Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

sparks

Jan 6, 2007, 5:51 AM

Post #1 of 13 (4331 views)

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Tuning your water system

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I thought this should be in the 'technical' section but that seems to be computers only. Not sure how much of this is electrical or water system design.

I keep hearing about people with 300-500 peso bills and wonder how to reduce ours from $1300-1500 (without using AIR). My first thought is our water pump that is turning on and off all the time and how much more energy is used to start a pump.

I do believe our aljibe is undersized so may need constant refilling -or- there is just a float level problem. The tank is of cement and on the third floor roof so I haven't been inclined to look inside. Anyone replace these things lately and have an idea of cost including the floats, etc.

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

caldwelld

Jan 6, 2007, 8:27 AM

Post #2 of 13 (4301 views)

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Re: [sparks] Tuning your water system

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I had a new 400 litre tanaka put in a couple of years ago. Not sure what it cost but it was not a lot. I strongly recommend you change your old cement one. They are unhealthy. I have no pump on my water system. I use only gravity. It means the presssure is a bit low but it is adequate for showers and kitchen use once you get used to it. The way I hooked it up, water for the garden comes directly from the city (when it is running and I have never been without) while the rest of the internal water system goes through the tanaka storage system. My bill every two months is consistantly around 120 pesos but I live alone. I am in the process of installing a solar water heating system along side my roof setup and am determined to do that without pumps as well. I am hoping to have enough hot water to run a hot tub and a morning shower.
dondon

esperanza

Jan 6, 2007, 8:32 AM

Post #3 of 13 (4300 views)

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Re: [caldwelld] Tuning your water system

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The water storage tank on top of the house is a tinaco (tee-NAH-coh).

The water storage tank (cistern) underground is an aljibe (ahl-HEE-bay).

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Ed and Fran

Jan 6, 2007, 8:52 AM

Post #4 of 13 (4297 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tuning your water system

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And just to add, around here a grade level (but not below ground) storage tank is a pileta. Commonly square or rectangular and made of brick/stucco.

Ed

Rolly / Moderator

Jan 6, 2007, 10:17 AM

Post #5 of 13 (4286 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tuning your water system

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When I was researching nomenclature for my Building Materials Lexicon webpage, I found great variations in what water tanks are called in various parts on Mexico. This is what I settled on for my webpage:

water tank = tanque de agua
roof mounted = tinaco
in the ground (cistern) = aljibe
on top of the ground and sometimes in the house = pila

Both the aljibe and pila are typically made with bricks and stucco. Sometimes a plastic tank is used in which case it is often called a tinaco no matter where it is located.

In some areas a water tank is called a cistrerna no matter where it is located or how it is made.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jan 6, 2007, 10:18 AM)

esperanza

Jan 6, 2007, 10:42 AM

Post #6 of 13 (4282 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Tuning your water system

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And those old tinacos that appear to be made of cement--aren't. They're fiberglass.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

bournemouth

Jan 6, 2007, 11:19 AM

Post #7 of 13 (4275 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tuning your water system

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I believe the older tunnel shaped ones, which sat on concrete stands, were actually asbestos - we had one at the Sonoran house.

sparks

Jan 6, 2007, 12:10 PM

Post #8 of 13 (4265 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tuning your water system

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Well thanks for all the terminology - good to remember if I'm going to do anything. The last place I was in only had an underground and pumped from there.

I have to admit there are 7 of us here (5 kids and 2 adults) and laundry gets done for extended family a few times a week. New washer, old fridge, all fluorescents, computer, 2 TVs and 110 only for the whole house.

I will have to take a look at that tank and see whats inside

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

esperanza

Jan 6, 2007, 2:55 PM

Post #9 of 13 (4248 views)

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Re: [sparks] Tuning your water system

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I betcha the old fridge is your big drain, Sparks. When I changed my 15-year-old one for a new one, my electrical consumption went down by two thirds. TWO THIRDS. That's the difference between the small amount bill you quoted and your large amount bill.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Jan 6, 2007, 2:55 PM)

sparks

Jan 6, 2007, 3:15 PM

Post #10 of 13 (4243 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tuning your water system

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I have heard that the newer fridges are much more efficient and we could really use a larger one anyway. The landlord just reduced our rent by 400 pesos because of the high electric and with any kind of savings from a new one - it could be paid for in 6 months. Good idea!

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

jerezano

Jan 6, 2007, 6:40 PM

Post #11 of 13 (4220 views)

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Re: [sparks] Tuning your water system

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Hello Sparks,

The tank on the roof is a tinaco. The cistern in the ground is the aljibe.

In areas where the water supply is not reliable or where it is rationed and only supplied on certain days of the week, or where the water pressure is low, the house usually has both an aljibe and a tinaco. Water flows into the aljibe and then is pumped from the aljibe up to the tinaco since the water pressure is probably not sufficient to force the water up to that third floor tinaco. On other systems where the water supply is constant but the pressure is low you may not have the aljibe just the pump.

The expensive part of the system is where the float in the tinaco drops and switches on the electricity to the pump or rises and switches the electricity off. Those points of turn on and turn off can be adjusted. If they are not adjusted correctly you can have the pump motor starting and turning off almost constantly. And you are right the heaviest current draw is at start up. So you you should adjust the float so that it only starts the pump when the tinaco is nearly empty and turns off the motor when it is full. A 300 liter tinaco should run a household of twp for about a week before it needs refilling.

Those tinacos and aljibes need cleaning at least once a year and if the water supply is not chlorinated, you should add chlorine to the water as well.

Adiós. jerezano

caldwelld

Jan 7, 2007, 7:53 AM

Post #12 of 13 (4190 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tuning your water system

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Thanks for the llanguage esson. "Tinako" it is!
dondon

esperanza

Jan 7, 2007, 8:06 AM

Post #13 of 13 (4188 views)

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Re: [caldwelld] Tuning your water system

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Don, it's tinaco. With a 'c'. The 'k' is rarely used in Spanish.

Your friend,
The Pedant

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com