To lay a level paving slab, clear away the loose soil where you want your slab to go, loosely spread 50-75mm of sharp sand and gently lay the slab on the sand. Put a spirit level on the slab and tap it down with a rubber mallet (or lump of wood if you don’t have one) until it’s firmly set in place. The connector pipes for water butt diverters are usually 50cm long, so try not to set your butt further away from the downpipe than this.

Firstly, you will need to mount your water tank. The method of doing this will vary based on your tank, but ours came with some threaded bar that uses nuts and washers to attach it. We mounted our tank onto a piece of ply on the side wall by drilling some holes in it and attaching the threaded bars using a washer and a nut. At this point the ply was fixed to the wall, and then we could move the water tank into place and attach it by screwing up the other washers and nuts by the tank. Installing a fill point Attach the rainwater diverter to the downpipe where you have cut it off. Attach the piece of pipe you cut off to the bottom of the diverter. Use a watering can rather than a hose pipe as this will significantly reduce the amount of water you use Many Mumsnet users recommend them for households, with benefits including saving damage to taps and appliances. And, while they don’t come cheap initially, they can save money on repair costs and heating bills, which will be very welcome news as many families face a hike in bills this year. What is hard and soft water? A water softener is a filtration system that attaches to a household water supply to soften hard water through an ion exchange process.Now you can fit the diverter. This is the piece of equipment that takes water from the downpipe and channels it into the butt. It’s very important that the diverter is attached to the downpipe below the top level of your water butt, or once the butt is full with rain, the butt will overflow, rather than allowing the water to just continue down the downpipe. You may need advice if your landlord doesn't agree to you having a meter, as any disagreements could cause problems when renewing the tenancy. Read our guide to garden screening ideas – 7 ways to keep your garden private from nosy neighbours. Fitting the diverter If we can fit your meter outside, you don't need to be at home when we carry out this work. We'll need to turn your water off for around 20 minutes. We'll always let you know first when we need to do this. Inside your home

How many people does it serve?: Choose one of an appropriate size for your household. Consider the daily maximum capacity to ensure this covers your family’s typical water consumption. If you've got a combination boiler - sometimes called a combi boiler - or your cold water comes from the mains, your choices are a mixer shower or an electric shower. This is because a combi boiler or a mains water supply does not allow you to fix a pump.Shutting off the main water supply prevents any possible leaks or damages to your pipes and plumbing fixtures. And if you have an electric water heater, turn it off to avoid potential damages. 3. Drain Water From All Involved Lines If you choose to install the system in an outdoor location, you must take the necessary steps to ensure that the softener, plumbing, and wiring are protected from the elements: direct sunlight, contamination, vandalism, exposure to moisture, insects, and so on. 2. Turn Off The Main Water Supply And Electric Water Heater s buzzword is energy efficient. With everyone trying to make smart choices to reduce their energy bills, we say you can’t make a smarter choice than by choosing Monarch’s Ultimate Electric Softener Midi HE. It comes plumber-approved, with everything you need for it to be installed in your home. The na_sr cookie is used to recognize the visitor upon re-entry. It allows to record details on user behaviour and facilitate the social sharing function provided by Addthis.com.

Larger households won’t be disappointed with this electronic water softener from Tapworks, which provides unlimited limescale-free water for a family of seven. Metered and cheaper to run than some water softeners, it comes with the message ‘fit and forget’ from its manufacturer. We love appliances that don’t add to your to-do list! The na_srp cookie is used to recognize the visitor upon re-entry. It allows to record details on user behaviour and facilitate the social sharing function provided by Addthis.com.There are some things that you can do to help to make the water you collect in your water butt go that little bit further:

If you ask for a meter, a company should install it within three months. In areas where free meters are being offered for the first time, this period may be six months. When is it a good idea to consider changing to a water meter?All water butts should be sold with a lid, both for safety and to keep the water fresh by stopping leaves and other debris from falling in. If you have young children, look out for water butts that feature a child-safe lid. If you have a high-pressure system, you will have a higher flow rate. Therefore, you can consider larger shower heads and have two or more appliances running at the same time. High-pressure water systems work well with mixer, electric or digital showers without the need to install a pump. This is because the water pressure will be strong enough already. Next, turn on nearby faucets and other outlets to drain away all the remaining water. As simple as it sounds, this precaution can prevent damage to the system, should anything go wrong during the installation. 4. Install The Bypass Valve Onto The Water Softener In some areas, the water company is introducing universal water metering, so everyone will be given a meter. Read on to find out how to install a shower at home and how your water system can affect your choice…