Gutters: Saving the water

[StarsFan4Life]

We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[Capt Caveman]

I know people that just use a whiskey barrel to capture the water.

 

[bobdole369]

Back in the day folks in the Florida Keys (and I'm sure in other places too) used to do this and they stored the rainwater in a cistern that sat under the house.

I've never heard of anyone that still does this. City water is very cheap compared to a hospital bill from the bugs in your cistern.

 

[Joemonkey]

yup, there's even an old school song that has a verse mentioning something about a rain barrel

why not just have the gutters all go to 1 or more barrels you can harvest the water from?

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/HH-10.pdf

many parts of rural Hawaii still use catchment water...

 

[IGBT]

in my other place I capture rain water and use it to flush the toilet.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: bobdole369
Back in the day folks in the Florida Keys (and I'm sure in other places too) used to do this and they stored the rainwater in a cistern that sat under the house.

I've never heard of anyone that still does this. City water is very cheap compared to a hospital bill from the bugs in your cistern.

Who the hell would drink it? For water plants/garden/grass, it's perfectly fine.

 

[Slick5150]

At my house we have several rain barrels that capture the water from the downspouts and use it for watering the garden.

At my office building the drains in the parking lot go into a capture system under the building where the water is used by the sprinklers.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: bobdole369
Back in the day folks in the Florida Keys (and I'm sure in other places too) used to do this and they stored the rainwater in a cistern that sat under the house.

I've never heard of anyone that still does this. City water is very cheap compared to a hospital bill from the bugs in your cistern.

Who the hell would drink it? For water plants/garden/grass, it's perfectly fine.

Most places that use catchment water have no city water to draw from.

How fucking hard is that to get? MOST places in the country have no city water lines...they have wells. In places without groundwater that's potable, they catch rainwater for household use and drink bottled water.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: bobdole369
Back in the day folks in the Florida Keys (and I'm sure in other places too) used to do this and they stored the rainwater in a cistern that sat under the house.

I've never heard of anyone that still does this. City water is very cheap compared to a hospital bill from the bugs in your cistern.

Who the hell would drink it? For water plants/garden/grass, it's perfectly fine.

Most places that use catchment water have no city water to draw from.

How fucking hard is that to get? MOST places in the country have no city water lines...they have wells. In places without groundwater that's potable, they catch rainwater for household use and drink bottled water.

Again, who would drink catchment water? Thanks for agreeing.

 

[Descartes]

I saw these systems all over the Caribbean islands, from St. Thomas to Barbados. I know a lot of people that do it locally for irrigation systems, especially since in areas around Georgia we were in a long drought where you'd be fined for doing anything with water.

I'd have no problem with drinking treated water that results.

 

[Newbian]

Just make sure you are able to seal the water somehow and not simply use open containers otherwise you will more then likely have a mosquito problem.

 

[seemingly random]

Depending on the amount of local air pollution, it would probably be better than city water - for some reason, plants just don't like chlorine, etc.

On the other hand, what the water travels over on its way into the gutter needs to be considered. For example, if it runs over an asphalt roof, bits of asphalt will break away over time.

I have used the new version of the whiskey barrel (green plastic barrel) with limited success. The screen gets clogged and even when there's 50 gallons in the barrel, there's not much pressure to use it.

 

[Sasiki]

I can see where it would be adventageous to use for watering the garden or flowers, but to save for any other reason, no thanks. My water bill is $25 on a regular month and $45 if I water the flowers and garden a lot that month.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Can anyone link me to the tank/barrel that you have seen/use? Trying to gather some ideas here...

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

total

fucking

SHENS.

this, from the guy who planned to buy a shitload of spotlights and crank his electronics and appliances during Earth Hour just to "send a message."
:roll:

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

total

fucking

SHENS.

this, from the guy who planned to buy a shitload of spotlights and crank his electronics and appliances during Earth Hour just to "send a message."
:roll:

And I did......that's a whole other discussion. Keep your ADD ass on subject here. No one is "asking" or "telling" me to do this....Earth Hour was...

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

total

fucking

SHENS.

this, from the guy who planned to buy a shitload of spotlights and crank his electronics and appliances during Earth Hour just to "send a message."
:roll:

And I did......that's a whole other discussion. Keep your ADD ass on subject here. No one is "asking" or "telling" me to do this....Earth Hour was...

ah yes...I have ADD.....

