Rainwater tanks and frost.

[JD6920s]

What do you do about rainwater tanks and frost?
Got two tanks linked here and don’t really want to let it down the drain as we might get a dry spring, fingers crossed, if I turn the taps off, wrap with seed bags to protect and drain the line, would the bulk in the tanks and the taps be ok do you think? 22,000 litres each.

 

[Wheatland]

That's what I do and it seems to have worked for last few years.

 

[Gadget]

I have put gate valves on our tanks and we can then drain the line after that point.
Ball type taps/valves trap water in them when they are turned off so they will need heavily insulating.

 

[Jerry]

Only had a problem in the beast from the east winter when we got down to minus 13 for a few nights.

In normal conditions the water mass acts as a heat sink and keeps things ok. Even the connecting pipes stayed unfrozen

 

[JD6920s]

Only had a problem in the beast from the east winter when we got down to minus 13 for a few nights.

In normal conditions the water mass acts as a heat sink and keeps things ok. Even the connecting pipes stayed unfrozen

This is what I was thinking, and hoping.
Thanks

 

[Robert K]

This is what I was thinking, and hoping.
Thanks

My thoughts exactly with 60000 litres stored up

 

[Farmer Roy]

you might have issues with any exposed pipework or taps / valves, but the tanks themselves will be fine

rain water tanks & storage are just taken for granted here, everyone does it & always has . . .

our winters can get down to - 7 C, but there are plenty of places in Australia that get a lot colder

 

[Brisel]

I've had metal ball valves split in frost but that's all. Now I just insulate the valves well if I don't want to drain the mains water tanks down.

Have a look at trace water pipe heaters https://www.traceheatinguk.co.uk/self-regulating-trace-heating-cable