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DIY Automatic Tank or Sump Top Off

By Stan & Debbie Hauter, About.com

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Before You Start - DIY (Do It Yourself) Automatic Top Off System

Before you start this DIY project, take a few minutes to look at your potential water supply and tank locations. Can you easily access the water supply? Begin by determining where you will be tapping into your cold water supply. The cold water pipe (between the shut off valve and the sink faucet) below the kitchen or bathroom sink works well. The bottoms of both kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets are normally raised a few inches above the floor, so you will be drilling through 2 layers of wood.

Check under the house before drilling any holes to make sure that you will not be going through either a pipe or wiring. Drilling about 1" away from where the pipe goes through the floor makes it easier to locate the hole from under the house.

Next determine where you want the hose to go through the floor near (usually behind or under) your tank. Check under the house to make sure there are no obstructions (wiring or plumbing) to contend with.

Next you will want to choose your water filter, saddle valve, float valve and 1/4" i.d. plastic tubing which are described in the following pages.

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