Float valve trough in Exeter
Professional float valve trough services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-135
Typical Duration
1.5-2.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Float valve troughs installed and plumbed in - livestock get constant fresh water, you stop dragging buckets twice daily across muddy fields.
Stop Being A Professional Water Carrier
If you're filling troughs by hand twice a day, you're wasting hours every week on a job a simple float valve could do automatically. One-time setup cost, years of time saved, and your animals always have fresh clean water.
💡 Pro tip: Position troughs where you can easily check them from the gate - you still need to keep an eye on float valves in case they stick or freeze, but it's a glance not a daily chore.
Manual Filling vs Auto Float Valve
| ✅ Float Valve System | ❌ Manual Filling |
|---|---|
| Fill once, works for years | Twice daily minimum, forever |
| Water always fresh and clean | Stale water by afternoon |
| Livestock drink more (healthier) | Often half-empty, animals suffer |
| Saves hours every week | Backbreaking daily slog |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Installation
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Route | Plan pipe run from water source to trough |
| Dig | Trench for buried alkathene pipe (below frost) |
| Connect | Tap into mains or header tank supply |
| Fit | Install float valve assembly in trough |
| Test | Check fill rate, valve shut-off, no leaks |
| Protect | Lag any exposed pipe, backfill trench |
📦 You're Left With
- Trough that fills itself to the right level
- No more bucket runs across fields
- Healthier animals with constant water access
- System that works year-round (with basic maintenance)
Pricing Guide
| Setup | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Short pipe run, easy access | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Longer run or awkward terrain | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Complex setup with obstacles | 2.5-3 hrs | £135-£160 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Add materials - alkathene pipe, float valve, fittings, lagging. Long pipe runs (50m+) might need separate quote.
Perfect For Devon Smallholdings If...
✅ Multiple animals - they drink more than you think, constant topping up gets old fast
✅ Remote fields - long walk from water source to trough
✅ Summer heat - animals drink double in hot weather, manual filling can't keep up
✅ Limited time - already got enough farm jobs without being a water carrier
Why Choose Us for Float valve trough in Exeter?
Constant fresh water without daily filling
Float valve maintains steady level
Connected to mains or header tank
Saves hours of manual watering
What to Expect
Step 1: Plan The Route
We'll walk from your water source (tap, tank, whatever you've got) to where the trough sits. Check for obstacles, buried services, where pipe needs protecting. Measure up and work out materials needed.
Step 2: Install The Supply
Dig trench for alkathene pipe (300mm deep minimum to avoid frost and hooves), run pipe to trough, connect to your water supply with proper fittings. If it's a long run, I might use larger diameter pipe to maintain flow.
Step 3: Fit The Float Valve
Install float valve assembly in the trough, adjust float height for your preferred water level, test it fills and shuts off properly. Make sure nothing will freeze in winter or get damaged by livestock.
🔧 DIY Tips
Handy with plumbing and want to do this yourself? Here's what you're up against:
🔧 Tools and materials needed
- Spade for trenching
- Alkathene pipe (20mm or 25mm MDPE)
- Float valve assembly (agricultural type)
- Compression fittings and adaptors
- Pipe lagging for exposed sections
- PTFE tape
- Adjustable wrenches
🚰 Planning the system
- Measure distance from water source to trough
- Allow extra length for depth changes and connections
- Trough should be on reasonably level ground
- Float valve needs access for maintenance
- Consider winter access - you'll need to check it in frost
🔨 Installing it properly
- Bury pipe at least 300mm deep - deeper on grazed land
- Avoid sharp bends in alkathene - use gentle curves
- Fit an isolation valve near the source end - makes maintenance easier
- Set float height to leave a few inches below trough rim
- Test thoroughly before backfilling - leaks are a nightmare to find later
- Lag any above-ground sections including the valve assembly
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Pipe too shallow - gets frozen or crushed by livestock/vehicles
- Wrong size pipe - takes ages to refill after heavy use
- Cheap float valve - sticks open, floods the field
- Not fitting an isolation valve - can't turn it off for repairs
- Poor quality fittings - leaks appear within weeks
💡 Pro trick: Run your pipe inside larger diameter ducting where it enters the trough - gives protection from damage and makes it easier to replace if something goes wrong. Cattle especially will trash exposed pipes.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🐴 Horse troughs? Horses are fussy about water and will damage float mechanisms if they can reach them. Use an enclosed float valve design or protect the valve chamber. Horses also prefer deeper troughs that stay cooler.
Winter maintenance: Check float valves weekly in cold weather - they can freeze solid or ice can jam the float. Some people drain and switch to manual filling December-February rather than fight frozen valves.
Water quality: If your supply comes from a stream or spring, put a filter before the float valve - sediment will jam the valve mechanism over time. Mains water is obviously cleaner but costs more.
Algae in summer: Auto-fill troughs still need scrubbing out periodically - standing water in sunlight grows algae fast. The valve doesn't clean the trough for you, just keeps it full.
Multiple troughs? Run a main pipe to a central point, then branch off to each trough with isolation valves on each branch. Makes maintenance much easier than daisy-chaining them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a float valve trough work?
Same principle as your toilet cistern - float drops as animals drink, valve opens and refills, float rises and shuts valve off when full. Means you're not filling buckets twice a day, and livestock always have fresh water available.
Can you connect it to my existing water supply?
Usually yes. Most farms and rural properties either have mains water or a header tank system. I'll run alkathene pipe from your supply to the trough, fit the float valve, and make sure it's all lagged if there's any frost risk. If your supply's miles away, we might need to discuss a header tank closer to the field.
What about freezing in winter?
Devon winter frost is a real problem for outdoor troughs. I can lag the pipe run, fit an insulated valve, and position the trough to minimize ice risk. Some people add a small heater element for particularly cold spells. Ball valves are more prone to freezing than pillar valves.
Will it work for horses or just cattle?
Works for any livestock - horses, cattle, sheep, even goats. The principle's the same, though you might want a different trough design for horses (they're fussier about water quality). Float valves are less likely to get damaged by horses than push-button drinkers.
How much water pressure do I need?
Not much - float valves work on low pressure fine. As long as you've got mains pressure or a header tank a few metres above the trough, it'll fill. Slow fill is better than fast anyway - less likely to overflow if the valve sticks.
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