need some advice on setting up a rain harvesting setup at home

"no setup is 100% foolproof with pines."

Haha, ain't that the truth. I swear pine needles are nature's glitter - once they're there, good luck getting rid of them completely. I've had decent luck with a similar needle-specific mesh setup, but honestly, I still end up climbing up there a couple times a year to clear things out. Still beats the alternative though... nothing worse than clogged gutters in a downpour.

I've been dealing with pine needles for years - honestly, they're relentless. A few things I've learned from trial and error:

- Standard mesh screens help, but finer stainless steel mesh seems to work better overall.
- Angling the mesh slightly helps needles slide off easier, but some still stick around.
- Regular checks are unavoidable; I climb up at least twice a year to clear stubborn spots.

Bottom line, no system is completely maintenance-free with pines around, but you can definitely minimize the hassle.

Have you tried adding a leaf diverter or first-flush system to your setup? I get that pine needles are a special kind of evil (been there...), but a diverter might at least catch some needles before they even hit your mesh. Won't eliminate the climbing altogether, but could stretch out the time between cleanings. Might be worth experimenting with if you're already tweaking things anyway.

"a diverter might at least catch some needles before they even hit your mesh."

True, diverters can help, but honestly, I've found them to be more trouble than they're worth when it comes to pine needles. Those needles just seem to find their way through anyway, and the diverter itself ends up needing cleaning pretty often. I've seen setups with larger angled screens or even custom-made coarse mesh covers that work better for pine needles specifically. You might consider something like that instead - simpler maintenance overall. Just my two cents after dealing with plenty of clogged diverters over the years...

Yeah, diverters haven't been great in my experience either. Tried a few setups myself - honestly, a simple angled screen with wider spacing worked best. Still gotta clean it occasionally, but way less hassle overall.

Glad to see someone else had a similar experience - diverters can be pretty frustrating, especially when you're trying to keep costs down. I've found that angled screens with slightly larger openings strike a good balance between efficiency and low maintenance. Sure, you lose a tiny bit of water quality, but nothing serious if you're using it for gardening or outdoor chores. Plus, they're easy enough to DIY with basic materials...definitely worth considering if budget's a concern.

I've seen angled screens work pretty well too, but one thing to watch out for is debris buildup - especially leaves or pine needles. If you're DIYing it, have you thought about adding some kind of simple overflow or bypass setup? It might save you headaches later if there's a heavy storm or unexpected blockage...just something to consider.

"have you thought about adding some kind of simple overflow or bypass setup?"

This is spot-on advice. Overflow setups are definitely underrated - seen plenty of flooded yards because folks skipped this step. Another thing I've noticed is that angled screens are great in theory, but debris still tends to cling if the mesh is too fine. Ever thought about experimenting with different mesh sizes or maybe even a dual-layer screen setup to balance flow and filtration? Could be worth messing around with before settling on a final design...

Totally agree on the overflow setup - learned that lesson the hard way after my backyard turned into a mini swamp last spring. As for screens, I tried the super-fine mesh once thinking it'd catch everything, and it did... including every leaf, twig, and bug in a 5-mile radius. Ended up swapping it out for something a bit coarser, and life's been easier since. Dual-layer sounds interesting though, might have to give that a shot next season.

Couldn't agree more on the overflow - seen too many setups without proper drainage turn into muddy messes. Regarding screens, coarser mesh definitely reduces maintenance headaches, but I've noticed it lets in smaller debris that can build up over time. One workaround I've found helpful is installing a simple sediment trap or settling chamber before the main tank. It catches finer particles without clogging your filters constantly, and cleaning it out every couple months isn't too much hassle...just something to consider if you're tweaking your setup.

Good call on the sediment trap - definitely worth the extra step if you're serious about keeping the system clean. I've noticed the same issue with finer debris slipping through coarser mesh screens. One thing I've done, aside from sediment traps, is slightly angling the inlet pipe downward into the settling chamber. It helps slow the water down a bit, letting more sediment settle naturally before it reaches the main tank. Just another small tweak that might help you out...sounds like you're on the right track already.

Good points raised so far. Couple things I've learned from setting up rain harvesting systems over the years:

- Sediment traps are definitely helpful, but I've also found that regular maintenance matters just as much. Even the best traps get clogged eventually, especially during heavy leaf-drop seasons. I usually check mine every month or so in autumn, less frequently otherwise.

- Angling the inlet pipe downward is a solid suggestion. Another tweak I've tried is adding a simple baffle or partition inside the settling chamber to slow down water flow even further. Doesn't need to be complicated - a small vertical sheet of plastic or metal positioned near the inlet does wonders for sediment settling.

