I bought a 5 gallon galvanized waterer (the metal ones). I set the waterer on an old oak barn board (about 12" wide and 2" thick) that was pretty close to level. I filled the waterer, put the lid on and it filled about 1/2 way up the rim of the bowl part. I came back an hour later and it was all the way full and slowly dripping on the ground. Took it back and got another one at TSC. The same story. I went back to the plastic 3 gallon ones, but I know that I will need a metal one for the winter eventually. The board was leveled in both directions with a 2 foot level, and it looked very close, both with and without me standing on it (200+ lbs) and I would think most places in a barn aren't that level. It this a bad lot or did I do something wrong? Paul
it sounds like maybe it wasn't on completely tight so there wasn't a proper vacuum? Either operator error or a machining glitch. Pat
Was the washer inside it up flat against the inner wall? I've got one that moves away from the wall and if I don't push it back up against the wall all the water leaks out.
I used a 3gal plastic water all last winter with out any major problems. NW Ohio. When it was really cold I would only fill it halfway...what I knew they would use in a day (6 hens and 1 roo). It froze a few times but I just brought it in ran hot water over it to thaw, and wallah ready to go again. I dont have a heated barn either everyone survived just fine.
When you put the top back on did you "twist" it in place? I had 2 of the three gallon waterer's and they were the best thing since sliced bread, I used them for years before I moved, but I guess it's possible you got a bad batch.
I got a 3 or 5 gallon plastic water from tsc. it is the one where the base come all the way off. Never buy them They leak like there is no tommorrow.
no matter what i did with the metal one we bought the darn thing ALWAYS leaked. went and bought the $5 plastic one from TSC and haven't had a problem since.
