In areas where dryer seasons last for longer or which are prone to droughts, Rainwater Tanks play a very vital role by functioning as a life saver. For those who wish to have their own rainwater tank, it is not necessary to get it installed by some professional only. Yes, you can install your rainwater storage tank all by yourself by following the instructions given below. Steps for installing Rainwater Tanks:-

Deciding on a Base and position of water tank:

It is very important to get the position of water tank right. It has to be close to the downspout and easily accessible too. The position has to be large enough to hold a sturdy foundation as water tank when full, weighs as much as a small car. For choosing the type of bases, there are some options but the very first thing is to choose a surface that is completely flat. The material used for constructing the base should be either concrete or sand or a platform base can be used for mounting. Though bases constructed with sand are cheap, they are poorer in quality. They require regular repairs and are also affected by weather conditions, tree roots and other such factors. Concrete bases are better in quality, unaffected by these factors and also last longer, so if your budget allows, you should go for concrete bases only. Long life isn't their only quality as concrete bases also provide enough space for keeping water cans or buckets to directly fill water from the outlet.     

Making connections for rainwater:

In many cases water tank positions are altered even after installing once. After choosing the best position for your tank, you should make inlet holes and overflow holes. For cutting out the holes you can either use a key-hole saw or a jigsaw. Some of the parts like inlet and outlet pipes are to be fitted permanently using glue or silicone, so you have to follow manufacturer's instructions while doing this. Existing rain gutter is to be removed and is to be redirected using 45° and 90° elbows combined with pipes. This is the point when you should fit a cleaning device or a filter in the setup. Do not fit the pipes permanently here, join them and mark with pencil, check for their working and if they are operating properly, use adhesive or PVC to fix them permanently.

Making outlets:

Using a 25 mm spade bit, cut out an outlet hole for installing the tap. Wrap Teflon tape around tap thread before installing so as to prevent water leakage.     

Another good thing about Rainwater Tanks is that they require less maintenance. All you have to do is, keep rain gutters and filters clean. By paying little attention towards the maintenance, you can save your environment and economy as well!