BioSeptic and Sydney Water Tanks FAQs

1. What do I get from your free onsite consultation?

A member of our sales team will contact you directly to organise a suitable time to meet with you at the site of the job.

They will assess your site and discuss what systems would be suitable for you. They will also be able to explain how our tanks and systems work and answer any questions that you have.

If you would like to take the next step after your consultation, they will develop and send you a quote for the tank or system discussed with you.

2. I have my house plans and I need a water tank, now what do I need to do?

By emailing an electronic copy of your house plans, we can help determine the best location and tank model that will best suit your site as well as provide a drainage profile and site plan if they are required by your builder, plumber or local council. Also, one of our team is able to visit your property and advise you further on the best tank model and tank location to winstrol before and after satisfy the site requirements.

3. Do you install my water tank or BioSeptic system?

BioSeptic and Sydney Water Tanks are manufacturing and servicing companies and do not prepare sites for installation i.e. excavation, drainage and electrical services. These preparations and services must be carried out by licensed plumbers and electricians. If required, we can assist you with contractors familiar with AWTS and/or water tanks installations.

4. What happens when my water tank gets installed?

We make the installation process simple. We offer comprehensive instructions and technical support to builders, plumbers and electricians at every stage.

  1. Sydney Water Tanks can provide a site plan and drainage profile determining the best tank model and location on the site.
  2. Once plans are approved by the client and Council, the site is excavated according to the drawings and the tank is delivered.
  3. The drainer/plumber installs the tank, mounts the Rain Switch and connects the pipes.
  4. The electrician connects power to the Rain Switch, and the system is ready to be used.

5. What happens when my BioSeptic system gets installed?

  1. The house plumber or supervisor phones the Distribution Manager to arrange a delivery date and time. An Installation Manual is mailed, faxed or emailed to the plumber. This contains excavation instructions and site requirements for the delivery.
  2. If the plumber has not installed a BioSeptic before, he may receive a phone call from the service manager to discuss the installation procedure, if necessary a BioSeptic representative can be onsite to assist with the first delivery.
  3. The complete BioSeptic system is delivered and installed.
  4. Your plumber connects the system to the house.
  5. Your electrician provides a rough in or connection to the system. Wiring diagrams are delivered with every system.

6. How often do I need to get my BioSeptic AWTS serviced?

The NSW Department of Health requires all systems to be serviced by a suitable technician every three months to monitor and maintain its high quality of operation and provide a report to you and your local council. The first year’s servicing by BioSeptic’s technicians is included in the price. At the end of the first year BioSeptic’s service team will automatically provide a service agreement for the next year. BioSeptic’s service technicians are employees, not sub-contractors. This provides a better level of service to ensure your system is maintained to the accreditation performance standard.

Are you looking for high quality, easy to clean stock troughs?

If you are, then look no further! We sell high quality stock troughs right here at Sydney Water Tanks and BioSeptic.

High quality stock troughs:

  • Made from 40mpa steel fibre reinforced concrete to ensure strength and durability
  • Are low maintenance and easy to clean with an easy drain channel
  • Concrete keeps the water in the stock troughs cool
  • Each stock trough includes a 4 x 1.3 tonne lifters and a 25mm brass threaded inlet

Stock trough dimensions:

  • 1500L capacity
  • Approximately 1100kgs
  • Width: 1935mm
  • Height: 700mm
  • Thickness: 70mm walls, 80mm base

Contact us 1800 041 111 or 1300 658 111 to find out more about our stock troughs.

5 top tips to help keep your home warm this winter

With the cooler months upon us, one of the most important things is to keep your home and your family warm. Taking action to stop cold air entering your home, and to stop warm air leaving, is one of the key ways to save energy and money. Living Greener has provided some helpful ideas that will help you have the greatest impact.

