Stainless Steel Rain Tanks Built To Last

2017 - Volume #41, Issue #5, Page #39

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Nell Wheeler is a plumber who installed a rain collection tank for herself 15 years ago. Then she started installing them for friends. That led to a business with her husband, Dean, making stainless steel rain tanks that are built to last.
    “We’ve been building them since 2013,” says Nell. “A lot of our customers wanted metal tanks. We tried galvanized steel, but they rust out, plus you have to put a coating of epoxy on the inside, and it’s unpleasant to work with and hazardous to apply.”
    While one option was poly tanks, Dean says they can be short-lived. “Stainless steel manufacturers project at least a 150-year life expectancy.”
    Nell adds that while polyethylene tanks seldom get recycled, the steel they use is certified as having 92 percent recycled content.
    Nell says the tanks are most often used for irrigation, noting that gardening was why she installed her first tank. She explains that the tanks are assembled in their facility with all needed fixtures in place. If a pump is going to be needed, the tank is designed with that in mind.
    “When people contact us, we ask what the end use of the water will be, size of tank, type of overflow desired, and any special fittings needed,” says Nell. “We can help size the tank by application and design the overflow so it won’t be an eyesore.”
    The Wheelers recommend installing a diversion in the water system to take debris out of the water before it reaches the tank. “We have put diversion systems inside the tank, but it is more expensive and less effective,” says Dean.
    With a diversion in place, cleaning out a tank that has been properly installed is seldom needed. Nell has seen 15-year-old tanks that have only a tiny amount of sediment.
    Water tanks need a solid base. “If you’re not pouring concrete, we suggest crushed granite or any hard rock.    Don’t use pea gravel because it doesn’t lock together for a firm base.”
    The Wheelers started out selling rain tanks in the Houston area, but have since sold them throughout the U.S. and as far away as Puerto Rico. Standard tanks vary from a 3-ft. dia., 150–gal. tank for $665 to a 7-ft. dia., 2,400-gal. tank priced at $3,535.
    Options include prefiltration, mosquito screening, pumps, valves, rock rings and level indicator. Custom sizes are available.
    Tanks over 500 gal. in size are shipped upright. Tanks taller than 7 ft. must be shipped on an open trailer.
    All tanks are manufactured to order and built by hand. They can take up to 4 weeks to be delivered, depending on the time of the year.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Metal Rain Tanks, P.O. Box 21534, Houston, Texas 77226 (ph 832 630-9556; Info@MetalRainTanks.com; www.metalraintanks.com).

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Stainless Steel Rain Tanks Built To Last Nell Wheeler is a plumber who installed a rain collection tank for herself 15 years ago Then she started installing them for friends That led to a business with her husband Dean making stainless steel rain tanks that are built to last “We’ve been building them since 2013 ” says Nell “A lot of our customers wanted metal tanks We tried galvanized steel but they rust out plus you have to put a coating of epoxy on the inside and it’s unpleasant to work with and hazardous to apply ” While one option was poly tanks Dean says they can be short-lived “Stainless steel manufacturers project at least a 150-year life expectancy ” Nell adds that while polyethylene tanks seldom get recycled the steel they use is certified as having 92 percent recycled content Nell says the tanks are most often used for irrigation noting that gardening was why she installed her first tank She explains that the tanks are assembled in their facility with all needed fixtures in place If a pump is going to be needed the tank is designed with that in mind “When people contact us we ask what the end use of the water will be size of tank type of overflow desired and any special fittings needed ” says Nell “We can help size the tank by application and design the overflow so it won’t be an eyesore ” The Wheelers recommend installing a diversion in the water system to take debris out of the water before it reaches the tank “We have put diversion systems inside the tank but it is more expensive and less effective ” says Dean With a diversion in place cleaning out a tank that has been properly installed is seldom needed Nell has seen 15-year-old tanks that have only a tiny amount of sediment Water tanks need a solid base “If you’re not pouring concrete we suggest crushed granite or any hard rock Don’t use pea gravel because it doesn’t lock together for a firm base ” The Wheelers started out selling rain tanks in the Houston area but have since sold them throughout the U S and as far away as Puerto Rico Standard tanks vary from a 3-ft dia 150–gal tank for $665 to a 7-ft dia 2 400-gal tank priced at $3 535 Options include prefiltration mosquito screening pumps valves rock rings and level indicator Custom sizes are available Tanks over 500 gal in size are shipped upright Tanks taller than 7 ft must be shipped on an open trailer All tanks are manufactured to order and built by hand They can take up to 4 weeks to be delivered depending on the time of the year Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Metal Rain Tanks P O Box 21534 Houston Texas 77226 ph 832 630-9556; Info@MetalRainTanks com; www metalraintanks com

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