Water tank. Divert water to mains.
Hello all,
I am in the process of getting a tank and am trying to figure out what parts I will need.
The plan is to get it plumbed so it flushes the toilet and is used in our super water economical front loader in the laundry and to a tap ouside for washing and gardening needs.
I have the tank on order to be delivered and have sourced the pump. Not sure if I will go with that pump yet as it is a cheapie import.
What I need to do is find a diverter that will divert to mains when the tank reaches the specified low point.
All I have been able to find so far are these units
http://www.davey.com.au/rainbank/index.html
I'm sure it will work fine but am a bit worried about how much it will cost. Also I like the idea of a manual one with no electrics as the less complicated it is the less it shoud break down.
I was under the impresion that you can attach a manual one on. Like, when you know your tank is running low you turn something like a gate valve on or off and it diverts to the mains. The only plumber I have been able to get a quote of so far was not aware of a manual unit, only the electrical ones like on the website I have posted.
Does anyone know if these manual ones exist and what they are called? Or if there are any other electrical ones around. Or is it just a matter of the plumber connecting everything so you can just divert to mains when needed?
Any advice or direction to anything like this will help me greatly.
Cheers
tourgy
Here's a simple cheap auto solution.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/Project1.jpg
Basically use a float valve inside your tank set at 10% of your tank volume
You must protect the mains supply from cross contamination with a backflow valve
Run the outlet of the float valve up to 100mm above the tank full level to prevent syphon
Use ballvalves between all of your main items, Including the backflow valve to make maitenance easier ( you dont want to drain the tank to do maitenance)
When the tank is full to above the float valve it will float and stay off.
Occasionally move the float valve with a broom handle or something to make sure its not jamming ( every 6 months) Check the operation of everything else at the smae time as routine maitenance.
The whole set up can be done with standard ( read cheap) fittings and valves the most expensive is the backflow which i think is around $40.
You must put a backflow valve in before the connection to protect the mains.
If youve got any questions just post em here and ill try to answer them, I know the drawing is hard to read
Cheers, bricks.
Just wanting to revisit this one!
In the process of getting a tank connected to my toilet and laundry. Hard to get hold of the plumber and wanted to know a bit about what to talk to him about.
Can someone tell me what i need to connect all this up.
Obvioulsy rainwater tank (looking at 2500lt)
A pump (what size would be adequate?)
Some sort of backflow valve
A sensor so when water low it goes over to mains.
Anything else, what sort of costs involved.
Just trying to get a rough idea of what it will cost to get all the bits!!
Cheers
McBlurter
PS: with all this water saving talk you'd think they would have a site that could explain how all this works. If you ring any plumbing supply place they all seem to want to sell you "Their" device, "all included" without explaining what it is and how it works!!!
Can you believe the cost of this??
I got a quote from a company who sell tanks but also connect tanks up to toilet etc. Am looking at a 2400lt waterwall tank. Will need to connect two downpipes to it, one right where tank will be, other from about 6mt away. I asked for a quote on manual and auto and wanted a detailed itemized account, which they didn't do. Quote has come in for the princely sum of $5800 (inc GST):o
Tank is 1250, rainsaver with pump is about 1500. Has a list of other stuff, but for labour they are charging $2900:o . Geez for this amount might as well put in solar hot water or something that will actually recoup my money, rather than just a feel good, save water, save the planet thing. Looks like everyone is cashing in on the $500 rebate. Will see what my elderly step father (he's nearly 80 and still plumbing!!) can come up with!!
Cheers
McBlurter