This is one of the more clear and concise explanations and build walkthroughs I've seen on first flush systems. I especially appreciate the way you retro fit all the new additions vs rebuilding from scratch.
100% agree. I made my own for my house, 90mm (Australian) by 2 beside each other (different catchments) and watching your video helped me understand it better and identify a fault with my system that I will fix on the weekend. Thanks heaps! Great video.
Best how to video I have ever seen. High quality voice and video, you broke down the process in very simple steps reinforced with well thought out verbal instructions and camera angles. You showed all the tools required and how to use them, demonstrated how to properly measure, cut and fit pvc, just a terrific DIY video for all. Keep the quality up! Thanks for your effort.
Just subscribed. You must be the best neighbor in your neighborhood. Your skills and knowledge are top notch and your video production is spot on. Keep up the great work.
You are one of the clearest and calm teachers. Amazing work man! Thank you for teaching this, I still feel new to home owning after years and am also a visual learner.
Very nice, I learned playing with PVC, before you paint it and after sanding, if you have some PVC cleaner, wipe that on it, clear is better but blue is fine too. This opens up the PVC, so it is more porous and allows the paint to attach much better. Good to see some people are still able to get PVC parts, locally it has become slim pickings.
I have never heard of a 1st flush system until this video!! Thank you so much for the information this seems way better than a lot of the alternatives I have seen.👍🏻
This is a pretty good video. It has clear sound, with no annoying music, a stable, focused image, and clearly illustrates the function of the system. Good on ya.
Thanks for making this video! I live aboard my sailboat and will be adapting this design for my rainwater catch/clean system. We live off-grid and anchored out away from any marina. Every drop of washing and drinking water that we use aboard has to either be hauled from shore in 5 gallon jerry jugs or captured from the sky. Most fuel docks we touch base at will let you fill your water tanks for free, but other areas like Bermuda and the Bahamas charge at least $.50/gallon and sometimes $1 a gallon. Saving money is great, but we get even more satisfaction from being self-sufficient. 🙂 Best regards from Key West, Capt. Blackheart Charlie
Hi Robert, You always put such craftsmanship and forethought in your projects. A lot of people would have just glued the pipes back together. Adding the union joints actually makes a lot less hassle if components ever need to be changed out. Also if you're careful you can un-glue the joints with a heat gun. Also, on a sidenote, you have a way of explaining things well starting from the basic concepts while at the same time, not making people feel stupid...
I've seen other videos touching on or installing a first flush system, but this is hands down the most clear and best explanation of how it actually works I've seen. Thanks for taking the time to do this and share it.
Dude, I'm implementing something like this next summer season. I'm collecting from the one downspout that outputs the most rain water from my roof, but it's getting nasty and need a first flush. I love seeing how you've improved your system.
Awesome to hear Joey. Yeah, hopefully this will help with your issue. I also recommend adding gutter guards which is something else I need to do eventually.
I have the storage portion of our rainwater collection in place, but not the collection portion. This is a great video that helps demystify the first flush setup. Thank you for making this video.
Great video! I like the use of the HVAC wrap. We (JC/DC in the AZ) get all of our water from our rain water collection system. I don't use the commercial kit, we just use ball valves to empty our first flush setups.
@@GreenTechTown it kind of depends on the weather. We will empty them before/after a big rain or series of rains. In AZ, we get most of our rain in July & August (Monsoon season). We do treat the water in our first tank with chlorine and then we transfer to our distribution tanks using a 5 micron filter as necessary. We have debris filters on the downspouts as well as a screen filter on the first tank’s inlet. For our potable water, we use a tri-filter setup from the distribution tanks and all drinking water comes from our Berkey.
Where I live, this would be a mosquito breeder. We feed our run off into an aquaponics system using fish and vegetable beds. Great video, hope you're having a great day.
This is so cool. You are a real Tradesman, a professional. I'm going to the box store this afternoon and get all the supplies I need to do this. You nailed this presentation. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm about to start building my own home, and want to collect rainwater. I had heard of the first flush system before, but had no clue what it was or how it worked. This video was easy to follow, and explained exactly what I needed to know.
