Thai Dhupp and Princess Joy's Thai House Build

[Klondyke]

clever device that discards the first flush of water (filled with dust), before tanking the rest

I doubt that it brings something, even if it works properly. You are getting everyday the dust on the roof even next day after the rain. And this is not much the dust from the road but a fine dust from the surrounding vegetation. Then, it get changed into a black mud that you will find at the bottom of the tank after one year.

The problem with the plastic tanks is that the drain opening (the lower one of the two) is just 1" and not really on the bottom level. Luckily, the water helps itself, it sediments very good and the dirt staying at the bottom does not influence much the outlet.

[Thai Dhupp]

Supporting Davids input with my additional feedback FWIIW



Absolutely right. In the west we are driven to conserve even if the cost burden is on us. Weird. But to Davids point when we were building our place I tried to instill some things I had learned and used that worked great in the house built in the US. HOWEVER as David says, It just does not translate to Thai and the further you are removed from any city area the worse the translation becomes and sourcing the items you want can become expensive and problematic



We use City water to fill holding tank and wash cars and other things. We have 2 wells and use well water to manage the property watering exclusively. We are next to the Wang river and the water table is shallow so we always have plenty of well water on tap. Our water line is at 6 meters. I would not rely on just city water depending on how far from the main station you are. We happen to be close and our water pressure from the city is always good but.....



IMHO bottled water is a PITA unless its a delivery service where they are bringing 5 gallon containers that go on a water cooler. and you swap in and out. I would HIGHLY encourage you (If you go that route) to go check the place that bottles the water if local. Buying little bottled waters from TESCO or Makro is a build up of plastic bottles to save for reclaim and to make it worth the effort you need a holding area and then your yard looks like a recycle center.



I have a few panels on car park area to run lights but have added numerous solar powered LED lights and they work outstanding. I LOVE Solar power. I could do a big bank on my car park but just do not want to invest. My PEA bill only averages 1000 bht in winter to 2500bht tops in summer. ROI is too long. If my PEA bill was 8000 and up a month it would be a different story.



We have 2 septic tanks and a large gray water area. To Davids points again, Great if the soil is suitable. if not could be a ugly mess in rainy season. We did ours to my design like a leach field in the states. Hole in ground, rock in hole and pipe perforated to flow across the rock then it leaches into ground. Only downside is that like all Gray water/leach fields the ground usually becomes fertile and tree roots grow well and can plug the pipe. So where your gray water area is, Do not plant big trees. We have hedges covering our cement lid.

One thing for certain, do not skimp. Build it the way you see it being and lasting for years of good living. I knew a few that skimped out and now are paying dearly for it. Sure its all fixable but if done right up front, you are good to go.

Hi JPPR2, thanks for the input and concurrence.

I think I have gleaned all the elements of what is being suggested by you and he others.

That solar electric you are using - how many panels and what can you power from it? Do you have a battery bank to regulate the output? Did you consider solar heating too?

I am leaning more towards solar heating than power but I'm interested to know how you decided to do what you are doing...

[Norton]

pressure tank system

The pump I have has pressure tank built it. None the less when a faucet is opened pressure drops rapidly and pump kicks on. I have had to replace it once in 13 years but very reliable. I would advise not having a separate pressure tank in house.

The area you live in is far more developed than villages in the sticks. Perhaps consider a tank and pump as a backup which would be used only when you have no water on the main.

Bore hole is worth considering. I did not put one in because water table here has high salinity.

Fun, fun in the sticks where you basically have to create your own infrastructure.

[Thai Dhupp]

I would forget the gravity water system inside the house, I can see no point to it as well as it will be very low pressure (20' height is ~9 psi) further you have to use a pump to fill the tank, you can use the same amount of power and feed the house.
I like to be able to see where the water is and have the ability to easily clean out tanks, we have two tanks, one for well water and one for city water (city water tank is small, don't want water sitting too long breeding!) which is used for exactly that, flushing toilets and showering, the bill for city water is ~100 baht a month so is it worth using harvested rain water in the house? If you have a decent well, personally I would not bother harvesting rain water - too much hassle for too little payback, you would need huge tanks to make it worthwhile, when you add up the cost and the maintenance of same cant see it being worthwhile. Plumbing the house for separate systems, while easy enough, does unnecessarily complicate things - KISS!
Make sure you are going to be well covered for water, it makes day to day living so much simpler, I would keep house water and external water completely separate - if feasible? Investing a little more has a big pay back. (if done wisely!)

