What Happens When A Rainwater Tank Is Full?

Do you have a rainwater tank in your home? This is an essential investment because it ensures that rainwater is not wasted. After all, you can perform rainwater harvesting.

Regardless of the water tank size you have in your home, it's bound to get full. Even the most giant tanks get filled because of heavy rains. So, what happens when your rainwater tank is full? This article examines what happens and other aspects of your rainwater tank.

How Rainwater Tanks Work

Your rainwater tank works by collecting rainwater from the roof. The rainwater flows through the pipes into your tank. The water is then funnelled into all the connected fixtures in your home when required. It is distributed from the tank to several points of use, including toilet cistern, garden tap, washing machine, etc.

A pump is often needed to help distribute the water from the tank to the various points of use. The pump can be connected to a pressure switch or other control systems to ensure your water pressure is reliable and consistent.

Why is a Rainwater Tank Necessary?

If you have water supplies from your municipal or other suppliers, you may wonder why you need a rainwater tank in your commercial or residential property in Australia. However, the rainwater tank is crucial in the following ways:

Save on your water bills

With a rainwater tank in your home, you minimise your reliance on your water company to supply water for your daily needs. Therefore, the rainwater tank helps you save on your water bills, primarily if you use the water in the most water-consuming activities such as laundry, gardening, or flushing toilets. Based on the amount of water your roof can collect and the size of your tank, you get good value for your money.

Good for the environment

Rainwater harvesting reduces the strains on waterways, thus minimising local flooding risks. The reduced heavy stormwater runoff leads to reduced soil erosion, damage, and pollution to the local water bodies.

Offers flexibility

A rainwater tank offers you high-level flexibility in using water in your home. Note that the government has restrictions on how you can use water occasionally. With a rainwater tank, you can use the water however you want.

Purer water

Rainwater is purer than the water supplied by your municipality. It is softer than tap water. After all, it contains fewer minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and other impurities because it is naturally distilled. This makes it ideal for cleaning windows or cars because it lathers easily.

Backup water supply

A rainwater tank acts as a backup water supply in your property. It helps when water restrictions, low supply, or your primary water system has problems. It gives you peace of mind knowing you always have safe drinking water readily available.

Boosts your home value

With a rainwater tank in your home, you can expect it to attract a higher price if you want to sell it. Potential buyers view it as a great asset because it offers them a backup water source, so they will be ready to pay a larger price. In addition, it provides both environmental sustainability and aesthetic value, thus improving the worth of your home.

What Rainwater Tank is Right for Your Property?

Now that you know the many benefits of having a rainwater tank in your home, it is time to decide the best size to invest in. When considering the best size of a rainwater tank to invest your money, you should consider several factors. It would be best if you got a tank with a size that matches the amount of water you want to collect and your property's size.

It is also necessary to consider the material of your tank because different materials have different levels of UV ray resistance and durability. You should also measure the space available and calculate your desired use to determine the best positioning and size.

Other factors worth consideration include the type of filtration system, outlet and inlet placements, warranties and whether the tank features additional accessories. Ultimately, you must compare the many options to get a tank that suits your budget and needs.

Which is the Best Type of Rainwater Tank?

There are different rainwater tanks you can install based on materials in your commercial or residential property, including:

• Polyethylene or plastic: These tanks are installed above the ground, durable, lightweight, and easy to install.
• Concrete: Concrete tanks are installed below or above the ground and are strong. Since light can’t infiltrate them, the tank can store water without experiencing algae growth.
• Steel tanks: The tanks are durable and robust. They are easy to install, lightweight, and installed above the ground.
• Fibreglass: Fibreglass tanks resist rust and chemical corrosion. They also withstand extreme temperatures and are available in various sizes, colours, and shapes.

How Big Should Your Rainwater Tank Be?

The size of your rainwater tank is a crucial consideration you must think about. As you think about the right rainwater tank size, you should consider your area's average rainfall, roof size, general water usage, and location or space restrictions.

The general formula to determine the size of a rainwater tank that is right for your home is multiplying your roof area by the average rainfall in your area. This represents the maximum water you can expect to capture on your property.

Calculating the water you use in your home is essential to know how much of your usage is covered by your captured water. Note that your tank doesn't have to be that big if you live in an area with a lot of rainfall.

What Happens When Your Rainwater Tank is Full?

No matter the rainwater tank size in your home, it is bound to get full at one time or another due to high rainfall. However, you don't have to worry about what will happen because the tanks have features that ensure that no problem will arise. Your rainwater tank is designed with an overflow mechanism, meaning that when your tank gets full, excess water is redirected to other parts of your home.

The overflow mechanism helps create an exit path for the excess incoming water and also helps in removing floating particles from your water surface. The overflow mechanism ensures that your rainwater tank doesn't overflow through the manway, backup via the pre-tank filter, or build excess pressure on the storage vessel.

It ensures that when the tank is full, you can control where the excess water flows by redirecting it to your garden, stormwater drainage, or other sections for supplemental irrigation. It should feature PVC piping and other high-quality overflow devices to ensure that the overflow systems work perfectly and no problems arise when the rainwater tank is full. Install the overflow device with rubber coupling.

The overflow pipe size should match the inlet pipe size to ensure the overflow keeps up with the incoming water when the tank is full. The overflow pipe should be installed at a lower elevation than the inlet pipe to ensure overflow occurs before the water can back up into your tank's inlet pipe or pre-tank filter. Creating an air-tight connection on the rainwater tank would be best to ensure mosquitoes or other bugs don't enter your tank.

Do You Need Help with Your Rainwater Tank?

If you need to install a rainwater tank or any other service, you should work with a plumbing company. They can help you choose the best home tank and install it at the right place.

They know how the rainwater tanks work and will install an overflow to ensure that excessive water is directed to your desired area whenever your tank is full. A qualified plumber can also help you with all other plumbing services you need for your system to remain in good condition.