Australians are one of the biggest consumers of water in the whole world on a per capita basis. What makes things more challenging is that Australia is a very dry country. The yearly rainfall is lesser than what the rest of the world receives on average. Around 12.5% of water consumption in Australia is only used to water gardens and flush toilets. To save a bit on their water bills, more residents are now improvising by setting up water tanks in their homes to collect the rainwater and repurpose it.
If you’re looking for information about water tanks for your home, you can check out https://www.watertankfactory.com.au/water-tanks-dalby/ and other similar sites. You have to factor in quite a number of things before you decide whether to go for an underground water tank or opt for an underdeck water tank. Here are a few of those things you need to consider.
1. Room For Underground Or Underdeck Water Tank
The first thing you have to consider before deciding to go for an underground or underdeck tank is whether you’ve room for it in the first place. If you prefer the underdeck water tank, you have to measure out your home first and see if there’s enough room under your deck for the standard water tank, or maybe several tanks if that’s what you have in mind.
If there’s enough room under your deck for installing a standard water tank, then you can go ahead with your plans. But if there’s not enough room under your deck, this could mean that you’ll have to hire home renovation carpenters and crew to make the needed changes and raise your deck a little bit higher. They’ll also have to look into the existing plumbing system and pipe framework to avoid creating issues accidentally where none existed. The same goes for the underground tank. You can go for it if you have a spot in your compound with enough room for the tank.
2. Measurement Of Tank Needed
One of the most important things you have to take into account before you build your water tank project is the dimensions of your water tank.
A 2,000-litre underdeck water tank would typically have the nominal dimensions of 1200mm in width, 2350mm in length, and 870mm in height. It would have a shot weight of 85kg. This is quite a slim design, which could fit in between piers of existing decks. Some buyers combine this with larger tanks for their overall water storage requirements.
There are other larger sizes of underdeck water tanks. The larger sizes will typically have nominal dimensions of 2420mm in width, 2520mm in length, and 900mm in height. They have a shot weight of 200 kgs. This can fit under the usual sizes of large homes. Regardless of the measurements of the water tank you choose, though, you have to take into account the size and area of your property. You’ll have to get the exact dimensions of where you want to build the tank.
3. Size And Area Of Your Property
You should also think about the size and available area of your property before you make up your mind. If there’s a spot within your lawn, backyard, or residential compound, then maybe you can go ahead with the underground plan. But you still have to check whether your spot is going to run into underground plumbing, sewage, phone, or electrical lines.
If you want to go with the underdeck option, measure out the dimensions of your deck and your water tank. There should be an allowance of at least 30mm from the edges of the underdeck water tank to the outermost perimeter of your deck. You also have to check with your local building office whether they have any regulations on home structures and underdeck tanks.
4. Site Location And Plumbing Framework
Before you start digging to install your underground or underdeck water tank, you have to take into consideration a few more things. It’s recommended that you locate your site near your downpipes. They say this is a sound way of storing water. You should look for a location where the soil is sturdy as well as a level surface because a tank can weigh several tonnes when it’s filled with water.
To avoid having to do a lot of pipework, you should place your tank nearest to where the water is intended to be used. If it’s for the bathroom, then place it near the bathroom. If it’s for gardening, put it near the garden. If you’re going for the underground water tank, you’ll also have to install a water pump. This will be used to pump the water out of the tank and up through the faucets.
Underground Or Underdeck
At the end of the day, the choice of going either underground or underdeck depends on the features of your property and your own circumstances. If you have a wide compound and perhaps a lawn or backyard, then maybe you can choose the underground tank without affecting the structural integrity of your home. If you’re living in a high-density urban area, the underdeck water tank is usually considered most suitable.