Thanks AP2, appreciate the comment.

Isn't the two tank system with borehole water and city water the same as a two tank system with rain harvested and city?

I do not (Yet) have any well / borehole. but I have checked rainfall records for the area and I believe its feasible. As mentioned elsewhere, I will investigate bore hole practicality when I go in May and we can make a better decision at that time.

You are right about getting a good supply and at this stage I am keeping all the options open until we can lean towards one or the other. We have time.

[Thai Dhupp]

Pump does kick on every time a faucet is opened. This is the way 99% of the homes in Thailand are set up. I have Mitsubishi.

https://www.mitsubishi-kyw.co.th/Pro...ater-Pump.aspx

Hi Norton...

...any issues with reliability? did you have to replace it since the system was put in?

[Thai Dhupp]

The pump I have has pressure tank built it. None the less when a faucet is opened pressure drops rapidly and pump kicks on. I have had to replace it once in 13 years but very reliable.

The area you live in is far more developed than villages in the sticks. Perhaps consider a tank and pump as a backup which would be used only when you have no water on the main.

ahh.. just saw this answer re. age of the pump!!.. I am answering in rotation!! thanks

This was one option I was talking about with the builder - I guess we will put it all to bed with I'm there in May.

[Norton]

I guess we will put it all to bed with I'm there in May.

Indeed. He will be your best source for local practices.

[Airportwo]

Cistern in a roof void in a house with 3m high ceiling would be at a max height of say 8m, 8m x 1.42 (psi of water per m) = 11.37 psi at the lowest level of house, pump will not run at such a low pressure, so the hydrostatic will not influence pump is how I see it.
Starting and stopping a motor will obviously wear it out quicker, true - but I have never had the motor on a pump fail, the fluid end will fail long before the motor will, thats why they usually guarantee the motor and not the fluid side. Having a pressure vessel of some sort in the system will reduce the starting and stopping of the pump.
Solar water heater, to me is again hard to justify, the cost of the system would take a lifetime to recoup - if ever.

[David48atTD]

Solar water heater, to me is again hard to justify, the cost of the system would take a lifetime to recoup - if ever.

... + 1

[Thai Dhupp]

Cistern in a roof void in a house with 3m high ceiling would be at a max height of say 8m, 8m x 1.42 (psi of water per m) = 11.37 psi at the lowest level of house, pump will not run at such a low pressure, so the hydrostatic will not influence pump is how I see it.
Starting and stopping a motor will obviously wear it out quicker, true - but I have never had the motor on a pump fail, the fluid end will fail long before the motor will, thats why they usually guarantee the motor and not the fluid side. Having a pressure vessel of some sort in the system will reduce the starting and stopping of the pump.
Solar water heater, to me is again hard to justify, the cost of the system would take a lifetime to recoup - if ever.

Cheers AP2... I got to consider everything but I hear where you are coming from!

Let's see if I can make it work...

[Thai Dhupp]

... + 1

LOL... I'm sensing 'resistance'.....

[David48atTD]

^

It's difficult.

You have a dream, the coin plus a passion and drive to build/live according to principles which are admirable and aspirational


I'm a Greenie, but I'm an Economic Greenie. In other words, I'm saving the world in ways it makes economic sense
for me. A variation on think globally - act locally.

In the West, I have solar cells on the roof and an inverter. Only 1.5KW because I bought it 4 years ago and the scheme
wasn't explained very well. It has a feed-in tariff (the price I get for my electricity) is twice the price that you buy the
electricity for from the generating company.
But that tarriff is no longer is available to new installations, so I can't upgrade.

I'd cover my western roofline with additional panels in a heartbeat as the panels have the added benefit, IMO of reducing
the amount of heating of the roof tiles, thus the roof cavity. Passive solar cooling

I have a thermostatically controlled roof vent. It comes on when the temperature reaches a predetermined mark.
Saves power and keeps us a little cooler.

We harvest rain water for the garden. There is a hole in one of the downpipes and I stick a big bucket under it.
Then use it to water the garden. I pull the plug from the kids bath and see that valuable resource go down the
drain hole and think ... what a waste.