1. Draught proof your home

Draught-proofing your home is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to keep your home warm and comfy as well as save energy and money. In fact, draught-proofing your home can save you up to a quarter of your heating bills.
Draughts can occur anywhere where there are gaps in the construction of your home, letting cold air in or warm air escape. Look for gaps around your doors, windows, architraves, along skirting boards, and between floorboards. Here are some draught-proofing activities you can do yourself:

  • To fill the gap between windows and frames, you can buy adhesive foam strips. You can select from a range of options at the hardware store. Another option is metal or plastic strips with brushes or wipers attached. These cost a little more but will last longer. Make sure you measure the gap between the window and the frame so the strip is the right width to do the job properly. If you have sliding sash windows, it’s best to fit brush strips or consult a professional.
  • Block the gap at the bottom of doors to the outside with a brush or hinged flap draught-stopper and fill the gaps around doors with the foam strips available from the hardware store. For the inside, you can use a sand-filled or fabric ‘sausage’ draught-stopper. Choose from colourful designs available in gift shops or make your own from fabric that you may already have at home.
  • For some areas, such as chimneys or around electrical fittings, you may need to seek expert advice.
  • Be careful in areas which need good ventilation such as rooms with open fires or unflued gas heaters, or rooms where lots of moisture is produced, like kitchens and bathrooms. Ventilation keeps air in your home fresh, dry and healthy so don’t block air vents and fans in these rooms.

2. Make sure your home is insulated

If you haven’t already insulated your home, now is the time to think about it having it installed. Not only will it make your home a lot more comfortable to live in, insulation can make some really dramatic savings in heating costs. Up to half the energy we use to heat our homes in winter can simply leak out through ceilings, walls and floors. Lots of Australians are sitting in rooms that are colder than they need to be.

There are many types of insulation available and their suitability depends on where you live, the type of roof, and whether you need to keep winter heat in or summer heat out or both. Start by doing some research about insulation and installation options; then talk to an expert to find out what’s best for your home, climate and individual circumstances.

It’s important to have insulation installed safely according to Australian standards and by someone with expert knowledge.

3. Keep in the heat

Windows can let as much as 40 per cent of your winter warmth sneak out of your home, but there are ways to improve window efficiency. Here are a few tips to help window treatments keep in the heat.

  • Curtains and blinds can make a surprising difference in keeping your home warm, as well as giving you privacy and looking great. Look for fabrics that insulate well, for example heavy fabrics or curtains with thermal lining or layers. Choose the best quality you can afford to give you the best thermal results.
  • Fitted pelmets above new or existing curtains are important in reducing heat loss. If pelmets don’t fit with your interior design, choose window fittings such as blinds that attach to the wall and trap air flow or install curtains that reach to the ceiling. For a simple do-it-yourself and low cost option, try fitting a strip of light wood across the curtain rail above the curtain to stop heat leaking away.
  • Installing glazing on windows or skylights is another option which will increase energy efficiency by trapping a layer of air and helping to keep the cold air at bay. It also reduces outside noise.
  • Double glazing can be expensive to retrofit but there are cheaper commercial alternatives as well as secondary glazing products that involve a thin plastic coating you can affix to windows yourself at a low cost. Check out what’s available in your hardware store.

4. Use energy efficient lighting

As the days begin to get shorter and cooler, we tend to spend more hours inside and have the lights burning longer each day. If you haven’t already done so, consider switching to energy-efficient lighting options. Did you know that most homes could halve the amount of energy used for lighting by making smarter lighting choices and using more efficient technologies? That can add up to a lot of dollar savings throughout the year.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can easily replace any inefficient incandescent lights you may have in your home. While CFLs cost a little more up front, they last a lot longer than the older style globes, are much cheaper to run, and now come in a range of shapes, colours and sizes. Tubular lamps (florescent tubes) are another good option for kitchens, garages and workshops. Try solar powered lights along your driveway or for garden lighting. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are a new highly efficient if you are building or renovating as they can last up to 50,000 hours. As the technology improves and demand increases, costs will come down.

5. Maintain your heating systems

Keeping your heating system properly maintained will help it operate more efficiently and last longer. Check your instruction manual for guidance or contact your supplier or manufacturer for advice.

Share this article with your friends to make sure they are keeping their home warm this winter.

This article was first published on LivingGreener.gov.au and reposted on https://www.sydneywatertanks.com.au/industry-updates/ and www.bioseptic.com.au

Top 10 tips to save energy in the colder months

 

We all know that along with the cold weather we often see higher electricity bills. You will be happy to know that there are a few smart (and free) energy choices you can make around your home which will help you save energy and money around your home. Not only will these choices reduce power bills, you are also helping the environment.

10 free things you can do now

Living Greener lists the top ten things households can adopt to reduce power bills.

1. Dress for the season

One of the easiest ways to save money in winter is to turn down the heater and put on some warmer clothes. This doesn’t mean dressing for the Antarctic – it means putting on a jumper before you crank up the temperature.

