Waterproofing a cistern

Technologien und Beratung für den Betonbau - B.T. innovation

Waterproofing a cistern with BT innovation

Wells and cisterns are an effective way to save money with the increased water prices. Garden owners often use cisterns to water their plants. In addition, there is the possibility of laying a water pipe from the cistern into the house to use service water for flushing toilets. If the cistern loses water or the ground around your cistern is permanently wet and damp, this could indicate a leak or crack in the cistern wall or well wall. For this purpose, B.T. innovation GmbH provides various solutions that simplify sealing for you.

Joint sealing during construction of the cistern

A new cistern made of concrete rings, for example, can be easily sealed during or at the end of construction. During construction, only the self-adhesive RubberElast crush seal needs to be placed on the lower ring. The weight of the next concrete ring provides the necessary compression and thus the sealing of the joints against pressing water. The cistern is sealed immediately after installation. There is no curing time.

If the cistern is to be sealed after the elements have been installed, the joints can be sealed permanently against pressing water with InnoElast type 2, the joints plus their transitions to surfaces with the ProElast system consisting of foil and foil adhesive, and larger surfaces with the LiquidElast type S. It should be noted that waterproofing with ProElast and FlächenElast type S must be carried out from the side with the pressing water.

Behälter Abdichten Anwendungsbereiche

Repair of cracks and holes

With a little manual skill, you can lend a hand yourself to repair a leaking cistern. Leaks are usually found where the water presses with great force against the bottom or the wall of the cistern, especially at high filling levels. For already constructed domestic hot water tanks, you can take care of sealing cracks or holes yourself. It should be noted that sealing with ProElast and LiquidElast type S must be carried out from the side with the pressing water, e.g. in the case of leaking collected service water from the inside. In addition, to stop water entering an underground cistern at high pressure, the use of flash cement and a flexible sealing slurry can be helpful. We will be happy to help you choose the right product.

Note: The repair suggestions presented here are not intended to seal plastic cisterns. If necessary, plastic cisterns can also be sealed with RubberElast. Often, however, only the inlets and outlets of the water tank need to be sealed.

Tips and tricks for cisterns

Regular control

For new installations and also for older cisterns, a functioning drainage system as well as proper sealing from the inside and outside is necessary. This makes regular inspection – at least once a year – of the water collection tanks necessary. In order to reduce the speed of the water, suitable braking measures such as swell pots or pipes bent upwards should be used. If you do proper work on your cistern, it should not leak again for decades.

Use septic tanks correctly

Some houses have unused brick septic tanks. You can convert this into a cistern by sealing it and thus store larger quantities of water. When working on tank sealing, it is not only the material used that is important, but also the size of the cistern. When applying the material, the substrate must be free of dirt, oil and grease. In addition, the waterproofing material can also be used on damp surfaces.

Consider weather situation

The weather has a decisive effect on the outcome of their work, and not only when it comes to watering. It is advantageous if the well or your cistern is predominantly dry and the outside temperature is not too cool when sealing. The waterproofing material needs some time to cure. Depending on the temperature and the sealing material, this process can take up to two days.

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