Q: How much water can I collect from one inch of rainfall?
Q: How big is The Original Rainwater Pillow?
Q: How is The Original Rainwater Pillow different from a rain barrel system?
Q: How does the rainwater get into the Original Rainwater Pillow?
Q: If it rains a lot, will my Rainwater pillow explode?
Q: Will my crawlspace stay dry?
Q: My home doesn’t have a crawlspace. Can I keep the Original Rainwater Pillow in my basement?
Q: Do I need to clean the filter?
Q: Who can I call if I have questions or concerns about my Original Rainwater Pillow system?
Q: I can see the benefits of the Original Rainwater Pillow during a drought. Will my Original Rainwater Pillow save me money during a rainy year?
Q: How long can I safely store water in my Original Rainwater Pillow?
Q: Is The Original Rainwater Pillow easy to install?
Q: What kind of regular service does the Original Rainwater Pillow require?
Q: Do I ever need to empty my rainwater pillow?
Q: How will my neighbors and the county officials know that I am watering legally during a drought?
Q: Can I hook up the Original Rainwater Pillow to my irrigation system?
Q: Can I drink the water from the Rainwater Pillow?
Q: What’s the potential for rodent damage?
Q: Will The Original Rainwater Pillow freeze and crack?
How much water can I collect from one inch of rainfall?
The amount of water that the Original Rainwater Pillow will collect at your home depends on the size of the area covered by your roof.
Measure the square footage of the area directly covered by your roof, multiplying the length of the space by the width. Then multiply that number by 0.625. That’s how many gallons your roof can collect from one inch of rain. So, if the roof covers a 40 x 40 space, and all sides of the roof are connected to gutters, that roof will be able to collect 1000 gallons of water from an inch of rainfall.
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How big is The Original Rainwater Pillow?
The standard size Original Rainwater Pillow is 10 feet x 10 feet x 2 feet and holds about 1000 gallons. We can also custom manufacture larger pillows that can hold up to 40,000 gallons. Your Original Rainwater Pillow can custom made to fit the available open area in your crawl space or greenhouse, or under your deck or porch.. When you measure your space, you must treat support pillars like walls, since the rainwater pillow cannot go around them. Additionally, the crawl space must be at least three feet high to accommodate the standard size pillow. Crawl space height for custom size pillows must be six inches higher then the inflated pillow height. Pillows can be made from 1 foot high to 3.5 feet high to fit your available space.
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How is The Original Rainwater Pillow different from a rain barrel system?
Large rain barrels typically hold about 50 gallons of water each. You would need 20 rain barrels to hold the same amount of water as a single, standard size Original Rainwater Pillow! Additionally, multiple rain barrels use space very inefficiently. The Original Rainwater Pillow uses space extremely efficiently.
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How does the rainwater get into the Original Rainwater Pillow?
Gravity pulls the rainwater from your gutters through a filter into a sealed 2-3" pvc pipe which leads to the Original Rainwater Pillow.
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If it rains a lot, will my Rainwater pillow explode?
The Original Rainwater Pillow will not explode because
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Will my crawlspace stay dry?
The Original Rainwater Pillow system is completely sealed – from the filter outside the house until it exits through a hose outside of the house. The overflow port on top of the pillow is connected to an eight foot section of 2” pipe that is connected to your present drainage system. The length might need to be extended if your drainage system or sump pump is further away.
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My home doesn’t have a crawlspace. Can I keep the Original Rainwater Pillow in my basement or attic?
The Original Rainwater Pillow is designed for use in crawlspaces, inside a greenhouse or under a deck or porch. Unfortunately, it cannot be installed in other areas inside the home at this time. Water is heavy (approximately 8 lbs per gallon!) so the pillow must be at ground level.
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Do I need to clean the filter?
Yes – and this is easy to do. Check your filter before and after each rainfall and pull out any leaves or debris that may have collected. It is easy to clean roof gravel by removing the filter pad and tapping it against a hard object then rinse with water.