Reaching for a jumper instead of the thermostat is important when you realise that each additional degree adds between 5 and 10 per cent to your energy use. So the savings from pulling on another warm layer can add up to big cash savings this winter.

While you’re at it, dress your bed for the season too by putting on an additional blanket.

2. Shut the door on wasted energy

Trying to heat the whole house can waste a lot of money. Shut the door to areas you aren’t using (like bathrooms and the laundry) and only heat the rooms you’re using.

3. Turn it off

Turn off your heaters before going to bed and when you’re leaving the house – it’s cheaper and it’s safer too.

House fires are more common in winter, so why not consider doing a quick online fire safety audit to reduce your risks.

4. Let the sun shine in

Solar panels may not be suitable for every home and budget but you could still be using the free power from the sun. Open your curtains when the sun is shining on them and close the curtains when the sun moves away. Using the sun’s energy will help boost the temperature for free.

5. Don’t use the shower to warm up

Hot water accounts for a large chunk of your power bill – about one quarter of the average bill – so try to avoid the temptation of using the shower to get warm.

Staying in the shower uses up to 20 times as much energy as getting out and standing under two heat lamps instead. Even a few extra minutes in the shower will add to your power bill.

6. Rug up

During winter’s coldest months, many of us chill out indoors watching TV, playing our gaming consoles or cooking a hearty meal. Staying in has an energy price tag – adding to our home energy bills.

There are heaps of ways to have fun ‘unplugged’ – break out the board games and don’t forget to turn off your entertainment gadgets when you’re not using them.

To reduce the overall energy you use while watching TV, use a blanket before turning up the heat.

7. Be active and become a ‘swapper’

Swapping car trips for walking or cycling is a great way to save money and keep fit during the winter months. Join in and become a swapper family.

It makes good sense to walk instead of using your car for short journeys. Cars cost a lot of money to run, especially when you’re paying for petrol, maintenance and the upfront cost of buying a car (or a second car).

People powered transport is good for the environment, good for your health and good for your wallet too!

8. Use a solar clothes dryer

Clothes dryers are very convenient – but remember you are paying for this convenience. Rather than automatically putting your clothes into the dryer, use free energy from the sun and the wind to dry your clothes whenever you can.

You can put clothes racks out in the sun and fresh air on verandahs or dry clothes indoors on a rack when the heater is already on.

9. Turn off gadgets and appliances

Did you know that home entertainment systems and electronic gadgets are quietly adding to your power bills? Up to 10 per cent of the electricity used in your home is used on gadgets that are plugged in on standby. TVs, DVD and video players, game consoles, mobile phone chargers, microwave ovens, MP3 docks and stereos are some of the biggest culprits. You may not realise that your phone charger is still using energy even when your phone is not plugged in.

Check that you’re using appliances efficiently and turn off unused appliances at the wall. Unplugging these gadgets can save you quite a bit of money on your energy bill all year round.

10. Waste not, Want not

Worldwide, 30 per cent of our food goes to waste. In New South Wales that means the average family throws out more than $1,000 in wasted food every year.

As well as costing you money, this food ends up in our garbage bins and in our tips where it produces methane – a harmful greenhouse gas that’s 21 times stronger than the emissions from your car.

Much of the food waste in our kitchens comes from poor planning or from buying too much food so use shopping lists and check your pantry and fridge regularly to ensure you use up what’s there.

Why not share this article with someone who you think would like to live greener this winter.

This article was first published on LivingGreener.gov.au and reposted on www.sydneywatertanks.com.au/archive and www.bioseptic.com.au

Image from: http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/lifestyle-guides/winter#ten_free_things_you_can_do_now

 

Maximising and managing water in the colder months

Now that the weather is getting cooler and winter is approaching, it is important to start thinking about what you can do to ensure that you can maximise your rainwater for when the warmer seasons come back around. It is important to remember that rainwater can be used instead of mains drinking water for a number of activities in the home, including your toilet cisterns and outdoor taps.

By installing a rainwater tank in your home, you could start saving around 50% of your domestic town water. For example, a toilet can use up to 12L per flush so installing a rainwater tank to toilet system can lead to major water savings.

