When it rains, water flows through the roof and the water inlet into the cistern, water tank or water barrel. Rainwater also carries pollen, bird droppings, leaves and other organic substances from the roof into the cistern. Filters can collect the coarser dirt.
Requirements and problems of clogged gutters
In general, it is very important to prevent large particles from entering the gutters throughout the year. In rural areas, the location of the house plays an important role in the decision. If you live near a tree, forest or other vegetation, annual gutter cleaning is inevitable. In addition, the basic problem of leaf clogging also has unpleasant consequences. Dead leaves not only clog gutters, but also downspouts, water tanks and pipes, which suffer from the wilting of trees. If you use collected rainwater for watering and rinsing, pumps and domestic water systems can become clogged. The resulting rotten water spreads an unpleasant odor in and around the house. To prevent this, there is the leaf stop, a handy tool that is becoming increasingly popular.
Devices to prevent leaves from going into the rainwater cistern
There are different systems to prevent leaves from going into your tank. Each system can be used alone or in combination with others to minimize the risk of leaves.
Gutter Guards downpipes
If your home is located near trees and there is a lot of leaf litter, it may be useful to install a leaf filter or gutter guard.
Gutter leaf guard
Dead leaves in the gutters are no small matter and can have costly consequences. There are alternatives to time-consuming manual cleaning. Various forms of gutter covers have proven themselves. The requirements for such a cover are simple to define. On the one hand, autumn leaves must be prevented from clogging the gutters, and on the other hand, no sediment must accumulate in the subsequent systems.
Tubular leaf guards for gutters
Gutter protection is commercially available in the form of a tubular net. The leaf guard is ideal for homeowners because it is easy to install and durable. The round polyethylene mesh net is simply pushed into the gutter. It is commercially available in various sizes. It is suitable for sizes 150-180 and 100-125 and can be used for normal, semi-circular and box gutters. It offers optimal protection against leaves and needles thanks to its curvature. Fallen leaves are not only kept out of the gutter, but also slide over the arc and fall to the ground. For installation, the dimensions of the gutter are sufficient. The grates can be connected to any size. For the installation you need a ladder, a measuring tape and a clamp for solid materials. Lee grilles can also be cut to length and mitered using an angle grinder and a fine disc. Once you have the appropriate pieces, you can begin placing them in the gutter. A little pressure from the top will make sure everything is in place. Corners and edges should be mitered at the proper angle to prevent leaves from entering.
The grids to be put on the gutter
These grates are installed with staples on top of the gutter. Depending on the quality of the product, the staples are more or less resistant. These grates are more difficult to install than the tubular grates.
The leaf guard brushes protect the gutter
An interesting alternative to tubular gratings are the leaf guard brushes. They can also be placed in the gutter end to end. Their presence will prevent most solids from flowing into the downspout.
Rain collector
The “rain collector” (also called a rain screen) is now installed in or on the downspout and directs the rainwater directly to the barrel or tank.
A good quality rain collector filters the water from the roof and traps dirt, leaves, insects, etc.
Many rainwater harvesters are designed for roofs of 50 to 80 m².
It is important to incorporate an overflow prevention device that prevents barrels from overflowing.
This ensures that only clean water flows into the barrel.
Most filters can be set to operate in summer or winter.
Tip: The installation height of the rainwater collector in the downspout determines the maximum filling height of the rainwater barrel. It is therefore better to install it a little too high than too low!
For many rainwater harvesters, the existing downpipe can be used. For some models, it is still necessary to drill a hole in the pipe with a hole saw.
Leaf separator with 3P filling function to be placed on the downpipe
This combination of a leaf separator and a water barrel filling machine can be used as a fine filter or as a basket filter, while filling the water barrel. Easy to install.
Graf Rain Screen Pro
Filters impurities from rainwater, automatically fills the rainwater tank and prevents overflow of the full tank. Easy to install. See optional accessories / connection kits available.