Automatic Pool Water Filler

This device will automatically add water to your pool when it gets below a specified level. It does this all for under $15. By having a device fill the pool to a specific level, you can avoid wasting water by overfilling.

Step 1: UPDATE: VERSION 2.1 Cross Section Added For Stability

After version 1.0 kept falling over in the water, I added a cross section for stability. I spray painted the PVC Black to help protect it from the sun. It also makes it look much more finished.

Comments

[jzimmer]

Awsome just made mine

[whosdadog]

What kind of epoxy did you use?

[haimiko]

My pool already has this built in by the skimmer, don't most pools have this already too?

[bg_askins]

fantastic! i'm going to use this with a rain barrel to keep my koi pond's water level up.

[jsbfla]

Just finished mine - works slick. My Fluidmaster float was a loose fit in a 3/4" thread-slip adapter, so I just mixed up some JB Weld, coated the inside threads with it, and it tightened up perfectly. Thanks.

[jzimmer]

no epoxy the float i got threads fit nice to a 3/4 coupler and as you can see i its an inturnal float so i was able to put it up against the poolside for less chanses to get broke

[whosdadog]

I have searched for hours trying to find that coupler. Is the float 3/4 or 7/8 thread? I have only ever seen 7/8 thread valves, and have never seen 7/8 couplers. Where did you buy it?

[jzimmer]

i got it from lowes not sure on the threads its made by korky . i just played around in the pvc area putting the whole thing together took it on pvc glued it and pressure tested it and vac tested and was hour long no air leaks

[whosdadog]

Ok thanks, I'll have to check Lowes. Do you know what the coupler was called?

[flyznest]

ballcock is the name assigned to the toilet valve thread.... i found a ballcock x 1/2 reducing adapter at my local ace... fits perfect on the toilet valve... for some weird reason it threads perfect to a 1/2" threaded pvc coupler, but not to any other fitting. i had half the staff at ace stumped on that one. but it works!!! thanx for the design! its brilliant!

[whosdadog]

Thanks!

[jongscx]

Oh my god... this is amazing.

How long does this take to fill a pool? I'm assuming the flow rate is much less than just an open hose.

[whosdadog]

It would take days to fill a pool with it, if not a week. Sometime we forget to turn ours on after we shut t off to swim, and after a few days the water level will drop by 5 or so inches. It takes maybe 5 or 6 hours to refill that 5 inches or so. It is by no means fast. But it does it's job.

[Freyberger]

Great idea. I have made one for an above ground pool and it works like a charm!!

[hdhilli]

I just finished my version which works just great. I used a slip/threaded PVC fitting between the elbow and toilet fixture. This saved me because I used too much epoxy and has to drill out the opening. Replacement of the fixture will also be easier...just epoxy a new one on a new fitting and screw it into the existing assembly.

[Zipdaddy]

Wow...This falls under the "Why didn't I think of that?" category for a lot of us!! I'll be making one for sure. FYI HINT....Use electrical PVC....It's UV resistant.

[incognito53]

I've thought about doing something similar to this for a while.. How bad of an idea would it be to tap the suction pipe going into the pump and connect thru a valve to the water supply? Reason why is, I really don't want any extra pipes going to the side of the pool

[steveo625c6]

I am truly surprised this hasn't been thought of till now, I mean if something as simple as a toilet has an auto fill, why can't your personal pool have one? Haha...Great instructable man!

[Mudbud]

what if people were splashing and jumping into the pool? it would make the water level unstable therefore turning the thing on and off for filling. Im not trying to be rude im just thinking about it before I make one.

[whosdadog]

I take mine out and turn it upside down. The gavity keeps it off. Or you could, you know turn the water off.

[KJenkinsAF]

Dude, I'm rushing out to the plumbing store to do this RIGHT NOW...GREAT idea.

[My name is not Steve]

I think the answer is a different float valve. I just found this online today. http://www.hudsonvalve.com/products.html It should make the entire assembly much smaller too.

[whosdadog]

That's a great valve, and I think it would work perfectly. However, it also costs 2x as much as the entire assembly as of now. It would definitely make it a lot simpler, but would raise the cost to about $35+shipping (for the valve). The benefit of purchasing all of the parts at HD is that there is no shipping. Thanks though, and I'll definitely look into similar valves. It sure is more elegant, and I think that it warrants greater research. Great find!

[My name is not Steve]

I found a good price. $23 for high temp. plus $5 shipping. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23234&catid=569

[whosdadog]

Yeah, I'm not sure if I would need high temp. I think that may be temperature of the liquid, but it could be environmental too i suppose.

