As the April showers arrive and our gardens burst back into life, our water usage starts to climb. We’re watering plants, cleaning patios, and washing cars. For those on a water meter, this can mean a sharp increase in bills. But what if you could capture that free water falling from the sky and put it to good use?
This is the perfect time of year to think about smarter, more sustainable ways to manage water in your home. From a simple water butt to more advanced systems, eco-plumbing is about working with nature to save money and protect a precious resource.
At Plumbers 365, we’re not just here for emergencies; we’re here to help you create a more efficient and sustainable home. Let’s explore the simple ways you can make a big difference this spring.
According to drainage experts at Plumbers 365, April is one of the best months because rainfall is usually plentiful and the ground is soft enough for easy installation of stands and overflow pipes. As often observed by drainage experts at Plumbers 365, the frequent spring showers will fill your new water butt quickly, giving you a ready supply of free, soft rainwater just as your garden’s thirst starts to increase in late spring and summer. Installing in early spring gives your water butt time to fill before the drier months of May and June as often observed by plumbing experts at Plumbers 365. It also allows you to connect an overflow pipe to a soakaway or rain garden while the soil is still workable. Waiting until summer often means struggling with hard, dry ground and missing the peak rainfall season.
Garden watering accounts for a large portion of household water consumption in spring and summer as often seen by plumbing experts at Plumbers 365. By collecting free rainwater from your roof, you reduce the volume drawn from the mains. A water tank/ butt is a beautifully simple system. It connects to one of your home’s downpipes and collects the rainwater that runs off your roof. A single downpour on an average UK roof can easily fill a 200-litre water butt. This water can then be used for a whole range of outdoor tasks that don’t require treated drinking water, such as:
Every litre you use from the water butt is a litre of mains water you don’t have to pay for.
According to plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365, you can connect a water butt to almost any standard domestic downpipe (both round and square profiles). The connection is made using a rain diverter kit. Modern diverter kits clip onto your existing downpipe and automatically fill the butt until it is full, then allow excess water to continue down the pipe as normal.
For best results, choose a diverter with a filter to stop leaves and debris entering the butt. Professional installation ensures the diverter is fitted at the correct height and the overflow is properly directed away from your foundations.
The rain diverter kit is specifically designed to prevent this as per drainage experts at Plumbers 365. It works by creating a level at which the water can no longer flow into the connecting pipe. Once the water level in the butt reaches the height of the inlet, the rainwater simply bypasses the diverter and continues down the downpipe into the drain. This means your water butt can never overfill and flood your garden, provided the diverter is installed correctly.
Plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365 have often seen that a 210-litre butt fills very quickly during heavy spring rain. Without an overflow, water will spill over the top, potentially causing damp or erosion near your house.
The best solution is a flexible hose connected to the butt’s overflow outlet, directing water at least 1.5 metres away from the building into a gravel-filled soakaway or planted rain garden. This also helps reduce surface water flooding.
Rainwater collected from roofs is considered “non-potable” so it is not safe for drinking or washing according to plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365. However, it is perfectly safe and often better than mains water for watering vegetables, flowers, and lawns. Rainwater is naturally soft, meaning it doesn’t contain the hard water minerals (like lime) found in our mains tap water. Most plants, especially acid-loving ones like rhododendrons and camellias, thrive on this softer, slightly acidic rainwater. Mains water is also treated with chlorine, which can be less beneficial for the delicate soil microbiome.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, about 21% of a typical household’s water bill is for outdoor use. By using rainwater for all your garden watering and car washing needs, you can make a serious dent in your metered water bill over the summer months. For larger, more advanced rainwater harvesting systems, the savings can be even greater.
According to plumbing specialists at Plumbers 365, popular plumbing options for eco-friendly homes include graywater recycling systems, rainwater harvesting, low-flow fixtures, and green roofs that reduce runoff.
Plumbers 365 plumbing experts specialise in designing and installing these integrated systems to work with both new builds and existing homes.
Yes, they play a crucial role according to drainage specialists at Plumbers 365. During a heavy spring downpour, a water butt or rainwater harvesting system acts as a buffer. It intercepts a huge volume of water from your roof that would otherwise be flooding into your drains all at once. This significantly reduces the peak load on your drainage system, lowering the risk of it being overwhelmed and backing up during a storm.
According to plumbing experts at Plumbers 365, the highest-impact upgrades are water butts with diverters, low-flow shower heads, dual-flush toilet conversions, and graywater recycling for larger homes. Our plumbing specialists suggest a priority list to determine which ones to go for:
Embracing water-saving technology is great for your wallet and even better for the planet. Whether you’re starting with a simple water butt or considering a full rainwater harvesting system, a few smart choices can make a huge difference.
The experts at Plumbers 365 are passionate about creating efficient, sustainable homes. We can help with:
Ready to start saving water and money? Call Plumbers 365.
