I plan to make a splashback for a kitchen bench from used hardwood and I’m trying to choose a clear timber finish for it, preferably oil or wax. The splashback…

Thanks for your reply SaveH2O.
You said "I do not consider a 50mm gap between a downpipe and the mesh to be sufficient for most downpipes, particularly a PVC-u 90mm or…

Save H2O, I was just reading your article in Renew magazine (#127), in which you said to leave enough room between the downpipe and the mesh on the leaf…

Re what I was told about root inhibitor in DWV pipes, I think the person who told me that was mistaken. I spoke today to people from 2 pipe…

Sounds like the pump has a pressure tank
Yes it does.
Regulations state that the tank overflow must be mosquito proofed. there are also other things that can get up drainpipes.
We're now…

Another question on a different angle: We plan to use an old pressure pump, and our plumber said we might want to think about the health aspects of the…

So I guess that means we should have mosquito mesh on the tank overflow outlet, as I imagine it would be impractical to put it instead at the end of…

Thanks again for your info, SaveH2O. We'll try and get the inlets as far away from the outlets to the pump as we can.
I do have some concerns re…

Should we try and get the outlets as far away from the inlets going to the pump as we can? Is the water from the outlet dirtier if they…

Thanks, SaveH20. Hopefully this will be bigger.

I'm trying to post a diagram on for the outlets and inlets for the tanks, to see if there are any comments, and I'm not sure if the diagram will…

Thanks again SaveH2O.
You asked: “Are you having any sort of filtration?” No, we’re not.
You said “I know of one manufacturer that does certify their uPVC stormwater pipe to AS/NZS4020”…

Thanks for your answers SaveH2O.
It was a low restriction inlet (not outlet) I meant to ask about, re "Having mosquito proof leaf diverters also allows you to fit a low…

Thanks for your further info, H2O.
I have some more questions:
Stewie, I’m puzzled about a couple captions in your diagram:
“Anaerobic sludge layer in base of tank to assist water…

Some more questions, H2O, and anyone else who’d like to contribute:
What is better about oxygenated water?
“the sediment layer and resultant anaerobic zone”: I’m wondering how the anaerobic layer results…

Thanks very much for the detailed reply, Save H2O.
I'm still struggling to get a drawing done and posted, so I'll try to describe our system in words:
The roof is fairly…

It might help if I post a drawing of our set up. Can anyone tell me how to do this (with a drawing done in Word)?

Thanks very much for all the helpful comments. Thanks for making the time when you were busy, Save H2O.
Stewie , the tanks will be 2.35m high. Do you…

We're about to get two 15,000L stainless steel rainwater tanks. We'll use the water for drinking/cooking, watering plants and flushing the toilet via a pump (external). We want to avoid…

I'd like to understand more about primer. Some undercoats have it in and some don't. What is priming? How does it differ from sealing? A rep…

I'm getting some internal glazed doors made of Pacific Beech (Vitex cofassus) and I'm wondering what finish to put on them. I don't like the look of paint, which…

Wandin Valley, you mention "lower quality cast valve bodys". Can you tell me some more about this? What is the valve body? Is it the bonnet (which…

I've clarified a few points since my last post after a visit to Reece. I thought the mixer was the spout between a hot and cold taps that mixed…

I've got the same dilemma as the original poster. My plumber recommended my local hardware which stocks Intro taps by Faucet Strommen, made in Kerang, with some German parts.…

Thanks, Robbie.
"one had a gold tin and Low Odour listed on it" Would this be Haymes?
On the windows and doors, did you use matte paint recommended for…

I'm trying to work out what sort of paint to use on a new house. As well as minimising cost and being pleased with how it looks, I want…

Tintac, did you end up installing Smartflo gutters? If so, what's your experience been? Or anyone else? I'm trying to decide whether to use them for a…

We want to avoid penetrations through our slab, to minimise the risk of termites entering via plumbing, so we plan to have all plumbing going through walls rather than the…