Hi there from central Otago New Zealand 🙋I am thinking seriously about installing a rain catchment system and was a little confused about certain aspects until I watched your videos. Thank you for taking the time to show and explain this, you've made it very simple and answered a lot of confusion with clarity. Brilliant 😆
Definitely the greatest explanation video I’ve watched. I’m like you I need a visual to understand how things work. Awesome video! Can’t wait to check out other videos you have
I have lived in Hawaii, successfully off catchment for 28 years. The first step in my system was that the downspouts were "wet" in that they were solvent welded 3" plastic that was designed to be about 20" lower to the tank filter inflow than the gutter outflow. This will slow down any particles (most anyway) and allow for a periodic flush @ the low point, thru threaded fittings. Other obvious filters removed anything else.
Thanks for sharing the information. This is a great modification, that I think would work in this approach. Anything that makes it possible to increase the purity of the collected water, and allows a flush of the lower section sounds like a very good enhancement.
Top work. A really good instructional video. Also great that you answered the first question I came up with almost as soon as the video started : the need to increase the first flush reservoir depth depending on roof size and the amount of debris expected.
I was considering doing one of these but I thought the leaves and such would just float up but with that ball in there, it would catch most of the floaters. Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for the information in this video. I'm currently collecting material for a simple water collection system at the moment. This first wash system will be a great addition later down the road when I completely switch over to rainwater. Awesome.
excellent video! Thank you for a great, clear and educational posting. I do have rain barrels that I use for garden water, but have wondered if I should put in a first clean set up. This has helped so much! great filming, content and clear instructions.
what a brilliant video, the tips about the clip around the tube to steady the saw was awesome, never heard that one before, and thanks for letting me know that HVAC wrap was a thing.
Very well done. Nice visual demonstration of what is supposed to happen with the roof refuse in the bypass filtration process. I can also see how the volume of rain water which is disposed of during the initial filtration event is tunable by the length of the vertical element of the bypass. Really nice.
Impressive technical expertise bud, good concise instructions and project forethought! Thank you for the effort into doing this project and I will be looking at upgrading my rain collection system now!
I understand that you are not building a pressurized system, but it is always a good idea to use primer on all PVC pipes before the cement. It cleans and softens the PVC so the glue can do its job of dissolving the PVC so that material from both parts flow together and in essence cause the two to become one part.
Yeah this is on my list now for when i add a water collection at my cabin, lots of trees with limbs directly over the roof, so always twigs, acorns, leaves, other debris on there when it goes to rain. Can only filter so much of it out at the gutter side of things.
Making plumbing fit together stresses me out lol - makes my brain melt a little. But that metal strap to keep your cut straight on the tubing was a really nice tip.
Great video I never thought to use a hose clamp as a guide to get a straight cut where I live quite often when the Rain comes it'll fill a 45gallon in 30 minutes or less we don't get the gentle rain's like you get so we need a 3 inch downspout a 2 1/2 like the downspout would be perfect but all they make is 1 1/4 1 1/2 2 3 &4 inch pipe I'm going to try 2 inch vacuum pipe as it's thiner Wall and I have some on hand it's also reasonable price can't afford those ready built deverters in my case I'd need 3 for the house 2 for the garage and 4 for the sheds
I would recommend putting the black hvac guard you have, orentiate it like you did for the right hand side.. On the left hand side, you orientated it so the velcro is opening up towards the rain. Where as the right hand side allows the rain to just roll off the cover, never getting things into the velcro parts.
Excellent video, very informative. I like the idea of the clear PVC so that you can monitor the level of contaminants in the initial first flush reservoir. I like the concept. I'm seriously considering installing a rain water collection system. Thanks for your video.
Very well done. Clear understandable naration and outstanding editing. I'm glad I saw this and I really enjoyed watching. Looking forward to checking out your other videos!
This is one of the more clear and concise explanations and build walkthroughs I've seen on first flush systems. I especially appreciate the way you retro fit all the new additions vs rebuilding from scratch.
Thanks for the feedback Vincent!
Beautifully done and nicely finished, as usual.👍
Exactly what he said!
100% agree. I made my own for my house, 90mm (Australian) by 2 beside each other (different catchments) and watching your video helped me understand it better and identify a fault with my system that I will fix on the weekend. Thanks heaps! Great video.
Best how to video I have ever seen. High quality voice and video, you broke down the process in very simple steps reinforced with well thought out verbal instructions and camera angles. You showed all the tools required and how to use them, demonstrated how to properly measure, cut and fit pvc, just a terrific DIY video for all. Keep the quality up! Thanks for your effort.
Thanks Michael for the detailed feedback!
@@GreenTechTown hi
Agreed. Perfectly clear English. Very detailed. Sub'd
His English is not only clear, but the rhythm is steady. This is perfect for those who listen at higher speed, eg 2x.
