We collect rain and snow water for washing dishes, clothes, and for showers and bathing. Cleaning is easier with warm water washing off dirt and oils. Even though rain water has already been distilled by the sun, we like to boil the contained rain water before using it for cleaning.
Wood Stove Top Water Boiler
In the picture above you can see the large stainless steel stock pot. I have installed a ball valve on the flat bottom. A metal braided dishwasher hose is attached to the 3/4 inch ball valve outflow threading.
Three Stock Pots - One Failure
Above you can see three stock pots. The one on the left we brought from our old basement, black with white speckles - a thin metal. The stainless steel stock pot upgrade in the middle has the ball valve installed on the bottom. Both stock pots were used with the outdoor rocket stove boiler. The larger stainless steel stock pot is still shiny and unused, we realized it was to large for the wood stove top, we will be using it this spring and summer for the outdoor rocket stove boiler.
In the picture below you can see how the constant water, heat, and hot drying rusted the inferior metal of non stainless steel stock pot.
It probably didn't help that the ball valve was installed on a curved space, but you can see in the picture below - the rusted inside of the non stainless steel stock pot.
That rust was a real hassle. Not only was it quickly eating away at the metal, but if I didn't wash out the stock pot every time before boiling water - the water would look and smell rusty.
Boiler Flat Bottom Ball Valve Installation
In the picture below you can see the inside of the stainless steel stock pot, notice the ball valve installation.
First I drilled a small hole, then gradually filed a larger hole until I could just barely slide the ball valve inlet threading through. A thick rubber washer on both sides of the metal, the nut tightened onto the ball valve inlet threading. I was sure not to tighten it so much that the rubber washer squeezes out from under it.
In the picture above you can see the outside of the stock pot with the ball valve installed. The ball valve handle is currently turned to the off position. The ball valve would be open if the handle is turned to be in-line with the water input and output.
A Simple In-Line Strainer
Especially with snow boiling down 10 snow parts to 1 water, the in-line strainer helps catch the random juniper evergreens, berries, or any other larger than screen size particle that gets in there.
In the picture below you can see the screen housing is removable for easy rinsing.
Strainer Garden Hose Setup
In the picture below you can see the parts to make the strainer - garden hose ready.
Parts for the Project:
- In-line Strainer with 1/2" threaded male inlet, 1/2" threaded female outlet
- Elbow Connector with 1/2" threaded male to 1/2" garden hose push-on connector
- In-line Connector with 1/2" threaded female to 1/2" garden hose push-on connector
- Plumbers tape for the above connections - hand tightened
- 1/2" Garden Hose with 3/4" threaded male connector
- 3/4" threaded female connection for both ends of the 1/2" metal braided dishwasher hose that connects to the ball valve of the boiler
Above you can see the fully assembled strainer to wood stove top boiler project.
Below is a video of the stainless steel boiler ball valve, drain hose, and strainer in action - filling a tub with water for dishes.
You can see in the video above that the tub is almost at the same height level as the bottom of the boiler. The water flow would be much faster if the tub was on the ground.
Additional Garden Hose Plug & Play Plumbing
In the picture below you can see some of the basic attachments for our outdoor and stock pot plug & play plumbing. Everything is hand tightened for easy disassembly and re-purposing. With gravity fed water pressure the connections don't have to be quite as tight as with household water pressure.
The rubber grommets in the picture above I'll be using for the large stainless steel stock pot ball valve installation. I've found ball valves to have a better water flow as compared to the more basic garden hose spigot which seems designed to work with a stronger household water pressure. In-line, T, and elbow - 1/2" to 1/2" standard garden hose connectors. Note that standard garden hoses are 1/2" while the screw on connectors they usually come with are 3/4" threaded. Also in the picture above - cheap shower head with hot and cold water controls came in handy.
You may find these previous posts useful:
- Water Containment for Emergency, Conservation, and Off-Grid Living
- Compact Clothes Washer and Spinner. Great for off-grid and small living spaces.
- My Solar Powered Cabin Setup
Have a great day!