I've found those "self-cleaning" filters to be decent, but they're not totally hands-off—especially after heavy storms. Honestly, a larger diverter or pre-filter screen can help reduce maintenance frequency. Has anyone noticed if gutter guards make a significant difference here?
Yeah, gutter guards definitely help cut down on debris, especially leaves and twigs. But honestly, they're not foolproof—smaller stuff like pine needles or grit still sneaks through. Still, beats climbing up there every storm...
Been thinking about this myself lately and started doing some digging around online. From what I've gathered, gutter guards are a good first step, but you'll probably still need some kind of pre-filter if you're serious about harvesting rainwater. A lot of setups seem to use what's called a "first flush diverter"—basically, it captures the initial runoff (with all the dirt and tiny debris) before letting cleaner water into your tank. Seems straightforward enough, though knowing my luck, I'll still find myself up a ladder at some point...
Gutter guards and first flush diverters are solid suggestions, but honestly, I've found the diverters to be a bit overrated. A lot of the finer sediment still makes it through, especially after heavy rains. I've had better luck with a simple inline sediment filter right before the tank inlet—cheap, easy to clean, and saves me from climbing ladders as often. Just something else to consider...
Yeah, gotta agree on the diverters being a bit meh. They're decent for leaves and big stuff, but finer grit always sneaks through. Inline filters are a solid workaround—cheap and easy beats fancy and fiddly any day. Also, quick tip: keep a spare filter handy. Learned that one the hard way during a storm... nothing like scrambling around in pouring rain to make you rethink your setup.
