Stainless But Not Rainless: Should You Choose A Stainless Steel Water Tank For Your Rainwater Collection System?
Posted on: 10 April 2018
Water is the most valuable resource on earth, and collecting your own supply of precious water without having to rely entirely on centralised, privately run sources can be a tremendous boon for any household. Using a rainwater collection system can also help you save on your energy bills, and is excellent for the environment as a whole since you will draw less water from aquifers and other limited sources.
However, no rainwater collection system is complete without a tank to store the collected water in, and when it comes to tank materials, the number of choices on offer can be overwhelming. Stainless steel tanks are one of the best choices for rainwater collection systems, and they have a number of attractive advantages over tanks made of aluminium, polyurethane and other commonly used materials. However, stainless steel also has some drawbacks, so you should make sure that it's the right material for your needs before investing in a stainless steel tank.
What are the advantages of choosing a stainless steel rainwater tank?
Longevity
A stainless steel water tank is practically immune to the ravages of time and will last for decades without any appreciable drop in structural strength or durability. Stainless steel tanks do not rust like conventional steel tanks or perish in intense sunlight like some plastic and fibreglass tanks, making them a superb long-term solution.
Durability
Stainless steel tanks can also weather a physical beating remarkably well and will not crack or spring leaks, even when faced with heavy collisions (such as falling tree branches and roof tiles). This makes them an excellent choice if you do not have a sheltered, indoor location in which to store your rainwater tanks, a problem commonly faced by owners of high-capacity collection systems.
Do not contaminate water
If you intend to filter your collected rainwater to the point where it is potable, plastic or fibreglass tanks can be poor choices, as their interior surfaces must be lined with food-grade resin liners to make the water safe to drink. Stainless steel is much more suited to collecting water for eventual consumption, as it does not leech contaminants into the water it stores.
Excellent size-to-capacity ratios
Because stainless steel is so strong, the walls of a stainless steel tank tend to be much thinner than those of a plastic or fibreglass tank. As such, a stainless steel tank has more internal capacity than a plastic or fibreglass tank of identical size, making stainless steel much more space-efficient.
What are the disadvantages of choosing a stainless steel rainwater tank?
Cost
Unfortunately, all of these great advantages come at a price, and stainless steel is one of the most expensive rainwater tank materials around. Excellent longevity makes these tanks a long-term investment, but they still require a significant short-term outlay.
Target for thieves
Stainless steel is particularly prized as a scrap metal, and some unscrupulous sorts may attempt to steal part or all of a stainless steel rainwater tank that can be seen from outside your property. You are better off finding a more secluded location for your tank if you choose stainless steel.
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