In the West and in Thailand we drive an LPG car.

We grow our own veges. It's cheaper, teaches the kids and, of course ... lower average food miles.

We compost because our soil is very sandy and the added nutrients and water holding capacity is needed.

We have an electric lawn mower.

The list is endless.

I have Scottish lineage, plus my Dad lived through the depression, my Mum came from a Farm (so did Dad) ...
accordingly we were taught not to waste ANYTHING, especially money

We translate little of that to Thailand. It would be to expensive. It's expensive because the utilities cost little and
the infrastructure costs a packet.

---

At the end of the day, it's your build. Your Dream.

It's a great thread to read and contribute to and you do an excellent job populating it with images and anecdotes.

We can just contribute some of the information gap that we have gained by living here.

[dennis4558]

Pump does kick on every time a faucet is opened. This is the way 99% of the homes in Thailand are set up. I have Mitsubishi.

https://www.mitsubishi-kyw.co.th/Pro...ater-Pump.aspx

What size pump do you use? Any recommendations. I see they say on their website that even the smallest pump can be used for 2 floors.

[dennis4558]

I am leaning more towards solar heating than power but I'm interested to know how you decided to do what you are doing...

TD I'm very interested in what you find out on solar water heating, my wife has already said she want hot water in both kitchens plus bathrooms. I know it is somewhat spendy but with a little shopping may find something somewhat reasonable. I think the ones with the big tanks on the roof look ugly but others with solar panel on roof and tank located somewhere in the house would be a good option.
Others may disagree

[Loy Toy]

Solar water heater, to me is again hard to justify, the cost of the system would take a lifetime to recoup - if ever.

I have a Solar unit on the roof of our house and it has been working flawlessly for over 15 years.

Services 6 bathrooms and two kitchens and you could almost boil an egg in the hot water produced and the gravity feed gives great pressure.

The only problem I have found is after 2 days of overcast weather the unit cannot recover quick enough to maintain hot water.

Manufactured in Thailand and did not cost a fortune, from memory around 40,000 baht.

[lom]

The only problem I have found is after 2 days of overcast weather the unit cannot recover quick enough to maintain hot water.

You can add an electric heater element to it,one which kicks in when the water temp goes below x degrees.

[Norton]

At the end of the day, it's your build. Your Dream.

Wot he said but best to keep it simple and locally available service. More stuff, more maintenance.

[Norton]

What size pump do you use? Any recommendations. I see they say on their website that even the smallest pump can be used for 2 floors.

WP-155Q5 pump.

https://www.mitsubishi-kyw.co.th/Pro...-Pump/924.aspx

I have single storey house with 8 hot/cold mixer faucets. The pump gives plenty of pressure.

Have an electric boiler hot water heater. 100 liter.

???????????????????????????? ???? EHS | Stiebel Eltron

[Thai Dhupp]

^

It's difficult.

You have a dream, the coin plus a passion and drive to build/live according to principles which are admirable and aspirational


I'm a Greenie, but I'm an Economic Greenie. In other words, I'm saving the world in ways it makes economic sense
for me. A variation on think globally - act locally.

In the West, I have solar cells on the roof and an inverter. Only 1.5KW because I bought it 4 years ago and the scheme
wasn't explained very well. It has a feed-in tariff (the price I get for my electricity) is twice the price that you buy the
electricity for from the generating company.
But that tarriff is no longer is available to new installations, so I can't upgrade.

I'd cover my western roofline with additional panels in a heartbeat as the panels have the added benefit, IMO of reducing
the amount of heating of the roof tiles, thus the roof cavity. Passive solar cooling

I have a thermostatically controlled roof vent. It comes on when the temperature reaches a predetermined mark.
Saves power and keeps us a little cooler.

We harvest rain water for the garden. There is a hole in one of the downpipes and I stick a big bucket under it.
Then use it to water the garden. I pull the plug from the kids bath and see that valuable resource go down the
drain hole and think ... what a waste.

In the West and in Thailand we drive an LPG car.

We grow our own veges. It's cheaper, teaches the kids and, of course ... lower average food miles.

We compost because our soil is very sandy and the added nutrients and water holding capacity is needed.

We have an electric lawn mower.