[My name is not Steve]

Hello gents. This is similar to the idea I've been planning. My idea is essentially the same but offers the toilet filler protection. Encase the unit in a pvc pipe wide enough to contain the toilet filler. Use an end cap and drill a hole in the cap for the filler. Mount the filler just as you would in a toilet tank. Drill another hole or two in the cap (pipe too?) so water can get in. In my pool there is a small diameter pvc pipe near the surface and connected underground to to a house spigot. I'll get the appropriate connectors for that and figure out another way to to secure the unit. I'll probably just use an elbow on top and another length of wide pvc filled with a bag of rocks much like the store bought units. I'll put "feet" on it to keep it from rolling.

[whosdadog]

Yeah, I've thought about enclosing it before, but I don't see any real benefit to it. I've had the original outside for over a year and it has no problems. I am trying to figure out a better way to mount it though, that would allow me to use a braided hose rather than epoxy.

[My name is not Steve]

Regarding your need for a mount without epoxy, how about a second hose coupler for a 3/4 inch hose. Use as short a piece of hose as you need to fit it over the threads of the filler (not positive it will fit) and hose clamp it. The short piece should be rigid enough so the filler will still stand upright. I found a store in NV that makes custom hoses. The plumbing supply store just told me about them. Alas, there are no 7/8 brass fittings anywhere. :(

[whosdadog]

I see what you are saying, and that may work. I'm not sure about the 3/4 fitting the 7/8, but I suppose having it tighter would make it more watertight.

[My name is not Steve]

I just read that copper pipe is not good in swimming pools, but how about this? Use a short piece of copper pipe and appropriate fitting for the filler and a copper to pvc coupler on the other end. Could this assembly be painted or coated with something to protect it from the pool water? Just brain storming here. :-) I don't know if there's a copper fitting for the filler base.

[whosdadog]

Yeah, I think there is, but using copper would raise the price of the filler considerably. When I switched from a PVC hose fitting to a copper one, (PVC one kept popping off) it added $5 to the price. And that was just one piece. As for why it's not good in pools, I have no idea why.

[freakyqwerty]

Doesn't a toilet have the same sorta system?

[dchall8]

This is really a good idea. Why do you epoxy the valve on instead of threading it on?

If you do not have a PVC pipe cutter, GET ONE. It cuts through pipe like a hot knife through butter. You only have to use it once to realize a hacksaw is a dangerous waste of time.

[whosdadog]

You need to use epoxy because the threads on the valve are a proprietary size. I could not find any fittings that were the correct size for the valve, or even close. Since the nut for the threads is provided with the valve, the manufacturer has no reason to make it a standard size.

[darthstupie]

Why not use a supply line that is made to connect to these valves and the PVC pipe. It wouldn't be as ridged but another mount could be made to hold the valve. Just a thought.

[whosdadog]

If you can find a fitting like that, that is commercially available, you will be my hero.

[darthstupie]

You should be able to use a toilet supply line (they are flexible, not rigid like PVC) available at most any home improvement store. They usually have to connect to another valve to cut water off to the toilet in order to make repairs such as replacing the automatic valve used in your instruclable. As for a fitting only, I do not know. I will ask one of the guys that work in the plumbing dept of the store where I work. Great instructable by the way.

[whosdadog]

I am actually in the process or redesigning it, to avoid using the epoxy. I just bought one of the braided supply lines, and am trying to incorporate it into the filler. The fitting you are thinking of does not exist. I assure you, I have looked long and hard for a 7/8in to 3/4in PVC or even to a 1in PVC adapter, and I can say that they do not exist. The issue I have come into is that when I use the supply line, it looses the rigidity of the PVC and now I have to find a way to hold the valve at the correct height. I think that in the long run, it is going to be simplest to use a larger quantity of epoxy. Rather than making it streamlined and tapered, I should try to cover more of the pipe, to prevent leaks.

[darthstupie]

You are correct that the fitting does not exist. I checked with The sales specialist in plumbing where I work and it is not even something that could be ordered. Good luck with the re-design btw.

[whosdadog]

Yeah, I ran into a problem with it. I was planning on using a braided hose with the correct fittings on both ends (7/8 for the valve and 1/2 for the PVC) but I have to way to stabilize the valve then. It also limits the way I used to adjust the height. I figured i could get around that by dropping the main bar down a bit (not shown) but I'm not sure. If I went this way, I would have to make some kind of bracket to hold the valve in place. At this point, I think it may be a better idea to stick with the epoxy, and just use a larger quantity. Go for security rather than beauty.