Anyone using drop in chiller??

[Mattl22]

I'm considering a drop in chiller as a fail safe from tank getting too hot I will have a controller turn off mh if gets too 81 also run fans and house has Centrel air but in the summer months I'd feel better if I had a chiller also just in case!

Anyone run a drop in like this ???

 

[albano]

A few years ago, I was using a couple of drop-in chillers, running off Ranco controllers... the problem with drop ins (IMO) is that they can take up a lot of space... because it's not that easy to position the (not very 'flexible') drop-in line. One line actually cracked and the freon escaped, when trying to reposition the coil.

 

[Mattl22]

Where u happy with how it cooled tank??
Did u use it full time or only for summer?

I like the idea of not having too add another pump pipe it in etc....

 

[albano]

There was no need in winter (basement sump) so because of the room that it took up, I removed it. It cooled the tank without problem, IMO it did work as well as my other inline chiller in regards to cooling.
I do not use an additional pump for my inline, it is T'd off my return manifold, and has a ball valve to adjust flow, or shut it off.
Because of the add'l heat put off by the chillers, I now run it in my garage (about 40' from the sump) thru 80'+ of piping round trip...and surprisingly it ran less time than the year before when I had it outside/under the deck, or the year before when it was in the sump room.

 

[edd]

There was no need in winter (basement sump) so because of the room that it took up, I removed it. It cooled the tank without problem, IMO it did work as well as my other inline chiller in regards to cooling.
I do not use an additional pump for my inline, it is T'd off my return manifold, and has a ball valve to adjust flow, or shut it off.
Because of the add'l heat put off by the chillers, I now run it in my garage (about 40' from the sump) thru 80'+ of piping round trip...and surprisingly it ran less time than the year before when I had it outside/under the deck, or the year before when it was in the sump room.

you have 80' of pipe at room temp, so it must help cool some what.

 

[Jhoehlein]

Just wanted to jump and agree with everything albano said... They work great, just as well as inline chillers, but they take up a lot of space in the sump and more or less need to be placed right next to the sump. If you're not into plumbing it is an easier solution, though rigging an inline like he did as a manifold off the return is not nearly as hard as it seems.

 

[Mattl22]

I've done some plumbing now problem for me is I have my tank in my basement with sump in a closet on floor next too tank so couldn't really t off my drain the way it is!!

I'm really hoping to use drop in and if it never kicks on that be great!!

Would love to hear more about chiller set ups

 

[cmantis]

I have two drops in but have not put them 'online' yet might just run AC since I have so many tanks (unless I can consolidate in time). I wouldn't ever run a chiller in a closet they need to breath. Also you T of return not drain (but sure that was a type). You could T it off from anywhere along the return not just right off the pump if that helps.

 

[Mattl22]

Well I'm thinking about having a vent Installed also to help would that help chiller

 

[Jhoehlein]

Chillers blow out a lot of heat (all that heat from your tank has to go somewhere!), so they really need to be in a well ventilated area. If you want to keep it in a closet there need to be vents or at least never close the door. That's why so many people plumb their inline chillers far away from the sump and even outside their house.