 

[MovingTarget]

If you know your way around Home Depot or whatnot, such a system isn't hard to build yourself. There are entire communities of people online who have installed greywater systems recapturing water from sinks, gutters, and whatnot to use for their lawns/gardens. It is worth a look. Heck, you could just pick up an old bathtub or whiskey barrel to collect the water, but make sure you cover it up except for the inlet to prevent mosquitos.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

total

fucking

SHENS.

this, from the guy who planned to buy a shitload of spotlights and crank his electronics and appliances during Earth Hour just to "send a message."
:roll:

And I did......that's a whole other discussion. Keep your ADD ass on subject here. No one is "asking" or "telling" me to do this....Earth Hour was...

I don't get it. Surely you're joking. What message where you sending? Who were you sending it to? Did they receive it? Did they send back a reply?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: bobdole369
Back in the day folks in the Florida Keys (and I'm sure in other places too) used to do this and they stored the rainwater in a cistern that sat under the house.

I've never heard of anyone that still does this. City water is very cheap compared to a hospital bill from the bugs in your cistern.

Who the hell would drink it? For water plants/garden/grass, it's perfectly fine.

Most places that use catchment water have no city water to draw from.

How fucking hard is that to get? MOST places in the country have no city water lines...they have wells. In places without groundwater that's potable, they catch rainwater for household use and drink bottled water.

Again, who would drink catchment water? Thanks for agreeing.

I don't know of anyone who drinks catchment water...not uses it when they have more viable options. (this is beyond the odd rainwater barrel BTW)
On Hawaii's big Island, especially away from the towns, people have large cisterns/tanks the size of swimming pools for their catchment water.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

total

fucking

SHENS.

this, from the guy who planned to buy a shitload of spotlights and crank his electronics and appliances during Earth Hour just to "send a message."
:roll:

And I did......that's a whole other discussion. Keep your ADD ass on subject here. No one is "asking" or "telling" me to do this....Earth Hour was...

I don't get it. Surely you're joking. What message where you sending? Who were you sending it to? Did they receive it? Did they send back a reply?

In case you missed it, I had a "The my excellent compatriot" decal on one of the spotlights.....

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

total

fucking

SHENS.

this, from the guy who planned to buy a shitload of spotlights and crank his electronics and appliances during Earth Hour just to "send a message."
:roll:

And I did......that's a whole other discussion. Keep your ADD ass on subject here. No one is "asking" or "telling" me to do this....Earth Hour was...

I don't get it. Surely you're joking. What message where you sending? Who were you sending it to? Did they receive it? Did they send back a reply?

In case you missed it, I had a "The my excellent compatriot" decal on one of the spotlights.....

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2289545&enterthread=y

here you go. Apparently saving energy is a "liberal" conceit. :roll:

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
We are nearly a month away from purchasing our first home. It's a brand new "model" home. We are in LOVE with it.

With that said, this house is completely upgraded.....however they didn't install gutters. I would like to install a gutter system...can't be that hard but just won't be cheap. I was thinking while I am at installing the gutters I could install a reserve tank that catches and stores all the water from the gutters after a rain. Does anyone here actually do this?

I saw online (http://www.guttertank.com.au/) that these guys want $600 for their system. If anyone here does something like this, what do you use? $600 just would take a long time of saving water to justify the cost.

I'd love to use this water to water my plants and to fill my coy pond(when needed and after I build it). Just trying to find ways to save money off of utility bills since this house has a full sprinkler system that I would only like to use once a week.

Any suggestions or ideas?

total

fucking

SHENS.

this, from the guy who planned to buy a shitload of spotlights and crank his electronics and appliances during Earth Hour just to "send a message."
:roll:

And I did......that's a whole other discussion. Keep your ADD ass on subject here. No one is "asking" or "telling" me to do this....Earth Hour was...

I don't get it. Surely you're joking. What message where you sending? Who were you sending it to? Did they receive it? Did they send back a reply?

In case you missed it, I had a "The my excellent compatriot" decal on one of the spotlights.....

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2289545&enterthread=y

here you go. Apparently saving energy is a "liberal" conceit. :roll:

Dude....

GIVE

IT

UP

Let me explain it to your liberal defensive retard ass.

Saving energy is NOT a liberal conceit. However, forcing the concept is. It was frowned upon to have your lights on during "earth hour". No one will ever MAKE me turn my lights off.....

 

[wiredspider]

My dad has "normal" gutters and just put a big barrel/drum in front of where the water comes out (he has a tube to defer water from the barrel/drum to another container if that is full. Then he uses that to water his plants.