Are my toilets running off rainwater?
Many Sydney homes built or rebuilt in the last twenty years have a rainwater tank connected to the toilets, laundry and garden taps. If you've just bought a place, or never looked closely, you might not know whether yours does. It matters, because tank-fed toilets need a working pump and a clean tank, and when they don't have them you'll get stained bowls, slow-filling cisterns or toilets that stop working. Here's how to tell.
Signs your toilets run off the tank
- There's a rainwater tank on the property with a pump next to it, and pipes from the pump going back towards the house.
- You hear the pump start every time someone flushes.
- Toilet bowls get brown or orange stains that keep coming back.
- There's a changeover device near the pump or tank, a box or valve that switches to mains water when the tank is low.
- The toilets stop filling during a blackout. A pump needs power, though most changeover devices switch to mains when the power goes.
How to check for sure
Turn off the pump
Switch the pump off at its power point and flush a toilet. If the cistern refills from mains through the changeover device, the toilet is plumbed to the tank system.
Look for labels
Rainwater pipes and outlets should be labelled. Garden taps on tank water are often marked "rainwater".
Ask a plumber
We can trace the pipework and tell you exactly which fixtures run on tank water.
What it means for upkeep
- The tank needs its screens and first flush diverter cleaned, and the sludge checked every two to three years. See our rainwater tank guide.
- A filter after the pump stops sediment staining the bowls.
- The pump and changeover device need occasional servicing. See rainwater pump turning on.
We service tanks, pumps and changeover devices, with a fixed price before any work starts. See rainwater tank maintenance.
In southern Eastern Suburbs homes
Newer and rebuilt homes in Pagewood, Eastgardens, Matraville and Little Bay very often have tank-fed toilets and laundries. Many owners only find out when the bowls start staining or the pump fails.
Why locals call us
- Local to Matraville and the southern Eastern Suburbs
- Free on-site quotes, with a fixed price before any work starts
- Lifetime labour warranty on our workmanship
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters (Lic. 398171C)
Common questions
How do I know if my toilet uses rainwater?
If you have a tank and pump, turn the pump off and flush. If the toilet still refills through a changeover device, it's on the tank system. A plumber can confirm it.
Why are my toilet bowls stained if they use tank water?
Sediment and sludge from the tank are reaching the cistern. Cleaning the tank and fitting a filter usually fixes it.
Will my toilets work if the tank is empty?
Usually, yes. A changeover device switches to mains water when the tank runs low, if it's working properly.
Do tank-fed toilets work in a blackout?
Most systems switch to mains when the power goes, but it depends on the changeover device.
Related help: rainwater tank maintenance, rainwater tank guide, rainwater pumps and leaking toilets. Local pages: Pagewood, Eastgardens, Matraville and Little Bay.