Concerned about using your water to maintain your garden? Is your utility bills stacking too high?

Using a water tank is a great solution.

Don’t think a tank can catch enough rainwater? You don’t need it to rain that much to get the water you need. Even with only one-tenth an inch of rainfall and a 1,000 square-foot catchment area, you can fill up a 60-gallon tank.

1 tank of that size can cover 100 square feet of lawn per 1 inch of water. This means even in dry seasons you can rely on your tank to save you cash and water.

But which water tank is right for you?

There are different kinds of tanks and they all function a little differently. Know how to pick the right choice by considering the following tips.

Above or Below Ground?

This should be one of the first questions you tackle. If you want to utilize all your garden space, you’ll need to get an underground tank. It does cost more for maintenance and installation is not easy.

You can save up on installation fees by integrating the tank with the construction of new property. Most homes are already built by the time the owners want a tank and this is when complications and costs arise.

If you don’t want to spend that much money and if you don’t want difficulty installing your tank, choose one you can place above ground. These are cheaper and easy to install.

Consider Your Budget

You do have to look into your budget too. Knowing how much you can spend will narrow down your choices.

If you have the resources for a permanent, concrete tank then it might be in your favor to get it. If you don’t have the money for permanent large water tanks then a set of smaller, polyethylene tanks may be the better option.

Costs for installation aren’t the only expenses to consider. You have to take into mind maintenance fees and how much you’ll save in the long-run.

While you’re working on your budget, make it a point to follow safety tips when buying something as expensive as a water tank. You don’t want to get scammed and you don’t want to spend more for a product that doesn’t meet your demands.

Know the Different Water Tank Types

This is the most important aspect to consider when choosing a water tank. To help you pick the right one for your needs, consider their primary pros and cons and see which ones are the best for you.

Concrete

If you want a large tank that you can install underground and out of sight, go for concrete.

The main problem is that you will face installation restrictions and complications if you already built your home and garden. You might have to do some excavation.

Another issue is that lime can seep through the concrete and into the water. This causes alkaline poisoning which is bad for the plants. You will need to add concrete lining to prevent this.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a kind of reinforced plastic material and is one of the most popular types of water tanks available. It’s light, affordable, easy to install above ground, and portable. This ensures you can move it around in case you need to renovate your garden.

Another benefit is that polyethylene does not rust. It won’t cause water poisoning.

The downside is that you have to keep it out of sunlight. Sunlight corrodes plastic over time and this may cause a chemical reaction to the water. You may have to build a shed around the tank to keep it out of direct sunlight.

Metal

Older metal tanks used galvanized steel. This made them durable and easy to design in different sizes or shapes. The problem was that they could rust. The rust wouldn’t seep into the water inside but it could cause the tank’s integrity to decline until it would crack and break down.

Newer metal tanks use aluminum. It’s still cheaper and lighter than concrete but the added benefit is that aluminum doesn’t rust. If you want a good, reliable tank that isn’t expensive and is light to install, a metal tank might be your best option.

Fiberglass

Do you want the best benefits of steel and polyethylene?

You can get fiberglass tanks which use a thin polymer of woven plastic strands. This material then gets reinforced with glass fibers. This combination makes fiberglass light but durable and it doesn’t rust or corrode.

Fiberglass is so durable that even NASA uses it.

The one downside is that fiberglass tanks are expensive. They rank as some of the most expensive ones you’ll find in the market. If you can afford them, it is a great idea to pursue using them instead of regular polyethylene or metal.

Rain Bladder

What can you do if you have a small space to work with? What if you want a large tank but can’t fit it in your home or garden space? The best solution for this problem is to get a rain bladder instead.

This is a unique type of tank because it uses a flexible membrane that expands when the tank fills with water. It will shrink when water siphons out. You can consider it as some kind of big fabric water pouch.

The main benefit is that you can fit it anywhere. You can place these underground, between the walls in a vertical fashion, or outside. They are also more affordable compared to other types of tanks.

Find the Best Tanks and More

With these tips, you can find the right tank for your home and garden.

Already found the perfect water tank for your needs? Looking for something more to reinforce your tank or perhaps someone to help you install a tank in your backyard?

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