Tips for Choosing a Water Storage Tank Material for Your Property

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Having a water storage tank on your property can protect you in cases of drought, and also allow you to use rainwater for watering your lawn and garden, cutting down on the cost of water provided by your city. Water storage tanks come in a wide variety of materials and sizes, and you need to ensure you choose the material and size carefully. You want your water storage tank to last for years while offering the storage space you need and being appropriate for your property overall. Note a few simple but important tips for choosing a water storage tank for your property.

1. Above ground tanks

If you don't want to involve the time and expense of digging a pit to store your water tank and want to keep it above ground, you'll want to think about how it looks overall. Wooden rain barrels and kegs have been used for centuries to store water, and they're very attractive, but they must be treated so that they don't absorb water and checked regularly for signs of rot.

A concrete tank can be painted or stained to look very attractive, but note its overall weight, especially when holding a large amount of water. You may need to have a base or foundation for the tank poured below ground, just like pouring a foundation for an outbuilding. Plastic tanks are lightweight and easy to manage but not very attractive, so you might be prepared to plant shrubbery around them or build some type of covering to keep them hidden.

2. Below ground tanks

When storing your water tank below ground, you can choose virtually any material, but note that you might need to work your pit or trench around pipes or buried power lines and cables. This might limit you as to the size of the tank you can choose; be mindful of this when choosing large plastic tanks that might interfere with the direction or installation of those pipes or cables.

For underground tanks, concrete can be poured in any shape so you can even create an L-shaped tank that fits an awkward property. Steel is strong enough to withstand the pressure of the ground surrounding the tank, but note that it may start to show signs of corrosion or weakness around connectors, so it should be checked for needed repairs regularly. Note too that steel tanks typically need to be delivered and installed by a contractor simply due to their weight, so consider this added cost.

Fiberglass tanks are usually one of the most expensive choices, but they're seen as a good investment because of their durability when installed underground. They're lightweight, so you may not need to hire a contractor to deliver and install this type of tank for you, and they don't rot or rust as you might see with other tanks and materials.

For more information about your options, contact a local water tank installation company like Williams & Jackson


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