Who remembers the drought of the early 2000s and the accompanying water restrictions?
Our Brighton plumbers certainly do – in particular, we remember seeing surging demand for rainwater tanks, and a spike in calls for rainwater system installation.
And with Sydney recently announcing a return to water restrictions, we’re starting to see the calls for rainwater tank installation trickle in once again.
One of the first questions many of these callers ask us is whether or not they need to call their local plumber to carry out the installation.
Well, do they?
Today, our plumbers in Brighton explain exactly what goes into rainwater tank installation, and why you need to call a pro!
Do I need a plumber to install a rainwater tank?
Long story short, yes!
Sure anybody can buy a rainwater tank from Bunnings and find a spot for it in their backyard. That alone, however, has no effect on your water usage.
That’s because there’s much more to rainwater tank installation than just having the storage!
In particular…
1) Your rainwater tank needs to be connected to your gutters first
Rainwater tanks have small inflows – in most cases, they’re little more than 15cm across.
Needless to say, not much rainwater is going to get into your tank through that!
That’s why most rainwater tanks are connected to your gutter system. That way, all the water that hits your roof and normally goes straight from the gutter to the drain instead enters your rainwater tank.
And when it comes to guttering and other roof plumbing fixtures, you should only ever call a professional.
Luckily, Watermaster plumbing do much more than just fix the occasional leaky tap or blocked toilet – we’re also licensed roof plumbers.
In fact, our roofing services are so popular, that we’ve actually opened up an entirely new division of our business dedicated solely to roofing jobs!
2) Want to use your rainwater in the house? You’ll need a plumber for that
To see a real dent in your water bill, you can connect your rainwater tank to fixtures inside and around your home.
Instead of running up your water bill, you’ll be able to use free rainwater around the house.
That can include:
- Toilets
- Garden taps
- Sprinkler systems
- Fountains
- Water features
Of course, that can often require significant amounts of new plumbing to be installed in and around your home – the type of work that only a licensed plumber can do for you.
3) It might not be legal to DIY
It isn’t just a matter of skill and expertise – when it comes to Victorian building regulations, it’s also a matter of law!
According to the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), only a licensed plumber (or a registered or trainee one working under the supervision of a licensed plumber) may undertake plumbing work.
As a general rule of thumb, you need a licensed plumber for any plumbing work that involves going “behind the scenes” or divinginto the guts of your plumbing.
That means you can tighten a tap, clear a drain or unblock a toilet on your own.
For anything more involved however, you need a pro.
And that includes installing new pipes for your rainwater tank!
Click here to learn more about the dangers of DIY plumbing.
4) Only a plumber knows about the plumbing code
What you don’t often see when you call your local Brighton plumber are all the regulations and codes we have to adhere to when we work on your home.
We aren’t just talking about licensing requirements, either – certain jobs have unique requirements that you’ll need to follow.
That includes installing rainwater tanks.
For example, if you want your rainwater tank to qualify for the 6-star standard, you’ll need:
- A minimum rainfall catchment area of 50m2
- Capacity of 2000 litres, at least
- Connections to all flushing devices in all the toilets in the building
Not to mention, according to the Victorian State Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, your rainwater tank also needs to:
- Have every access point (excluding inflow and overflow) sealed to protect children and animals
- Include adequate screening to stop foreign matter and insects
- Have appropriate overflow protection measures built-in
- Council regulations for tank location – Bayside suburbs like Brighton are especially strict
You won’t get that if you DIY!
Choose Watermaster’s plumbers in Brighton
Rainwater tanks are great for those who want to make a savings – just think about all that water that’s literally going down the drain every time it drizzles.
For the best results, it’s crucial that you get your rainwater tank installed by a professional.
When it comes to plumbing in Brighton, you can’t go past Watermaster Plumbing.
Our plumbers in Brighton are the best in the business. We perform a wide range of complex plumbing jobs, including rainwater tank installation.
Together, we’ll make you the envy of all your neighbours!
Call Watermaster today on 1300 156 650, or click here to touch base with us.