The list is endless.

I have Scottish lineage, plus my Dad lived through the depression, my Mum came from a Farm (so did Dad) ...
accordingly we were taught not to waste ANYTHING, especially money

We translate little of that to Thailand. It would be to expensive. It's expensive because the utilities cost little and
the infrastructure costs a packet.

---

At the end of the day, it's your build. Your Dream.

It's a great thread to read and contribute to and you do an excellent job populating it with images and anecdotes.

We can just contribute some of the information gap that we have gained by living here.

Great post David, and seems like you and I are on the same page.

I can relate, agree with or aspire to action most of what you have written (cant get a gas-powered truck just yet).

It's about finding the balance with what you want to achieve and what it will cost. A very important balance. You found yours, I'm still looking but I may well end up almost identical.

That's not to say of course that later, mods / improvements cant be made to push towards your aspirations.

Like you I was always told to 'waste not want not', something my family also followed all the way through. My Mum is coming 91 next month but has followed this all her life.

An inspiration for me.

Oh.. and 'contributing to the information gap'? Please don't stop that one!!

I'm learning so much through the kind members taking the time to read and respond. I think we are all benefiting and long may that continue.

Thanks

[Thai Dhupp]

I am leaning more towards solar heating than power but I'm interested to know how you decided to do what you are doing...

TD I'm very interested in what you find out on solar water heating, my wife has already said she want hot water in both kitchens plus bathrooms. I know it is somewhat spendy but with a little shopping may find something somewhat reasonable. I think the ones with the big tanks on the roof look ugly but others with solar panel on roof and tank located somewhere in the house would be a good option.
Others may disagree

Denis, hi...

yeah when I get the telescopes swung in the solar heating direction hopefully I can share something. Im sure many have looked at this already.

I figure with solar heating even if you partially heat up some water before passing it into your home system its beneficial. ie. 50% electricity use rather than 100%.

Yes, I know electricity is cheap but who is to say it will remain so?

There is worldwide pressure on energy source / energy use, meaning the cost is unlikely to stagnate or go down. be prepared! who knows what the future holds?

Baht used to be up around 70 to the pound? now its, what? 45? oil was cheap in the middle east, now countries are rushing to add VAT as revenue provider and pump prices are rising.

Maybe Thailand will increase gas revenue in a similar way (pump prices in Thailand are very similar to UAE, for example). My experience is... we never get a 'nice surprise' with pricing... its always moving in the wrong way. As long as my health holds up, I plan to be in this house 30+ years or more!! A lot can happen in 30 years...

So if i can get some free heat, albeit after the set up cost, I'm definitely going to look into it.

I will probably have some water heating arrangement over the covered car area as I do not want those panels on my roof.

Anyway.. will keep everyone posted...

[Thai Dhupp]

I have a Solar unit on the roof of our house and it has been working flawlessly for over 15 years.

Services 6 bathrooms and two kitchens and you could almost boil an egg in the hot water produced and the gravity feed gives great pressure.

The only problem I have found is after 2 days of overcast weather the unit cannot recover quick enough to maintain hot water.

Manufactured in Thailand and did not cost a fortune, from memory around 40,000 baht.

Thats pretty impressive performance LT, sounds like you have a greet system.

I definitely want to know more about what it consists of...

[Thai Dhupp]

You can add an electric heater element to it,one which kicks in when the water temp goes below x degrees.

Hi Iom, yeah I was thinking the same in any system I use, for continuity...

[Thai Dhupp]

Wot he said but best to keep it simple and locally available service. More stuff, more maintenance.

That's the number 1 rule, of course, Norton... no need to over-complicate anything.

[Thai Dhupp]

Anyway... time to pick up where we left off on the progress and photos...

[Thai Dhupp]

Pouring the 1st floor ring beam.


Its..all hands to the p...concrete!


They are placing using K.Pot's in-company skip and crane


Non-stop crane and regular delivery


Rather them up there than me...


The ladies were up there too, in the thick of it.


Good to see the side spacers in use to centralise the re-bar


The girls are hard workers.


This section finished but lots more to do


I don't fancy walking about on those lower level battens!


You got to be fit, agile, with good balance and not scared of height if you are on K.Pot's building crew.


Still pouring...


Good teamwork to control that skip







More pix coming...