Can an IBC tote full of water freeze?

[ovrszd]

If you take a course in thermodynamics,,, you will learn there is only heat,, and less heat,,
but, there is no such thing as cold,,,,

Tell my wife that.....

 

[TractorNH]

With an above ground pool you put an air pillow in it to absorb the expansion of the ice so it doesn't blow out the side walls. If you had a way of putting a small air pillow in that might help. In my 24' pool I use a 4'x8' air pillow and you only fill it half full with air so as the ice expands and increases the pressure on the pillow it doesn't blow out.

 

[TractorNH]

Also depends what you are using the water for. If you add enough salt to it then you can lower the freezing temperature of the water.

 

[CMV]

Also depends what you are using the water for. If you add enough salt to it then you can lower the freezing temperature of the water.

Oh no......watering garden plants mostly. Def don't want to be salting my planting areas. Although that's ONE way to keep the weeds in check

 

[Diggin It]

Really quick search says Epsom Salts will lower the freezing point of water by a few degrees and is good for plants.

 

[Deere Dude]

I would worry more about the valve freezing and breaking. The tank may have a little give but the plastic valve won't and they probably cost almost as much as the tank.

 

[MossRoad]

Put a milk jug 80% full of water into your freezer and see what happens.

 

[metalbender]

Is the water really worth saving?

 

[CMV]

Is the water really worth saving?

Somewhat. I have no utilities at this remote property, so either capture rainwater or haul water. Hauling means loading up 2 x 330gal totes + 4x 30 gal barrels on my 7k lbs utility trailer, taking home (appx 15 min), filling with garden hose (several hrs), then hauling a very crappy load to trailer back. From there, I can move the 30 gal barrels, but full 330 gal totes are a pain so I leave them on the trailer, which in effect puts my trailer out of service for anything other than being a water buffalo. Otherwise, if I know I need to immediately remove the totes, I don't fill to full as the weight is just too much. Landscape type trailer with the low sides & mesh tailgate, so I have to sling them up & over the side (limited by type of trailer I own & as much as I'd like a true equipment trailer, just too much $ right now). The gate will support tractor if I jack the back of it, but I think tractor + 2800lbs of water on pallet forks would probably damage/crush it. I had extra reinforcement welded on, but there is only so much possible with that style gate.

When it's real hot & dry over the summer & I have a lot planted, real easy to run thru 660 gal of water in a week even doing drip irrigation many areas. So leaving totes full now where I want them is nice, but in big picture, that's saving me all of 2 trips next summer & a few $ off water bill.

 

[Diggin It]

I would worry more about the valve freezing and breaking. The tank may have a little give but the plastic valve won't and they probably cost almost as much as the tank.

There is that thought though. Less volume of water with more exposed surface area. The plastic is more dense though.