Water Savings, Maximised. How to get your Rainwater Harvesting System prepared for Winter

Checking your trees – that is the key to getting your Rainwater Harvesting System ready for the colder months! Okay, so maybe not literally checking your trees, but ensuring you schedule your Rainwater Harvesting Tank Clean in correctly is important. But don’t worry, we are going to give you the ultimate guide to protecting your system throughout the Autumn and Winter months.

Let’s set the scene. Autumn is in full swing; the nights are drawing in and it’s beginning to get just that bit colder. You may have even de-iced your car window screen once or twice! Your pre-planned maintenance schedule has probably already alerted your facilities management team to the fact that your gutter cleaning is due!

Getting your maintenance tasks in the right order is not only key to saving your facility as much water as possible, but also helps you to work towards your sustainable goals.

Step one - Clean your roof and your gutters. Not only does this help prevent damage to your building but it maximises run off into your rainwater tank. Always make sure this is done prior to your tank clean and not afterwards.

Step two - a Rainwater Harvesting tank clean. Cleaning your roof and gutters will have deposited lots of leaves and debris on your pre tank filter and in your tank. Tanks cleans should not be required every year.

Step three - a Rainwater Harvesting System Service. Even if your tank clean is not due this year, make sure you do your regular planned maintenance so that your filters are all clean, maximising collection and water quality.

These three steps are all part of helping your system to stay healthy during the colder months! Regular pre-planned maintenance on your system will help to keep filtration devices free from naturally occurring sediment and debris, preventing pump failure and ensuring excellent water quality!

As a facilities management expert you’ll know timing is key. Timings for all our Pre-Planned Maintenance Services are set out in unity with The British Standard for rainwater harvesting. We recommend and a service is carried out every six months and a full tank clean every two or three years, although this may need to increase if you are near an area of high tree density.

Why Maintain a Rainwater Harvesting System?

We know what you are probably thinking; Why do I need to do all of this? These systems are highly advanced pieces of technology… not simply a tank with pump just as many people think. Here are some key reasons to maintain your Rainwater Harvesting system:

Prolong system lifespan
Maximise water and carbon savings
Prevent unexpected breakdowns – which could leave you with no flushing toilets!
Impress your customers with your commitment to water conservation
Ensure safe operations
Benefit from reduced water bills