The next thing to do once you’ve decided on a water tank is to prepare for its installation. Note that there are several factors that affect water tank installation cost. Here’s a rundown of things to consider and prepare for in anticipation of this event so you can start planning for an overall budget early on.
Council Approval
Prior to installation, you need to check with your local government council for any building regulations that might apply. Building regulations may apply with large tanks, but not so with smaller ones. Double check anyway.
Once approved, you can then go ahead with the rest of the preparation needed.
Cost to Install a Rainwater Tank
So how much money do you need to install your water tank? The answer will be determined by the extent of preparation involved and the necessary fittings and accessories.
Preparation
- Delivery
- Guttering
- Foundation
Delivery
Location plays a part on the overall price of getting a water tank. However, some manufacturers will deliver for free if you’re within reasonable distance from them.
Prior to delivery, you need to do your part in ensuring that your water tank will be delivered as easily as possible without any damage. For example, take into consideration the size and weight of the vehicle that will be delivering your water tank (this will depend on the size/type of water tank you choose), so you can better plan to prevent some of the challenges that might come along with the delivery.
Clear access on roads, lane ways, gateways, and crossings. Ensure that trees or branches won’t get in the way. There has to be a clear pathway for the vehicle to pass so it doesn’t get stuck or roll over.
Guttering
Your roof gutters play a major part in catching rain water. Thus, it is necessary that they are clean. Leaves or any debris must be removed. Pruning of trees nearby may be necessary if there’s a chance that leaves will accumulate in the gutters and cause blockages.
Additionally, damaged gutters must be fixed. And you may need to reroute your guttering to direct the flow of water to the part of your property where your water tank will be installed. Apart from this, the overall cost will also vary depending on the rainwater harvesting system you employ.
There are 2 types: dry rainwater harvesting system and wet rainwater harvesting system. The piping arrangements differ for each. Also note that a simpler roof structure makes for a better catchment area. It’s also easier to clean and maintain than complicated roofs.
Foundation
You might have to spend more on your water tank to get the foundation set up. However, this is something you can do alone if you want to save. If you don’t have the skill set, though, don’t hesitate to contact a qualified builder as a faulty foundation might damage your water tank before its time, especially when your water tank of choice is prone to corrosion.
Note that different types of rainwater tank have different requirements for its base/foundation. That is, the difficulty of setting up the foundation varies with the type of water tank material (poly, fibreglass, steel, concrete).
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Site Preparation Difficulty - Easiest to Toughest
1. Poly water tanks
2. Fibreglass
3. Concrete tanks and steel liner tanks
Poly water tanks
By far the easiest type of water tank to set-up as it can be placed on sand, gravel and crusher dust without the risk of corrosion.
Coerco poly water tanks.
Fibreglass
More care is needed for setting up the foundation for fibreglass tanks. This is due to the fact that they are thinner and rigid, and thus, incapable of adjusting to irregular foundation. As a result, they could easily acquire cracks when placed in uneven ground.
Concrete water tanks & steel liners
Concrete tanks need to have compacted ground around the site and a tank pad. They also require machinery to install.
A steel liner tank, on the other hand, is prone to corrosion. The requirements needed just to prevent damage adds to the time in installation. Plus, it requires a specific type of bed for it to lay on. The differences are further outlined here: “What Do I need to Do for Tank Pad Preparation?”.
As a rule, the ideal site for different types of water tank must be level/flat, stable and free of any debris such as large stones that would cause structural damage to your water tank.
Fittings and Accessories
As was discussed in Water Tanks Cost Guide, fittings and accessories influence the total cost of getting a water tank.
Your water tank of choice may already come with standard fittings and accessories. However, accessories like pressure pumps and downpipes (to name a few) are likely not part of the package, so you would need to include them in your installation budget.
The following are some accessories you may need to include in your budget prior to water tank installation: (note that you may not need some of these)
1. Pumps
2. First flush diverters
3. Downpipes and overflows
4. Filtration system
Pumps
A pressure pump with the the required amount of pressure functions to connect water from your water tank to your mains water. Pumps are also necessary to connect your rainwater supply to your home where you can use it for laundry or the toilet. A licensed plumber will be able to help you with this.
As of 2017, the average hourly rate for standard plumbing in Australia is $85.57. Note that the cost will vary depending on the complexity of the task and the degree of expertise required.
Also, there are 2 main types of pumps - free standing pump and submersible pump - which may vary in price. You may also want to choose a quiet pump if you’re particularly sensitive to vibrations and noise. A quality pump could cause anywhere between $600 to $1,800. Note that a pump could be more expensive, for instance, if it has a longer warranty.
First flush diverters
First flush diverters work to maintain water quality, reduce water tank maintenance and protect pumps from damage by diverting the first runoff of water that may contain harmful contaminants and debris from the roof.
Downpipes and Overflows
You will be able to save on your rainwater tank installation cost if you take care of the downpipes and overflows yourself. If not, you may need to hire somebody to do it for you, which will add to your budget.
Prepare a plan on how you want to connect your downpipe to your water tank. With this you can calculate how many pipes, connectors and elbows you need to buy.
Plumbing overflows away from your rainwater tank is necessary to prevent water flowing out of your tank from damaging the foundation. Some types of water tank like steel are especially prone to rust when overflows are not setup accordingly.
Filtration System
Filters, like first flush diverters, help you achieve good water quality. Prices for filters could start at $200. Note that the quality and the type of filtration system also affects price. Just as water tank prices vary depending on multiple factors such as size and material, the cost of water tank installation can also vary depending on several elements.
On the whole, poly water tanks are low-maintenance as far as installation is concerned. As a result, they are cheaper to install.
Needless to say, the prices stated here are not fixed or absolute. This article is purely a guide to help you with your planning so you don’t get taken aback with the number of things you need to prepare and budget.
Good luck!
Related article:
What Do I Need to Do for Tank Pad Preparation?
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