Brewshed query?

[Kev.]

Haven't been on the forum much recently as due to a house move is December everything I own seems to be hidden in cardboard boxes!
Thankfully I can see light at the end of the tunnel so to speak and have started work on converting one of my garden shed into my own private brewing nirvana!

So far I've insulated and hardboarded the inside, fitted a sink and drainer, made some storage for bits n pieces. Mains water should be easy enough as I've an outside tap and could run a hose to some sort of exterior fitting or maybe something a bit more permanent. Power will be done by a qualified electrician I know so thats sorted.

Drainage however is a bit more difficult as I've no drain close apart from the kitchen waste pipe. My garden slopes slightly down towards the shed so gravity is out. My current thoughts on this are to tap into the kitchen waste with one of those washing machine type kits, drain from the sink in the shed to an outside collection tank, say 10 gallon container, and then use a washing machine pump to pump the collected water back to the drain? Any plumber types like to comment on this as plumbing is not my thing!

[oxford brewer]

DaaB is right a pond pump will be the cheapest option(about 10-15 quid)you can get a pump to fit onto a drill for pumping water but its not as good!

[tubby_shaw]

Hi kev. ,
You say that you garden slopes gently up to the shed, if your sink drain is even slightly above the level of your kitchen drain, gravity will still take the water away with the aid of some cheap platic waste pipe
Don't forget that the Romans transported water via aqueducts over miles with only a couple of feet height difference

[Russ]

Screwfix have a pump with float switch for 34.99 (76169-85)

Might be of some use, you wouldn't need to remember to switch it on and off.......

[prodigal2]

Hey T_S you misread the slope direction

My garden slopes slightly down towards the shed so gravity is out.

The Romans did many things but getting water to run uphill was beyond even them
Though a Archimedes screw and sump and a few "willing helpers" did solve that problem for them. Though in this day and age a pump and a sump would do the trick I think.

Kev during the summer you could also use the waste water to irigate you ornemental plants in the garden.

[tubby_shaw]

Hey T_S you misread the slope direction

My garden slopes slightly down towards the shed so gravity is out.

The Romans did many things but getting water to run uphill was beyond even them
Though a Archimedes screw and sump and a few "willing helpers" did solve that problem for them. Though in this day and age a pump and a sump would do the trick I think.

Kev during the summer you could also use the waste water to irigate you ornemental plants in the garden.

Nope didn't misread, miswrote
My point was that if it is a gentle slope of a couple of feet and the outlet of the sink in the shed is at 3 feet then there would still be enough of a slope for gravity to drain.

[prodigal2]

Very true
Using a simple water level (clear plastic tubing) would answer that question.

Oh and I misread your post

[eskimobob]

Any Pics Kev... Once we move I will have to start thinking seriously about a brew shed as I will lose the lovely cellar I have at the moment

[Belto]

Am I reading the requirements incorrectly
What about a soak away

[SteveD]

Am I reading the requirements incorrectly
What about a soak away

You'd be amazed at how much water you use in brewing, and I mean water, for washing, sanitising, etc, as opposed to liquor which is the term used for water that is actually used to make beer. I'd guess that you use 10 times the brewlength, if you sanitise by filling vessels to the brim. So say 250L all told. A 1m3 soakaway has a nominal volume of 1000L, but....it's full of rubble, so I'd guess you could quite easily fill it to overflowing on a major cleanup, plus you'd be dumping sanitiser into the soil.....not good, I'd wager.

Personally...I wouldn't do it. The pump option looks favourite.

[Kev.]

Yep the pond pump for drainage seems to be the way to go, thanks guys!

I'm hoping to get the shed up and running asap as stocks are getting dangerously low!

No pics as of yet but when I find my camera I'll post some.

I've opted to use the smaller of my two sheds, its a 7x5 the other being an 8x6, as it has far higher eaves. She's a solid beast built by a local joiner out of pressure treated wood. I've insulated her with thick foam underlay stapled to the wood and then clad in hardboard.

I've enough height for a 12 gallon HLT but will have to use an underback as the boiler and MT are on the same level. Once I've worked out the piping, I'll be using an stuart turner RG550 for pumping. I've a shower fan to mount above the boiler for steam extraction.

Being a 7x5 the pool table and plasma screen had to be put on hold but it amazes me how much stuff you can get in!

Too much to do, so little time!

[SteveD]

pillar drill

Otherwise known as a 'pillock drill' for those that can't hold a drill straight

....no, I don't mean you!