Totally agree with this comment!!! Best DYI vid I think I seen anywhere!
That hose clamp trick is brilliant!!!
Had never seen the HVAC wrap before ... WONDERFUL solution!
Same here! Took probably 2 days of off and on searching and finally discovered it.
Clear PVC gives the system a 10/10 on the coolness meter
We’re can I buy the same “coolness meter” can’t find one on eBay or Amazon?
Or are you just talking 🐂💩
Just so you know it will also give algae factor as well. Kinda stupid
10/10 on algae meter too
I must say your videos are great and easy to understand. Watching them makes me feel like I can build anything
Always great info to hear! You can build anything you set your mind to!
My wife and I just got our first ever home. Been renters since we met. And your deff gonna be a big help to our dream back yard garden
Your workmanship and attention to detail is impressive! Nice work and explanation.
Awesome! You're clear, & concise, and the use of the clear pvc is a definite nice touch!
Thanks for the feedback kim!
I’m gonna finally pull the trigger and set mine up. Thanks for the motivation.
Awesome to hear! Go for it!
Just subscribed. You must be the best neighbor in your neighborhood. Your skills and knowledge are top notch and your video production is spot on. Keep up the great work.
Production quality is so good on these, and keeps getting better
You are one of the clearest and calm teachers. Amazing work man! Thank you for teaching this, I still feel new to home owning after years and am also a visual learner.
Wow - you’re quite the engineer and teacher - well done and easy to understand.
Very nice, I learned playing with PVC, before you paint it and after sanding, if you have some PVC cleaner, wipe that on it, clear is better but blue is fine too. This opens up the PVC, so it is more porous and allows the paint to attach much better. Good to see some people are still able to get PVC parts, locally it has become slim pickings.
I ordered some specialty fittings for a project from a company called PVC Fittings Online. Maybe give them a try?
I have never heard of a 1st flush system until this video!! Thank you so much for the information this seems way better than a lot of the alternatives I have seen.👍🏻
Incredible attention to detail, 11/10.
This is a pretty good video. It has clear sound, with no annoying music, a stable, focused image, and clearly illustrates the function of the system. Good on ya.
Thanks for the feedback Robert!
Thanks for making this video! I live aboard my sailboat and will be adapting this design for my rainwater catch/clean system.
We live off-grid and anchored out away from any marina. Every drop of washing and drinking water that we use aboard has to either be hauled from shore in 5 gallon jerry jugs or captured from the sky. Most fuel docks we touch base at will let you fill your water tanks for free, but other areas like Bermuda and the Bahamas charge at least $.50/gallon and sometimes $1 a gallon.
Saving money is great, but we get even more satisfaction from being self-sufficient. 🙂
Best regards from Key West,
Capt. Blackheart Charlie
Hi Robert,
You always put such craftsmanship and forethought in your projects. A lot of people would have just glued the pipes back together. Adding the union joints actually makes a lot less hassle if components ever need to be changed out. Also if you're careful you can un-glue the joints with a heat gun.
Also, on a sidenote, you have a way of explaining things well starting from the basic concepts while at the same time, not making people feel stupid...
I've seen other videos touching on or installing a first flush system, but this is hands down the most clear and best explanation of how it actually works I've seen. Thanks for taking the time to do this and share it.
Omg putting a hose clamp on for a straight cut made me so excited! Thanks for the excellent tip!!
Holy cow just came upon your channel. You are extremely articulate and clear. What a great video.
Dude, I'm implementing something like this next summer season. I'm collecting from the one downspout that outputs the most rain water from my roof, but it's getting nasty and need a first flush. I love seeing how you've improved your system.
Awesome to hear Joey. Yeah, hopefully this will help with your issue. I also recommend adding gutter guards which is something else I need to do eventually.
Its a pleasure to watch someone do a very high quality install like this. Great production values too. Thanks!
Using a hose clamp as a cut guide is a very good idea!
One of the clearest explanations of a first flush system i've seen 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Your timing is impeccable! You have no idea how much this helps! Thank you!
Another visual learner here and I really appreciate the detail and extra explanations you provide here. Great presentation! Thank you!
I have the storage portion of our rainwater collection in place, but not the collection portion. This is a great video that helps demystify the first flush setup. Thank you for making this video.
Awesome to hear as that was the goal. Thanks for the feedback!
Great video! I like the use of the HVAC wrap. We (JC/DC in the AZ) get all of our water from our rain water collection system. I don't use the commercial kit, we just use ball valves to empty our first flush setups.
