Bunnings leaf eaters or smaller air gap unit?

[LorenClayton]

Hello

I have no existing draining in my backyard for a house I've just bought. I asked a plumber for a quote to install the Bunnings leaf eaters but he said that these are big and bulky and that they are usually placed under the roof. Mine would be installed at a height I can access. I'm wondering if this means they're more unstable in high wind / rain. I much prefer the leaf eaters as the smaller, slimmer units have a much bigger outflow of water - right on the foundations. A larger unit is obviously going to drain away more water. Please feel free to comment as in my experience plumbers don't always recommend the best option.

[EricL]

Hello @LorenClayton 

I've had leaf eaters in my last rental, and they are quite effective. If the leaf eaters are installed and anchored properly it should stay firm even in strong winds. It's true that they are on the bulky side such as the Rain Harvesting 90mm Leaf Eater Original Rain Head, but it is part of their design and function. The large head allows them to disperse leaves quickly without splashing a great deal of water below. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.  

Eric

[Dave-1]

Evening @LorenClayton 

I dont have a leaf eater like the one you have shown, I have a physical break between the bottom of my downpipe and the grill for the stormwater pit so leaves can blow away. Very much does the job like the one @EricL has listed. I figureed that the less I have to do the better. 

I have seen plenty of videos of people with the second flush type deal for capturing rainwater and they make sense to get rid of any dirt ect that is on the roof when rain comes across. Do you capture your water?

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @LorenClayton 

I guess my first question is why you don't have any storm water drainage, are you regional and harvesting all the roof water in to tank/s?

That aside, I had a home quite some time ago. that had several towering gums overhead. I used a product very similar to what @EricL suggested which had in my opinion the most important feature, a very wide leaf diverting grill. There was never any chance of leaf build up and the way er was collected in to my tanks very efficiently.

Nailbag

[LorenClayton]

Thanks Eric. Yes, I agree. And the tree eaters get good reviews.

[LorenClayton]

Thanks Dave, no I don't capture my water. Can Bunnings organise installation of their Rain Harvesting 90 mm tree eaters by a plumber? All I'm doing is installing 4 of these to my existing drainpipes at a height accessible to me. So they won't be high on the roof gutters. I'm worried about backflow and inflow into the house via the gutters, but also worried about excess water close to the foundations. So I think these leaf eaters should do the job if I maintain them. I understand the air gap also stops backflow from the kerb as well. I'm just having problems finding a plumber willing to commit to a start date.

[LorenClayton]

Thanks for your answer. I bought this house a month ago and just found out 3 rear drains are blocked / crushed so need new pipes. I have a slight negative grade but Moreton Bay council have approved a charged drainage system for these rear pipes to kerb. It's fairly urgent for me to get these tree eaters installed, even if I have to wait for the drainage installation, as I effectively have no drainage at all for the rear pipes and worried about backflow etc. So I'm also asking if Bunnings can arrange a plumber to install as I'm having real problems finding a plumber who can do the work straight away.

[Dave-1]

Morning @LorenClayton 

First answer is a wiggly hand answer...

Bunnings dont have plumbers or trades they arrange. However I know my local Bunnings store has tradies they recommend via giving you three names. It dosnt mean they will do the work or are backed by Bunnings but its a good spot to start with. Rock up and ask the special orders desk or trade desk. My mum had hetr kitchen installed via this method.

Now that I realised there is compressed piping that needs replacing I understand why your quotes have been high. My stormwater replacement would have cost me at several thousand if I had paid someone to do it acording to a plumber mate. And thats without breaking concrete with fairly straight run access.

The best way I have found a trade to be reliable is to actually go with a little higher price then you expected and at the same time letting the tradie know that you also want to do so and so later. That way they know you are serious and you build a repertoire with them. That is why I have a carpenter/builder mate and a plumber mate Not because they do the work but because I help and chat to them while we do the jobs. (also lucky as they both work at the same place I do. My carpenter mate recommended the plumber so its like they know the "in" to other trades

Dave

btw when I have helped out doing the labouring for jobs it really shows up why quotes are higher then you would expect.  😕 I find we vastly under estimate trades and their skills and I am a sparky at that so should realise lol:)

[JacobZ]

Hi @LorenClayton,

As @Dave-1 has mentioned, unfortunately, Bunnings does not arrange plumbers as a service. The team at the Trade Desk will often deal with a number of tradies regularly, so having a chat with the team on the Trade Desk or the in-store Trade Specialist can help you find tradies in your area. This however doesn't constitute a recommendation, and you should do your due diligence, but it can provide contacts in your local area that you can approach for a quote.

You could also use a service like HiPages or True Local to find tradies in your area.

Let me know if you have any further questions that I can assist with.

Jacob