Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions Rain Harvesters ask most often. Browse common queries about our products, system setup, and ongoing maintenance.
Common questions
Can I link multiple rain barrels together to increase storage?
Yes. The Rain Barrel Linking Kit lets you connect two rain barrels together to increase your storage capacity. As your requirements grow, you can add more rain barrels and additional linking kits to expand your system.
Can I use it on a pressurised system?
No. The 3-Way Water Diverter is designed for non-pressurised, free-draining systems such as rainwater, stormwater, and greywater applications.
Can I use it with liquids other than rainwater?
It is designed and tested for use with rainwater only. It has not been tested with other liquids such as bore water, fuel, or chemicals.
Can I use it with liquids other than rainwater?
It is designed and tested for use with rainwater only. It has not been tested with other liquids such as bore water, fuel, or chemicals.
Can I use it with liquids other than rainwater?
It is designed and tested for use with rainwater only. It has not been tested with other liquids such as bore water, fuel, or chemicals.
Can I use the Longreach Tank Gauge with liquids other than rainwater?
The Longreach Tank Gauge is designed for use with water. It has not been tested with other liquids such as fuel or chemicals.
Can I use the Side Wall Express with liquids other than rainwater?
The Side Wall Express is designed for use with water. It has not been tested with other liquids such as fuel or chemicals.
Can I use the Side Wall Guided with liquids other than rainwater?
The Side Wall Guided is designed for use with water. Because the counterweight is housed within the external guide pole, only the float (made from UPVC) is in contact with the contents of the tank, which makes the gauge suitable for use with other liquids. Contact us to confirm suitability for your specific use case.
Can I use the Tank Gauge with liquids other than rainwater?
No. The Tank Gauge is designed and tested for use with rainwater only. It has not been tested with other liquids such as bore water, fuel, or chemicals.
Can I use the Tank Gauge XL with liquids other than rainwater?
No. The Tank Gauge XL is designed and tested for use with rainwater only. It has not been tested with other liquids such as bore water, fuel, or chemicals.
Do I need a tank to use it?
No. It is a standalone rain gauge that measures how much rain falls on your property, so it does not need to be connected to a tank. You mount it out in the open on a fence post or star picket.
Do I need more than one rain gauge?
It depends on the size of your property. For most homes, one rain gauge is enough to give a reliable picture of rainfall. On larger properties, multiple rain gauges can help you understand how rainfall varies across different areas, useful for paddocks, dams, or roofs that are far apart. You can monitor multiple gauges from one Rain Harvesting⢠app.
Do I still need a rain head if I'm using a Rain Collection product?
It depends on the product. The Quickfit Diverters don't have a filter inside, so installing a rain head upstream is a good idea if you have a lot of leaves. The Downpipe Diverter Round and the Downpipe Diverter Rectangular both have a coarse strainer to prevent leaves and debris from flowing into your rain barrel. The Clean RainĀ® and Total Rain products are all-in-one solutions that include a rain head as part of the unit.
How accurate is it?
It monitors rainfall to within 0.2 mm under normal conditions, and adjusts for heavier, more intense downpours. You can then track your totals and patterns by day, week, month or year in the Rain Harvesting⢠app.
How do I choose between the Downpipe Diverter Round and the Downpipe Diverter Rectangular?
Choose based on the shape of your downpipe. The Downpipe Diverter Round fits 90mm and 100mm round downpipes. The Downpipe Diverter Rectangular fits 100x50mm and 100x75mm rectangular downpipes. Both have the same flow rate and built-in coarse strainer.
How do I choose the right connectivity for my site?
It comes down to where your tank or gauge is and what coverage your property has. If you are usually nearby, Bluetooth lets you check readings on the app whenever you are in range. To see your levels from anywhere, choose a remote-connected version: Wi-Fi sends your readings over your property's network, a remote-network version keeps you connected on sites without Wi-Fi (this uses a subscription service and depends on coverage in your area), and satellite is built for genuinely off-grid locations with a clear view of the sky. Every option reports into the one Rain Harvesting⢠app, so it is worth checking what coverage is available at your address before you choose.
How is a smart rain gauge different from a basic manual one?
A manual rain gauge gives you a single reading you have to walk out and check, then reset. A smart rain gauge tracks every rainfall event automatically and sends the data to your Rain Harvesting⢠app, so you build up a continuous record without lifting a finger. You can compare current rainfall against historical data and use it alongside tank level data to understand your system's performance.
How is one of these different to setting up a separate rain head and first flush diverter?
The Clean RainĀ® and Total Rain give you the same two functions as a separate rain head and first flush diverter setup: leaves and debris are filtered out, and the first flush of contaminated water is diverted away from your tank. The difference is how the diversion volume is set. The Clean RainĀ® diverts 18 to 30 litres per rain event, depending on conditions. The Total Rain diverts around 20 litres, and can go up to 40 litres, either by choosing the Total Rain Extra Volume version or by switching the internal Carrot component with the separate First Flush Carrot Extra Volume Kit (no tools needed). If you need to divert more than that, a separate first flush diverter sized to your property is the better choice.