Thanks David. So how often do you all have to empty your first flush setups?
@@GreenTechTown it kind of depends on the weather. We will empty them before/after a big rain or series of rains. In AZ, we get most of our rain in July & August (Monsoon season). We do treat the water in our first tank with chlorine and then we transfer to our distribution tanks using a 5 micron filter as necessary. We have debris filters on the downspouts as well as a screen filter on the first tank’s inlet. For our potable water, we use a tri-filter setup from the distribution tanks and all drinking water comes from our Berkey.
Where I live, this would be a mosquito breeder. We feed our run off into an aquaponics system using fish and vegetable beds. Great video, hope you're having a great day.
This is so cool. You are a real Tradesman, a professional. I'm going to the box store this afternoon and get all the supplies I need to do this. You nailed this presentation. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm about to start building my own home, and want to collect rainwater. I had heard of the first flush system before, but had no clue what it was or how it worked. This video was easy to follow, and explained exactly what I needed to know.
Hi there from central Otago New Zealand 🙋I am thinking seriously about installing a rain catchment system and was a little confused about certain aspects until I watched your videos. Thank you for taking the time to show and explain this, you've made it very simple and answered a lot of confusion with clarity. Brilliant 😆
Awesome to hear! Glad the video helped!
Great video! Very clear instructions and demonstration of completed project. Very well done, without the usual extraneous talking.
Nice Job! Impressive handyman work. Clear pipe was very cool!
Definitely the greatest explanation video I’ve watched. I’m like you I need a visual to understand how things work. Awesome video! Can’t wait to check out other videos you have
Awesome setup. I love the clean installation and clear instructions.
Now that's what you call ENGINEERING!!! Excellent walk through
I have lived in Hawaii, successfully off catchment for 28 years. The first step in my system was that the downspouts were "wet" in that they were solvent welded 3" plastic that was designed to be about 20" lower to the tank filter inflow than the gutter outflow. This will slow down any particles (most anyway) and allow for a periodic flush @ the low point, thru threaded fittings. Other obvious filters removed anything else.
Thanks for sharing the information. This is a great modification, that I think would work in this approach. Anything that makes it possible to increase the purity of the collected water, and allows a flush of the lower section sounds like a very good enhancement.
Excellent tutorial! I am going to propose this as a project for our youth learning group. Thanks!
That's Awesome!
Way to go above and beyond man! Your attention to detail is remarkable. Thanks for taking the time to show us all how it's done.
Top work. A really good instructional video. Also great that you answered the first question I came up with almost as soon as the video started : the need to increase the first flush reservoir depth depending on roof size and the amount of debris expected.
Awesome, glad to hear it helped!
Great video! I love your attention to detail and the clear and concise explanation. Really well done, keep up the great videos.
Best video by far. The music was soothing. I was able to follow along and stay interested.
Thanks for the feedback Rebecca!
I was considering doing one of these but I thought the leaves and such would just float up but with that ball in there, it would catch most of the floaters. Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for the information in this video. I'm currently collecting material for a simple water collection system at the moment. This first wash system will be a great addition later down the road when I completely switch over to rainwater. Awesome.
A perfectionist without even realising it. Big fan, thanks man!
Great video. I love how neat and clean your protects are!
Thanks for the feedback Angela!
excellent video! Thank you for a great, clear and educational posting. I do have rain barrels that I use for garden water, but have wondered if I should put in a first clean set up. This has helped so much! great filming, content and clear instructions.
Robert, I love your work and how your mind works. I understand it the way you present it. Thanks so very much.
Glad to hear and thanks for the feedback!
Your content is great and clear even for a beginner. Thanks for sharing.
Great job! Love the hose clamp hack for cutting the pipe straight!
What a great video! Very professional. Perfect instruction.
Thanks Todd and Emy!
what a brilliant video, the tips about the clip around the tube to steady the saw was awesome, never heard that one before, and thanks for letting me know that HVAC wrap was a thing.
Thanks for the feedback Darren, and glad to be able to share some insight.
Moses West water reclamation equipment ❤️the downspout copper😎👍
Excellent idea.
Great idea with the hose clamp guide! Why didn't i ever think of that!
Outstanding! Your videos are clear, high quality, great editing, and provide a simple explanation of the task - best DIY channel around!
Clear explanations on the how to do this systems. Keep up the good work.
Very well done. Nice visual demonstration of what is supposed to happen with the roof refuse in the bypass filtration process. I can also see how the volume of rain water which is disposed of during the initial filtration event is tunable by the length of the vertical element of the bypass. Really nice.
