Bought a Home With a Rainwater System? Start Here

Plenty of Hill Country homes come with a rainwater system, and plenty of new owners inherit one with no manual, no service records and no idea when the filters were last changed. A system the last owner kept up is a real asset. One that sat untouched for a year is a project. Here's how to tell which you have and get it on track.

Find out what you have

Walk the system from the roof to the faucet and write down what you see:

• The roof. Drinking-water systems should collect from a metal roof. Asphalt shingle roofs aren't suitable for potable collection under Texas guidance.
• Gutters, screens and the first flush diverter. The first flush sends the dirtiest early runoff away from the tank.
• The tank. Size, material, and whether the lid and inlet screens are intact.
• The pump and pressure tank. Note the brand and model.
• Treatment. For drinking water you should find sediment and carbon filters followed by a UV unit. Note the cartridge sizes and the UV model so you buy the right replacements.
• Other water sources. If rainwater ties into a city supply, Texas requires backflow prevention, and most utilities want the device tested every year.

Ask the seller for records

Install date, installer, the last filter and UV lamp change, any water test results and any pump replacements. Even rough dates help. If there are no records, assume nothing has been done recently.

Your first month

• Replace the sediment and carbon cartridges. They're inexpensive, and you don't know how long the old ones have been in.
• Replace the UV lamp unless you have a dated record showing it was changed within the last year. A lamp keeps glowing long after its output drops below what it takes to disinfect. Clean or replace the quartz sleeve at the same time.
• Clean out the first flush diverter and clear the gutters and screens.
• Check the pressure tank air charge and watch the pump for short cycling.
• Test the water once the new filters and lamp are in. A bacteria test for total coliform and E. coli from an accredited lab is the minimum for a drinking-water system.
• Look inside the tank for sediment depth and any gaps where light, insects or small animals can get in.

Learn your water budget

Each inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is a little over 600 gallons before losses. Get a feel for what a normal tank level looks like for your roof and household so a sudden drop, which usually means a leak, stands out. If you run low in a dry summer, have a hauler that delivers potable water lined up before you need one.

We service systems from any brand or installer. A first visit is a good way to get a baseline: we go through every component, replace what's due and leave you with a schedule. Call (512) 829-5800 or request service online, and see how often a rainwater system needs service for the full schedule.