Mr. Clog Plumbing
Rainwater Tank Plumbing Sydney
Tank installation, tank pumps, rain-to-mains switching, and tanks connected to toilets, laundry and garden taps.
About This Service
A rainwater tank only saves water if the plumbing around it works. Mr. Clog connects new tanks to your downpipes, installs, repairs and replaces tank pumps, fits rain-to-mains switching devices so the house falls back to mains water when the tank runs dry, and connects tanks to toilets, the laundry and garden taps. We also fit first-flush diverters and filters to keep the water going into the tank cleaner. Once a tank is connected to the house, it shares pipework with the drinking water supply, so the work has to be done by a licensed plumber and certified when it is finished.
What’s Included
- New tanks connected to downpipes and plumbed in
- Tank pumps installed, repaired and replaced
- Rain-to-mains switching devices, with backflow protection where required
- Tanks connected to toilets, laundry and garden taps
- First-flush diverters and filters fitted
- A fixed price before any work starts
Ready to book?
(02) 9139 8945 — available 24/7Rainwater Tank Jobs We Do
Rainwater tank installation
Connecting a new tank: plumbing the downpipes in to the tank inlet, running the overflow to the stormwater, and connecting the outlet to the pump and the house. If the tank is replacing an old one, we reconnect what is already there where it is still sound.
Tank pumps: install, repair and replace
The pump is the part that fails most. We find out whether it is the pump itself, the pressure switch or controller, a leak on the suction side or an empty tank, then repair it or replace it with a pump suited to the fixtures it supplies.
Rain-to-mains switching devices
A switching device sends tank water to the connected fixtures while there is water in the tank, and changes over to mains water when the tank is low or the pump stops. We install and replace them, along with the backflow protection that stops tank water getting back into the drinking water supply where the property needs it.
Toilets, laundry and garden taps
Connecting a tank to the toilets, the washing machine cold tap or the garden taps, with the pipework kept separate from the drinking water supply and labelled as rainwater.
First-flush diverters and filters
A first-flush diverter holds back the first, dirtiest water off the roof before it reaches the tank. Filters and inlet screens keep leaves, sediment and mosquitoes out. We fit them to new tanks and add them to existing ones.
Common Rainwater Tank Problems
Most tank calls come down to one of these. Our guide to a rainwater tank pump that isn't working covers the safe checks you can do first.
Pump won't start
No power to the pump, a tripped safety switch, an empty tank, or a failed pressure switch or controller. If the pump hums but nothing moves, it may have lost its prime or seized.
Pump runs constantly or keeps cycling
A pump that starts and stops every few seconds, or never stops, usually means a leak somewhere on the tank-water pipework, a toilet cistern that keeps running, a faulty pressure switch or a pressure vessel that has lost its charge.
Low pressure from tank-supplied fixtures
A worn or undersized pump, a blocked filter or intake, air in the suction line, or a switching device partly stuck between tank and mains.
Switching device not changing over
The house stays on mains when the tank is full, or the toilets stop filling when the tank runs dry. Switching devices can fail, and Sydney Water notes they can be affected by an electrical storm or blackout.
Tank not filling
Blocked gutters or inlet screens, a first-flush diverter that is not draining, or a downpipe that was never connected, or has come apart, below ground.
Overflow problems and leaks
An overflow that discharges against the house or into a neighbour's yard, split fittings at the tank outlet, or a leaking joint at the pump. Overflow should run to an approved stormwater point.
Mosquitoes and first-flush maintenance
A torn inlet screen or an overflow without a mosquito-proof flap lets mosquitoes breed in the tank. First-flush diverters also need emptying and cleaning; Sydney Water suggests every three to six months, or after heavy rain.
Why a Licensed Plumber, and What NSW Requires
What we have confirmed from Sydney Water and the NSW rules, in plain terms.
Plumbing work in NSW is licensed work
Connecting a tank to your home's water pipes is plumbing work, and in NSW that has to be done by a licensed plumber. Sydney Water also recommends using a licensed plumber experienced with rainwater tanks.
Inspection and a Certificate of Compliance
Sydney Water says the plumber must book an inspection by NSW Fair Trading for a rainwater tank connected to a toilet, washing machine or hot water system. When the work is done, ask for your Certificate of Compliance.
Backflow protection
A tank connected to the house is a possible way for tank water to get into the drinking water supply. Whether you need a separate backflow device depends on the property, including the type of tank and the size of the water meter, so a licensed plumber assesses it on site.
Mosquito proofing and a mains supply
Sydney Water requires the tank inlet and overflow to be mosquito proof, and recommends a top-up connection or an auto-switching device so the house has water when the tank is empty.
Power to the pump
Pumps and switching devices need a safe power supply. Anything on the electrical side, such as a new power point or wiring inside the pump, is a job for a licensed electrician.
BASIX tanks
Many newer NSW homes have a rainwater tank because the home's BASIX certificate required one, usually connected to toilets and the laundry. If yours is one of them, the tank is part of how the home was approved, so keeping it connected and working matters.
How It Works
Our Process
Tell Us the Problem
Ring with what the tank or pump is doing, or what you want connected. Photos of the pump and switching device help.
Inspect & Test
We check the tank, pump, switching device, pipework and backflow protection, and find where the fault or the connection point is.
Fixed Quote
You get a fixed price before any work starts, whether it is a pump repair, a replacement or a new connection.
Install, Test & Certify
We do the work, run the system on tank and on mains to check it changes over, and provide a Certificate of Compliance for the plumbing.
Related Pages
Common Questions
FAQs
Do I need a licensed plumber to connect a rainwater tank?
To connect a tank to your home's plumbing, yes. In NSW that is plumbing work, and a tank connected to a toilet, washing machine or hot water system also needs a NSW Fair Trading inspection, booked by the plumber. You should get a Certificate of Compliance at the end.
What does a rain-to-mains switching device do?
It supplies the connected fixtures, such as toilets and the laundry, from the tank while there is water in it, and switches to mains water when the tank runs low or the pump stops. Without one, toilets connected to an empty tank stop refilling.
Why does my tank pump keep turning on and off?
Short-cycling usually means a small leak on the tank-water pipework, a running toilet cistern, a faulty pressure switch or a pressure vessel that has lost its charge. Check for dripping taps and running cisterns first, then call a plumber.
Do I need a backflow device for my rainwater tank?
It depends on the property. Sydney Water treats above-ground rainwater tanks as low hazard, and below-ground tanks need a specific device. A licensed plumber assesses what your property needs when the tank is connected.
Can you fix a pump that someone else installed?
Yes. We work on existing tank pumps and switching devices, and we will tell you honestly whether a repair is worth it or a replacement makes more sense.
How often should a first-flush diverter be cleaned?
Sydney Water suggests every three to six months, or after heavy rain. A blocked diverter can stop the tank filling or send dirty water in.
What Sydney Customers Say
Absolute legend. Turned up on time, sorted the problem quickly and didn’t charge a fortune. Super easy to deal with and cleaned up after the job too. Will definitely be using him again and would happily recomme…
Excellent service from start to finish. Chris was professional, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain everything clearly before starting the job. He worked efficiently, kept the area clean, and made sure…
Turned up on time and honest service, couldn’t ask for much more.
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