There are many things you can do around your home all year around to make sure you get the most out of your rainwater tank and continue to save money. Consider some of the following tips to help you maximise rainwater harvesting:

  • One of the main uses for your rainwater tank is in your garden. During the rainy seasons when the garden doesn’t need as much watering, your rainwater tank can be connected to the house and used for toilet flushing and in some cases in the laundry as well. This can save you money all year round. You can also use it to wash your car.
  • Keep up the general maintenance of your rainwater tank:
    • Prevent debris entering the storm water system draining into the rainwater tank by:
      • Keeping gutters free of debris such as leaves and twigs and vermin
      • Fitting proprietary leaf guards in the gutter to keep leaves out of the gutter
      • Fitting a leaf guard rain head to each downpipe will stop roof debris entering the stormwater system. These can be fitted about two metres from the ground on two storey houses to make them easier to clean
      • Engaging a professional gutter cleaning company to clean gutters with a powerful vacuum cleaner is the easiest way
  • Lead-based paint and flashing, or tar-based coatings found on some roofs affect
  • water quality. Make sure your roof material is non-toxic.
  • Make sure tank water is aerated, so it will not become stagnant.
  • Clean the inside of the tank every few years, as sediment will accumulate.

Rainwater tanks generally require little maintenance, however following these small steps will help you maximise the water usage from your rainwater tank.

For more information on rainwater tanks, contact Sydney Water Tanks on 1800 041 111 today.

Source: www.savewater.com.au

Recycling water in your home saves you money and is environmentally friendly

When considering the growing need to preserve water, there are a number of ways in which water can be recycled and reused around your home, these include recycling wastewater and recycling rainwater.

Recycling wastewater

Reusing household wastewater to water gardens or lawns can help save hundreds of litres of fresh water each day. Recycling wastewater for irrigation on single household properties has the potential to not only save significant amounts of drinking water, but also to save on the application of fertilisers to gardens and lawns, which ultimately saves you money.

The NSW Department of Health states that there are three types of household wastewater:

  1. Black water – this is wastewater that is generated from a toilet, it is heavily and directly contaminated with human waste.
  2. Grey water – this is wastewater which does not come from a toilet and includes wastewater from a hand basin, shower, laundry and kitchen.
  3. Sewage – this is a combination of both black water and grey water.

With proper treatment both grey water and black water can be put to good use. Grey water can be used as water in your laundry and for toilet flushing. Both treated grey water and black water are a great source of nutrients when irrigating your lawn and garden. It is important to note that recycled black water is not suitable for use with food producing plants.

Two major benefits of recycled wastewater are:

  • Reducing the need for fresh water. Saving on fresh water use can significantly reduce household water bills, but also has a broader community benefit in reducing demands on public water supply.
  • Reducing the amount of wastewater entering sewers or on-site treatment systems. Again, this can benefit the individual household, but also the broader community.

If you are considering recycling your household wastewater to reuse in your garden, you need an onsite domestic wastewater management system. These systems are required if your home is not connected to the town sewer line. Onsite single domestic wastewater management systems collect sewage or components such as grey water, where they are then fully treated for utilisation or reuse within the property boundaries.

One onsite domestic wastewater management system that will allow you to do this is an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS). A BioSeptic AWTS treats household sewage (black water and grey water) and recycles it as treated effluent that can then be reused in your garden. Wastewater is treated and recycled to the property where it is produced, rather than moving the waste problem to a town sewage treatment plant. If you install a BioSeptic AWTS in your home, it means that you will pay for your water once and use it twice. It is an economical and environmentally solution.

An AWTS is just one onsite wastewater management system available. To find out what other options are available to you, click here and read about Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS).

For more information on how you can install an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) in your new or existing home, contact BioSeptic today on 1300 658 111.

Recycling rainwater

If you are connected to the town sewer line and don’t need an onsite sewage treatment system, there is a way for you to recycle and reuse water around your home too. You can collect and reuse rainwater by installing a rainwater tank. Rainwater collected by a rainwater tank can be connected to your outdoor taps and toilet cisterns. This will allow you to reuse rainwater to flush your toilets, wash your car or water your garden, where you would usually be using (and paying for) towns water. This will help you save money and be environmentally friendly. To find out more about the benefits of rainwater tanks, click here to read our “Benefits of water tanks for new homes” article.

A rainwater tank from Sydney Water Tanks is installed underground which gives you more space for recreation and leaves no tank in view.

For more information on how you can install rainwater tanks in your home, contact Sydney Water Tanks today on 1800 041 111.

Source: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au
Image source: http://sourceable.net/perth-takes-the-lead-in-water-recycling-and-efficiency/