Its so simple, but really smart! Thanks for walking us through it!
Impressive technical expertise bud, good concise instructions and project forethought! Thank you for the effort into doing this project and I will be looking at upgrading my rain collection system now!
Outstanding system and outstanding videos. A huge 👍 from the Netherlands.
I understand that you are not building a pressurized system, but it is always a good idea to use primer on all PVC pipes before the cement. It cleans and softens the PVC so the glue can do its job of dissolving the PVC so that material from both parts flow together and in essence cause the two to become one part.
Really appreciated your details on this project. I am right at the start of mine and this was helpful. Thank you.
Thanks, one the best videos on first flush system I've seen.
Love it, Nice job, you will probably not ever be without water.
1ST Class job, explanation and video. Thank You for your time .... insert applause ...going to look at your other projects now
Dude, we don't get much rain in NV but this is still quite educational and entertaining too. Thanks ! :)
Thanks for the feedback Wandering Soul. How often does it rain in NV?
The HVAC wrap is genius..
Yeah this is on my list now for when i add a water collection at my cabin, lots of trees with limbs directly over the roof, so always twigs, acorns, leaves, other debris on there when it goes to rain. Can only filter so much of it out at the gutter side of things.
Have a look at a “leaf eater” downpipe screen we use in Australia. 🦘
Making plumbing fit together stresses me out lol - makes my brain melt a little. But that metal strap to keep your cut straight on the tubing was a really nice tip.
Really helpful! Thanks! Just get my set up started and really like how you have done it!
spectacular job on the filming, great walk through build guilde!
Thank you for the effort
Great idea with that hose clamp .
Amazing and detailed video! Definitely will be watching your contents. I am so puzzled by pressurized and rain collection and storage systems.
Practical and elegant solution.
Great video I never thought to use a hose clamp as a guide to get a straight cut where I live quite often when the Rain comes it'll fill a 45gallon in 30 minutes or less we don't get the gentle rain's like you get so we need a 3 inch downspout a 2 1/2 like the downspout would be perfect but all they make is 1 1/4 1 1/2 2 3 &4 inch pipe I'm going to try 2 inch vacuum pipe as it's thiner Wall and I have some on hand it's also reasonable price can't afford those ready built deverters in my case I'd need 3 for the house 2 for the garage and 4 for the sheds
You're a fantastic teacher, loved this video - the best I've seen for a system setup. Thank you, and please post LOTS more!
Thanks Robert. Nice job. Nice explanation.
I would recommend putting the black hvac guard you have, orentiate it like you did for the right hand side..
On the left hand side, you orientated it so the velcro is opening up towards the rain. Where as the right hand side allows the rain to just roll off the cover, never getting things into the velcro parts.
I agree Colin. I actually flipped it around off camera once I noticed that. Thanks for the info!
Super rad set up! This was very informative. I love it! I need to do this, too.
Great job explaining and very professional-looking job.
These vids are awesome! Had a very similar idea in mind but didn't know how to start. Thank you!
Your instructions are always great.
i love your videos. production quality is top notch and you explain things really well!
Well done! Great explanation and would be very easy to follow the steps you laid out.
Another superb project Green Tech. Simply fantastic
Thanks Valster625!
Excellent video, very informative. I like the idea of the clear PVC so that you can monitor the level of contaminants in the initial first flush reservoir. I like the concept. I'm seriously considering installing a rain water collection system. Thanks for your video.
Very well explained. A nice clean job too.
I have no idea what I just watched. I dont know what this is or why I watched it but good video. I gave it a thumbs up.
I like the way you presented this demonstration and look forward to being one of your subscribers from here on out.
Excellent video and explanation of your entire process. I’m working on a similar project with my daughter and this will certainly help. Thank you!
Awesome, and glad to hear it was helpful! What size system are you working on?
Excellent video. Very clear, concise and well-narrated.
Very well done. Clear understandable naration and outstanding editing. I'm glad I saw this and I really enjoyed watching. Looking forward to checking out your other videos!
Good job Cleveland. 👍🏻 very well explained.
Thank you for such a well thought out project! I really enjoyed this and I'm happy that it somehow was suggested to me this morning.
This is great 👍🏾 👌🏾 👏🏾
Clear explanation. Nice illustration.
As others have already said, you make an excellent tutorial. Thank you for this, and I look forward to exploring your videos.
You really do a nice video and speak perfectly. Thank you for doing this.