Looking for a creative (and pet friendly) plumber

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ShoelessJoe

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I'm looking for a creative plumber who can help me out with a little project.

I currently have this...
51a2Ttc6XuL._SL1000_.jpg

And I would like to turn it into this
61883.jpg

The main differences are I'd like to have the first picture sitting on my kitchen floor and I'd like the feed to come from line similar to that of an ice maker.

Your solution would need to:
A) Allow me to drill a hole into the water tank and insert the feed
B) Have some type of quick-release/shut-off valve so I could unhook and clean as needed
C) Automatically fill the tank when the water got low but not overfill due to pressure in the line

I'm not crafty, so if you're recommending I build this myself I'll need specific part names. I have zero plumbing experience and would rather just pay someone a few bucks to solve this problem so if there's any of you out there who might be interested just let me know.
 

Gary Swart

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Not only easier, but a whole lot less expensive. You won't hire a plumber for "a few bucks", and I'm pretty sure a decent pet store will have something ready to go.
 

ShoelessJoe

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Not only easier, but a whole lot less expensive. You won't hire a plumber for "a few bucks", and I'm pretty sure a decent pet store will have something ready to go.

Well I appreciate both of you guys taking the time to respond but I wouldn't be asking if I could have just purchased something off the shelf. I've done a significant amount of research prior to posting this so for any future posters who'd like to respond please do so with the intent of actually helping. As far as "a few bucks" go Gary, how about you leave the price to me and the person actually doing the work.
 

hj

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You would have to drill a hole in the side of the bowl, then install a "waterer" float valve. Your problem is that the hole would probably have to be below the water level of the bowl and the valve does not usually seal "water tight". You would also need enough room inside the chamber for the float to rise high enough to give the proper water level. There would be many ways to make the 'quick connection' depending on your exact situation. The real question, however, is HOW does the water get high enough to come out of that "slot"? You are probably going to pay a plumber at least $200.00, plus parts, if you can find one willing to try to drill the hole without damaging or destroying the bowl.
 

Mrbeing123

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Depending on how simple your existing unit is, it probably depends on the vacuum created in the water bottle to not overfill (kind of like the 5 gallon tank top water coolers do). Is it the looks of the unit you have now that you like? Would the second one you show connected to the garden hose not work? you can easily get garden hose to NPT pipe adapters(http://www.mcmaster.com/#garden-hose-adapters/=orhe0m) and then a fitting that adapts NPT to compression fittings as you call ice maker line. Quick disconnect garden hose connectors are readily available too. http://www.mcmaster.com/#garden-hose-adapters/=orhgew

That would be your simplest, cheapest and safest bet IMHO. You could screw the connecters together in minutes. A float valve on the other tank could work if you drill into the bottle, but even the smallest air leak around that fitting, the dish would overfill quick. And if say Fido knocks over the dish, you would have full water pressure open onto the floor and would send him swimming for higher ground. I think modifying your existing one would be quite risky. The adapters on the garden hose one would be much safer.
 

LindaK

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Okay, this is thinking way outside the box, but have you checked out stuff in gardening websites? They should have automatic plant watering systems that could be adapted. (??) They sense when the probe is dry.
 

Smooky

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You need a Float Valve and some connections.

http://www.wag.com/fish/p/coralife-float-valve-121866?site=CA&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_W&utm_term=ESU-051&utm_campaign=GooglePLA&CAWELAID=1323890911&utm_content=pla&ca_sku=ESU-051&ca_gpa=pla&ca_kw={keyword}

http://www.marinedepot.com/Kent_Mar...r_Systems-Kent_Marine-KM1675-FIRORAFV-vi.html
http://www.f3images.com/IMD/UserManuals/KM1651.pdf
http://www.marinedepot.com/JG_1_4_i...lter_Systems-John_Guest-RO5351-FIROJG-vi.html
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?sku=58599&gclid=CJrJhpuf9rkCFY6Z4AodiAYAIw
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Watts-1-...on-Self-Tapping-Saddle-Valve-LF-A50/202254838
 
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Tjbaudio

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Years ago I did something like this using an automatic watering unit from a farm supply house. The problem is float valves do not always work right and may stick on or leak. In a toilet they just run and the over flow goes down the drain. I would never use a unit like that agian with out a floor drain close. We ended up with water on the floor fairly often.

Now we just use an auto water unit with a larger tank.
 
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