How to Properly Install a Rainwater Cistern
Rainwater cisterns are one of the important components in various types of homes, both rural and urban. As a homeowner, you may not realize how important this is until a problem arises. A small leak at your rainwater cistern could cause a flood at your home. It’s critical to have a proper rainwater cistern to collect runoff from your roof. Having a backup system will be able to save you money, protect your property and ensure that you get the water that you need for all of your daily activities.
There are many reasons why homeowners should install a rainwater catchment system in their home. When properly designed, these systems will collect excessive amounts of rainwater. They can either be used for the benefit of your yard, garden, playground and parking lot, or you can further use it for landscape enhancement around your home.
A rainwater cistern can be made out of a variety of materials. One such material is PVC pipe. These are known as flexible pipes, since they do not have any ends that need to be fished back up. The flexible pipes do not have seams on them, so they are great for septic tanks. This type of roofing material is perfect for people who live on a limited budget and cannot afford to replace their entire roof. The PVC pipes used to collect water can be replaced over again if necessary.
Another material to consider when purchasing a rainwater harvesting system is aluminum. The main downside of using this material to construct your home cistern is that it cannot store large volumes of water. It will be best suited for collecting smaller volumes of water, which can be obtained during a sudden rainstorm. However, when collecting more water than is needed, the aluminum rainwater cistern will accumulate gallons of water, which can make it very impractical for the homeowner.
In addition to the design considerations mentioned above, the size of the cistern also has to be taken into consideration. If you want a unit that is small enough to fit on your roof, you may want to look at purchasing a small, portable one. These units generally hold between four and ten gallons and can be used on rooftops up to fifteen feet away.
When looking at the specifications for your cistern, you should figure out what its storage capacity is. Your storage capacity will depend on how much water you plan to collect and how much you plan to let run off your roof. For instance, if you collect two cups of rainwater per day, you would need to calculate your catchment area based upon the square footage of your property. Your calculation for storage capacity will need to take into account how much rain fall your area receives and how fast that water flows.
In addition to these two factors, you will need to figure out what materials you would like your cistern to be made from. If you are concerned about the effects of lead, zinc, and other metals in the water, you may want to purchase a cistern made from galvanized or solid brass. Cast iron, copper, and stainless steel are also options you may want to consider. To figure your final cost, you will need to purchase your materials and figure out the cost of installation. Depending on whether you purchase a galvanized or solid brass, etc., cistern, you may find that the installation costs much less than you originally thought.
Rainwater cisterns are a great way to effectively screen waste water from your property. However, if you do not properly install your cistern, you may end up with undesired results. This includes possible leaks that can result in flooding, damage to pipes, and even corrosion of the pipes themselves. Therefore, when selecting a suitable cistern for your property, it is extremely important to make sure that you have the right materials and the correct installation. By following this advice, you will guarantee that your new cistern will be installed correctly and securely. Additionally, your new cistern will be able to handle the amount of waste water you are currently discharging.