from you, i think- just north of Keynsham. With the house prices and rent in the area your setup seems highly appealing.
I love your laugh Nd your cute dimples and your lovely life.
Love the vids keep em coming thanks
absolutely fabulous a real joy to watch and very useful thank you for taking the time to explain and offer appropriate and practical advice
, may the force be with you :-)
Truly wonderful video. Thank you so much.
Excellent video, and very interesting thanks Max 😎
the tank in the roof in new zealand we call it a header tank .love your vids
We do in England.
Good video - and it's nice to see you don't scrimp on good quality tea :)
Hey! Great video! You almost sold it to me, but then I saw that you buy bottled water from ASDA. Lol :-D
wow..he musta been a friendly Badger :)
Really good video. Learned alot.
Found your channel today and have been binging your videos! Very informative, lots of great information. There were just a couple of things I would like to point out in case anyone comes across this:
1. Around 7:20 when talking about the filter bucket, the diagram should be reversed - the big things like rocks and pebbles go where the water comes in, and the finest, smallest filters go right at the end. Otherwise, the small ones get easily blocked up and need replacing, and the bigger filters afterwards will have no effect since the particles that get through are already at least smaller than the previous filter stage.
2. I would also suggest some kind of charcoal / activated carbon stage added to this filter (see below point)
3. You mentioned that since switching to the black tank, you no longer get algae / growth due to sunlight. However, I would still recommend everyone installs a UV light to kill any remaining bacteria and nasty stuff that may be in there, and remove any particulates that may be harmful.
Other than those two small points, very good content! I hope to live off-grid and self-sufficient one day and I think that learning as much as I can from the wise people that have been doing it for a while is a great starting point, and I learn things I wouldn't have if it was from sources that don't demonstrate real world experience.
If you google 'slow sand filter' you can see why the contents go in the order I described, this is the system I talk about at 4.28 and is what I used to clean the water from a well. What I'm talking about at the point you mentioned (7.20) is a different system (for rainwater). That system has a sediment filter and then a ceramic one at the tap end, the ceramic filter works to a very fine degree, removing even bacteria.
It's a very old video and I do a bad job of explaining things!
@@maximusironthumper Interesting, I had never seen that before.
While the ceramic filter would do a great job, I would personally still be a little paranoid so would want to 100% make sure nothing slipped through. If I am out in the middle of nowhere I would want to reduce my risk of illness in any way I can. A ceramic filter is certainly enough for most people, but I would just want to be completely sure.
Also, where would you get the minerals if not in the drinking water? Would you get it entirely from food? If in a limited environment with not much selection of food, how can you ensure you are getting everything your body needs?
A UV light is not a panacea - although UV will kill microbes, it is possible for tiny particulate matter to shield the UV and so it is possible to not be fully protected, also with some setups it is not obvious if the light fails. Personally I have more faith in a ceramic filter, of course it's perfectly possible to have both! As for minerals, yes a decent balanced diet with not too much highly processed food provides all the minerals needed. It's worth reading up on the government guidelines for rainwater usage in places like Australia and New Zealand where large parts of the population are completely reliant on rainwater.
@@maximusironthumper Thanks! :)
Sadly, Down Under water is as rare as hens teeth. We catch what we can but bore water is the norm, failing that, river access but you pay for that premium. Great setup.
If you install a potable expansion vessel (pressure tank) after the pump and filter, then provided it's of the correct capacity you will get better water flow and pressure consistency ....
Im learning so much today.....this morning i hadnt a clue about living completely off grid!
I do wish Discovery channel had paid you to make a series about this! So few people now, (me included) cannot even afford to pay the inflated greedy prices of even a basic flat. The future lies in self sufficiency and living off grid, this could also help the homeless if they were prepared to put in the work to maintain it?
Where can you buy the big tanks please?
Clever stuff it's crazy paying for water. And that water hasn't been inside another human being
most of it hasn't :p at least there isn't any chlorine or fluoride
18:25 secret booze stash! This video has definitely inspired me to give this a go at some point!
Had my toilets running on rain water for many years. Good information anyway.
Maximus: Two thoughts a 5 gal pressure tank after the pump would reduce even further the pumps cycling and extend it's life. With climate change the rain patterns could change radically in a given year so I would keep the totes for garden back-up. Bert
Yes a booster tank would be a better setup, having said that, the pump has been working happily in the current setup for ten years or so! Where I am it looks like climate change will be bringing even more rain. I will keep some spare capacity though. Thanks for making some good points!
'climate change' is a con Gentlemen, designed to get more tax out of us and make us grateful for that. Where I live they were calling it 'Global Warming' until about six or seven years ago when we had a remarkably cold winter, and I remember saying to someone, "If this global warming keeps up we're going to freeze our knackers off".
Great simple system.................Thanks
Springs almost always pop up on top of the hill! We’re just looking to set up a rainwater harvesting set up at home on the small holding. We surrendered the bore hole as the pump was shot and extraction licence was getting to be a pain.
Tons of IBC containers at my work, we have distilled water delivered in them.