Biggest tank for main floor?

[skjl47]

IMO older houses are much stronger than we think..

Hello; My house was built around 1975. I put a 55 running parallel to the floor joists and a 29 running perpendicular thinking this would have no effect. The water in the 55 gallon would move a bit when I walked by. I put a small brace directly under and solved the slight issue. Point being It is an older house and even a 55 had a small effect.

Hasn't fell into the basement...yet!

Hello; Structural damage can be expensive even if there is not total failure. If a person owns the house then it is their personal risk to take and it is their call.

My uncle builds houses so I'll have him come and look at the house and the prints.

Hello; Seems a good plan. Good luck.

 

[M@T!@$]

I will have someone look at the blueprints to be safe. It is an older house, over 35 years old. Thank you for all of the replies.
I certainly don't want to do anything that isn't safe. If I can't go bigger than a 75 then I will make that work.

My uncle builds houses so I'll have him come and look at the house and the prints.

Another member from bc eh!

 

[Longimanus]

Yes! I'm in Pitt Meadows!

 

[M@T!@$]

Yes! I'm in Pitt Meadows!

nice.. I've got friends there.. I'm up near Coquitlam

 

[Drstrangelove]

Plans (blueprints) are certainly important and requisite guides for builders to use. Still builders will sometimes make changes that are not in the plans. E.g., a joist might be notched in a certain place to allow for pipes.

Wood sometimes develops problems unseen during construction (e.g., fractures or wood rot), while fasteners (on either the wood or metal beams) might have not all been added, or may not be properly placed.

A previous homeowner may have made adjustments to the flooring to make room for lights or a drop ceiling, and in doing so may have cut beams or removed supports that were in the original blueprints.

In short, the plans tell you what the main flood dead load should be provided the plans were followed precisely and provided nothing unforeseen happened. Only a visual examination can evaluate that situation.

Look at the fee for a competent experienced inspector as insurance. A $250 fee is in lieu of potentially thousands of dollars (or more) of structural and water damage. That doesn't even include the aggravation and personal loss of prized specimens being lost after years of personal care.

Worse case is you pay $250 and get a confirmation that the floor can handle 125, 180 or 220 gallons or more.

OTOH, I concur if you have an experienced person to look at it, take advantage of that.

 

[Freshwater4Life]

Agreed with what most people said. If your floor can't handle a 125 gallon than thats another issue all together imo. Def put against an exterior wall if you can too. Wouldn't wanna go much bigger than that tho. And as far as houses being built. As someone in the industry new houses are built well for the most part due to all the regulations and codes. Houses before the 80's are built very well too. It's the 80s and 90s where regulations were loose and building was at an all time high that you will have how shall we say not built as well houses. Most likely all an architect will say is your floor has a 40ppf rating "which most houses are " . But that doesn't exactly mean what it sounds like. It never hurts to have someone in the architect field look at it but that's probably about all they'll say. I do all the site work for the guy who built my house and thats pretty much all the info he was able to offer me.

 

[Longimanus]

Thank you everyone for the replies. My parents designed the house and had it built to their specs, so there shouldn't be any changes from the blueprints, but yes I agree we can't know about any notches or cracked wood. I believe the house was built in 1980, 1981.

I may just be safe and get a 75 gallon instead. I can't see that being a problem if I put it against an outside wall.

 

[Mod Thanatus]

Thank you everyone for the replies. My parents designed the house and had it built to their specs, so there shouldn't be any changes from the blueprints, but yes I agree we can't know about any notches or cracked wood. I believe the house was built in 1980, 1981.

I may just be safe and get a 75 gallon instead. I can't see that being a problem if I put it against an outside wall.

I currently have a 55 against an outside wall. Tank is running perpendicular with the joists. No shaking when I walk by it! If anything you can sister the existing joists and make it even sturdier 2x7's are stronger than most people think!

 

[Longimanus]

I currently have a 55 against an outside wall. Tank is running perpendicular with the joists. No shaking when I walk by it! If anything you can sister the existing joists and make it even sturdier 2x7's are stronger than most people think!

There is no access to joists. I would have to rip out the downstairs ceiling and that is not happening.