Galvanized double walled Waterers leaking

Since my inner tank has completely detached from the pan, has anyone ever tried to solder the one to the other? Perhaps solder it at points, and use a silicone caulk to get a seal? Any chance that would work?

Time for something new

Well, it is something new. It came that way, but since the chickens were only chicks, I did not look at it for two months, and by the time I was ready for it, it was too late to return. So, it has never been used.

Really frustrating. Is Harris Farms cheap stuff? I will be happy never to buy from them again.

I've never used Harris farm brand products so I can't help you with that. I have had one of the double wall galvanized founts for years and never had any trouble with it. I don't use it all the time now because I have horizontal nipples and cups with my auto systems. I use the portable founts now in the winter when it gets cold enough that my systems freeze. I have enough portable founts that I can swap them out every day during freezing weather.

I don't remember what the brand name on my drinker is but I know it wasn't Harris Farms.

Edit to add,

My galvanized fount is a Little Giant brand, I searched around a little and found it.

I'm so glad I found this post. We just moved to our new house in March and I acquired some chickens. I LOVE them. I used wagerers and feeders that were left here, and recently scored a huge deal complete with a set of nesting boxes, pvc feeders more headlamps than I know what to do with and these 5 gallon galvanized wateres. Leaking stupid things! I cleaned them up and for 2 days now I have been trying to level and figure out why they are leaking. New-be here...I didn't get the vacuum seal part and didn't realize to twist the lid onto the pin. I was so excited about using all the stuff that I didn't bother to think further than just putting it in my coop. Rookie mistake!

Jerry, I have a plastic one like this. You can set the base pan down, then the inner piece can set right inside of it. Then you fill it and put the top layer on. The seal should work as long as the base pan is deeper then where the hole is on the inner layer. Nothing needs to be welded together.

Excellent!

Drip found & sealed!

Waterers shall be up on bricks forever more.

LoneOak said:

I just posted this earlier tonight for another member, more people need to learn how to use the search function.


The top part of the galvanized waterer most likely has a leak allowing AIR to enter the waterer which lets water flow out the bottom. Even if the washer on the little spring loaded valve is bad the waterer shouldn't leak. The only way for water to run out of it is when AIR goes in.

Most likely your waterer has developed an AIR leak around where the handle attaches to the lid. You can carry it by this but it is not designed to be hung up by the handle(not saying your hanging it). To find your AIR leak, take the top off and turn it upside down and fill the top with water, you should see where the water is escaping and that is where your AIR leak is. Use some silicone gasket maker like RTV Blue silicone, available at auto parts store or auto section of Walmart, To seal the AIR leak from inside. It will work better on the inside than outside. Wait till it dries completely and refill the waterer and put the lid on. If there are no more AIR leaks the waterer should then work fine.

I tried to explain this the best I could, if you still need more help don't hesitate to ask. The science behind the theory about how these works is the same for nearly all the waterers of this type including the plastic ones as well. Water can't escape the reservoir unless air can
get in. When the birds drink the water down it generally uncovers a small hole or in this case the entire top which allows air to enter, when air enters water escapes until it covers the hole or top. If it leaks you have to find where air is entering.

Click to expand...

THANK YOU.

Both of my waterers failed after about four years.
Simple broken weld on top of the lid / outer cover thingy = vacuum fail.
Seal glue smeared.
Waterer fixed.
And up on bricks from now on!

LoneOak said:

I just posted this earlier tonight for another member, more people need to learn how to use the search function.


The top part of the galvanized waterer most likely has a leak allowing AIR to enter the waterer which lets water flow out the bottom. Even if the washer on the little spring loaded valve is bad the waterer shouldn't leak. The only way for water to run out of it is when AIR goes in.

Most likely your waterer has developed an AIR leak around where the handle attaches to the lid. You can carry it by this but it is not designed to be hung up by the handle(not saying your hanging it). To find your AIR leak, take the top off and turn it upside down and fill the top with water, you should see where the water is escaping and that is where your AIR leak is. Use some silicone gasket maker like RTV Blue silicone, available at auto parts store or auto section of Walmart, To seal the AIR leak from inside. It will work better on the inside than outside. Wait till it dries completely and refill the waterer and put the lid on. If there are no more AIR leaks the waterer should then work fine.

I tried to explain this the best I could, if you still need more help don't hesitate to ask. The science behind the theory about how these works is the same for nearly all the waterers of this type including the plastic ones as well. Water can't escape the reservoir unless air can
get in. When the birds drink the water down it generally uncovers a small hole or in this case the entire top which allows air to enter, when air enters water escapes until it covers the hole or top. If it leaks you have to find where air is entering.

Click to expand...

You are my hero! I bought one yesterday and it was leaking as well. Did what you suggested and now it's working great and my aggravation is gone!! So THANK YOU!!

Thanks for posting this. I'm having the exact same problem. I'm going to fill the outer jacket and see if that's my problem. I'm not mechanically inclined so may I ask what silicone product you used?

Barred4Life said:

I had a problem with the 2 Gallon, Double Wall Fount from Little Giant. Water kept seeping out slowly. Same story I've been reading about on here, how you get back to your coop a couple of hours later to find the litter soaked!! The only thing I could think of was that air was leaking in somehow. So I fill the outter jacket with water and waited to see if water was coming out. And it was! All along the top seal and the side seal of that cover piece. Ah ha!! That's where the air was leaking in preventing it from creating a real vacuum seal. We put silicone all along the outer edges...and voilà! Haven't had a leak since

Click to expand...