Rainwater collection system ready for cold weather?

With about a metre of rain falling on Gabriola during the winter months, this is the time to make hay for rainwater harvesting. Check to make sure your cisterns are clean and vents are screened, gutters are cleaned and collection piping is connected. Ensure your pumphouse, exposed collection and distribution pipes are insulated and protected from rain and cold. If your rain collection pipes are a wet-system (i.e. a portion of the pipe always holds water), you will need to watch the thermometer and drain out the exposed wet pipe, before sub-zero weather hits or it may freeze and crack.