- Mesh screens are tricky. Too fine, and they clog up quickly; too coarse, and fine debris slips through. I settled on using a dual-screen setup: a coarse mesh at the top to catch leaves and larger stuff, then a finer mesh below it that's easy to remove and clean regularly. Seems like extra work at first, but it actually saves time by preventing clogs downstream.

- One thing I slightly disagree with is relying too heavily on gravity alone for sediment removal. In my experience, gravity alone isn't always enough - especially if your roof area is large or you get intense rainfall events. In those cases, turbulence can still push debris through. Adding something like a gentle elbow or a slight curve in the inlet pipe helps reduce turbulence and improve sediment settling significantly.

Just my two cents from years of trial and error...hope it helps!

Really appreciate you sharing these insights - especially the dual-screen setup. I've struggled with mesh screens clogging too quickly myself, so I'll definitely give your method a shot. Good to know I'm not alone in finding gravity-only setups a bit lacking sometimes...

I've run into the same clogging issues with mesh screens, especially after heavy rains. Dual-screen setups definitely help, but honestly, adding a simple overflow diverter saved me from some messy situations... better safe than sorry when it comes to water backups.

An overflow route and a first-flush diverter do different jobs. Overflow lets excess water leave when the tank is full, and needs a clear route away from the foundation. A first-flush diverter keeps the initial, dirtier roof runoff out of the tank. It can help with water quality, but it doesn't replace overflow capacity or keeping screens clear. I'd plan both functions rather than expect one device to handle everything.

Totally agree about first-flush diverters being a game changer. I switched to one last year after getting fed up with constantly clearing out screens - especially after storms. Here's what worked well for me:

First, make sure you size the diverter correctly for your roof area. Too small, and it won't catch enough debris; too big, and you're wasting water unnecessarily. I found a simple online calculator that helped me figure out the right volume.

Second, install a drain valve at the bottom of your diverter pipe. This way, you don't have to manually empty it every time - it slowly drains itself between rains. Saves a ton of hassle.

Lastly, even though first-flush setups reduce maintenance, don't skip occasional checks. Leaves and twigs can still sneak in sometimes (ask me how I know...), but overall it's way less work than dual-screens.

Honestly, since making the switch, I've spent way less time dealing with clogs and more time enjoying my garden. Hope this helps!

"Second, install a drain valve at the bottom of your diverter pipe. This way, you don't have to manually empty it every time - it slowly drains itself between rains."

This is such a helpful tip, thanks for mentioning it. I've been researching rain harvesting setups and honestly hadn't considered the drain valve yet. Does it ever get clogged or stuck open accidentally? I'm always a bit cautious about adding moving parts or valves that could fail...especially since I travel occasionally and don't want surprises when I'm away.

Also curious - do you have any issues with mosquitoes breeding in the diverter pipe? I've heard mixed things about standing water, even briefly, attracting pests. Currently, my setup is just basic screens, and while they're annoying to clear after storms (totally agree there), they do keep bugs out pretty well.

Still, your experience is encouraging me to give first-flush diverters another look. Sounds like the maintenance trade-off might be worth it overall.

"Does it ever get clogged or stuck open accidentally? I'm always a bit cautious about adding moving parts or valves that could fail..."

That's a really good point to consider. I've installed quite a few of these setups, and honestly, the drain valves usually behave themselves pretty well. But yeah, they can clog occasionally - especially if your roof collects a lot of leaves or debris. A simple mesh screen at the gutter entry helps a ton with that though.

As for mosquitoes, you're right to be cautious there too. Even small amounts of standing water can attract them, so it's worth keeping an eye on. The slow-drain valves tend to empty out enough between rains to keep pests from setting up shop, but nothing's foolproof. If you're away often, I'd personally recommend checking it regularly when you're home just to be safe.

Overall, first-flush diverters are definitely worth considering. Just keep the design simple - fewer moving parts mean fewer headaches down the road. And hey, worst-case scenario, you'll have some funny plumbing stories to share later...we plumbers always do.

Yeah, good points all around. I've seen a few setups where the diverter valves got stuck open after heavy storms - usually from debris buildup. Regular checks and a quick flush every month or two usually keeps things running smoothly though...just don't expect it to be totally maintenance-free.

Have you considered adding a finer mesh or pre-filter before the diverter valves? Might save you some hassle down the line...though I guess you'd still need to clean that regularly. Nothing's ever totally hands-off, right?