I want to start collecting water in a rain barrel from a single downpipe. Which product in this category should I choose?
The Quickfit Diverter is designed for this. It's a compact solution that captures water from a single downpipe and connects to a rain barrel, IBC, or other storage vessel set up right next to the downpipe. Choose the Quickfit Diverter Round for round downpipes or the Quickfit Diverter Rectangular for rectangular ones.
What makes the Longreach Tank Gauge different from other tank gauges?
The Longreach is built for reading your tank level from a distance, even from across a property. A high-visibility indicator sits on a tall stainless steel pole on top of the tank, rising and falling with the water level. Our other tank gauges are designed to be read at the tank itself.
What makes the Tank Gauge XL different from the standard Tank Gauge?
The Tank Gauge XL has a larger dial face for clearer readings from a distance, and a longer string that reaches taller tanks (up to 4 metres, versus 2.5 metres for the standard Tank Gauge).
What's the difference between a 3-Way Water Diverter and a Downpipe Interceptor?
The Downpipe Interceptor is installed on each downpipe and is primarily used to divert water away from your tank when you're washing your roof or after a bushfire. The 3-Way Water Diverter is a manually rotated valve used to direct water between pipes in the dry section of a system, for example switching flow between two outlets. It's not designed for the charged (flooded) section of a wet system.
What's the difference between the Clean Rain products and the Total Rain products?
Both products combine a rain head and a first flush diverter in one unit, and the standard versions divert around the same volume per rain event. The difference is in the mechanism: Clean Rain uses Smart Sense, a stack of hygroscopic washers that swell when wet to close off the valve, while Total Rain uses a spring and bucket arrangement to achieve the same result. Clean Rain also has an on/off switch; Total Rain does not. If you need to divert a higher volume, the Total Rain Extra Volume is a larger option.
What's the difference between the Clean RainĀ® Advanced and the Clean RainĀ® Ultra?
Both combine a rain head and a first flush diverter in one product, with the same Smart Sense mechanism. The difference is the rain head on top: the Advanced uses an open-faced Leaf Eater® Advanced with a Clean Shield⢠screen, while the Ultra uses a Leaf Eater® Ultra with a rounded, partly enclosed cover, a Leaf Slide and a vibrating screen. Both filter leaves and debris in a similar way, so it comes down to which suits your property and the look you prefer.
What's the difference between the Side Wall Express and the Side Wall Guided?
Both gauges install through the top of the tank with a 76 mm hole and show your water level on an external indicator that runs down the side wall. The Side Wall Express uses a counterbalanced float to track the water level. The Side Wall Guided adds a guide pole that holds the indicator steady, making it more resilient to wind and protecting it from damage if animals are nearby. The Guided version is the better choice for exposed sites or livestock properties.
What's the difference between the Side Wall Guided and the Side Wall Express?
Both gauges install through the top of the tank with a 76 mm hole and show your water level on an external indicator that runs down the side wall. The Side Wall Express uses a counterbalanced float to track the water level. The Side Wall Guided adds a guide pole that holds the indicator steady, making it more resilient to wind and protecting it from damage if animals are nearby. The Side Wall Guided is the better choice for exposed sites or livestock properties.
What's the difference between Total Rain and Total Rain Extra Volume?
Both work the same way, with the same Leaf EaterĀ® Stream rain head and Carrot first flush diverter. The difference is the diversion volume: the Total Rain diverts 20 litres by default, while the Total Rain Extra Volume diverts up to 40 litres. Choose the Extra Volume if you have a larger roof catchment or live in a higher-pollution area where more first flush needs to be diverted.
When would I want to buy a Downpipe Diverter Hose Kit separately?
The Downpipe Diverter Hose Kit gives you the high flow 32mm hose connection between your downpipe diverter and your rain barrel. Buy it if you've added a Quickfit Diverter to your system and want the higher flow rate the 32mm hose delivers (up to 1200 litres per hour), or if you need to replace the original hose, clamps, rain barrel outlet, or hole saw.
Which tank gauge is right for me?
It depends on how you'd like to read your level. For a quick check from the side of the tank, look at the Side Wall Express (basic, fast install) or Side Wall Guided (adds a guide pole that resists wind and animal damage). For reading from a distance, the Longreach has an extendable stainless steel pole with a high-visibility orange indicator that rises and falls with your water level. For a large, easy-to-read dial face on top of the tank, choose the Tank Gauge XL. The Standard Tank Gauge is our classic top-mounted option. If you want to track levels, inflows, and outflows over time and check from anywhere, choose a smart gauge.
Need help?
If youāre still having issues, contact a professional plumber or rainwater harvesting expert to inspect and repair your system.