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Who can I call if I have questions or concerns about my Original Rainwater Pillow system?
Call Rainwater Collection Solutions, Inc. at 770-853-9918 or email President Jim Harrington at jim@rainwaterpillow.com. Jim is likely to answer the phone himself when he isn’t working with a customer, and he returns messages promptly (the same day or within 24 hours). Technical help is available by phone from 9:00am-5:00pm Eastern Standard Time. Design consultation assistance is also available at your home for a nominal fee. Contact us for more information.
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I can see the benefits of the Original Rainwater Pillow during a drought. Will my Original Rainwater Pillow save me money during a rainy year?
You will save money any time you use free rainwater for watering, car washing, etc. Even in years with ample rain, we often experience periods of dry weather. Even when we recover from current drought conditions, the cost of water is unlikely to go down!
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How long can I safely store water in my Original Rainwater Pillow?
Tests have shown that all Original Rainwater Pillow materials can remain in contact with water for 5 years, with no negative effects. Natural rainfall, however, does contain organic matter, so the occasional addition of a low concentration of chlorine may be necessary from time to time. In Georgia, we usually receive monthly rainfall, so the simple act of using your system will keep problems to a minimum with natural airation.
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Is The Original Rainwater Pillow easy to install?
Rainwater Collection Solutions is happy to offer installation services to our customers in the Atlanta area. Since the Original Rainwater Pillow is designed as a kit and
installation is easy enough for many homeowners to handle themselves or with the assistance of a handyman or plumber.
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What kind of regular service does the Original Rainwater Pillow require?
The only thing you need to do to maintain your Original Rainwater Pillow is to regularly check the filter and keep it free of leaves and debris. The more you use your rainwater pillow the cleaner the water will remain.
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Do I ever need to empty my rainwater pillow?
You do not need to empty your Original Rainwater Pillow. The materials used in manufacturing it are made to hold water for many years.
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How will my neighbors and the county officials know that I am watering legally during a drought?
A small sign will be placed by your front door and/or by your front curb. Additionally, county water authorities will know where to look to ensure that your watering does not stress local resources.
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Can I hook up the Original Rainwater Pillow to my irrigation system?
The Original Rainwater Pillow is the perfect application for a drip irrigation system. Traditional lawn sprinklers use large amounts of water in a very short time, so you will need to have the volume of water available to support a lawn sprinkler system. Used efficiently, your Original Rainwater Pillow should provide the water your plants need to survive most droughts or dry periods.
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Can I drink the water from the Rainwater Pillow?
No. The Original Rainwater Pillow is not designed for drinking water, which requires high-tech filters, special water testing and monitoring.
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What’s the potential for rodent damage?
Our Pillows are made from a heavy duty industrial Polymer Alloy and all seams are RF welded, ensuring exceptional durability. It does not attract vermin and our manufacturer states, “I have been involved in the flexible tank manufacturing business for over 30 years. Our tanks have been used on decks, in yards, under cover, in the open, in crawl spaces, on trailers, in containers, in yacht hulls, in engine rooms, in fishing holds etc. and I have NEVER seen any damage to tanks in the field caused by rodents."
We actually have extensive rodent activity in our neighborhood and home – yet our own pillow has not sustained any damage.
Of course, all smart homeowners should take preventative action against animal encroachment, regularly checking crawlspaces and other areas for signs of infestation.
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Will The Original Rainwater Pillow freeze and crack?
The Pillow will not freeze as a cube; convection in the pillow will prevent this from happening. The pillow will tolerate freezing temperatures to - 30 f. Care must be taken to protect the pump and fittings if the pillow is located outside in freezing weather. During snow season the Original Rainwater Pillow can be winterized very easily. The pillow is light weight which allows it to be easily folded and stored.
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Can you answer a few more questions for me?
Of course! Please contact us.