Ri-Industries Reaches Customers through Mobile App

Sunday, 27 April 2014 by Ri Industries

Did you know Ri-Industries has a mobile app?

With half of Australian adults owning a smartphone, Ri-Industries wanted a way to reach our customers on the go. Focused on convenience, our Ri-Industries Catalogue App allows you to view our product specs and measurements – anytime, anywhere.

Ri-Industries app features

Our products are at your fingertips with simple navigation features on the mobile version of the Ri Industries catalogue. View easy-to-read diagrams, including sizes and specs, on all of our products, such as rainwater tanks, septic tanks and accessories, storm water sumps, and grates and frames.

Plus, contacting us is easier than ever with the app’s messaging and email capabilities. Our app also allows you to search by keywords, select favourites and review your viewing history.

How to download the Ri-Industries Catalogue App:

Android Users

Click here for a direct download for your Android smartphone or tablet
Or, Android users can download the app from Google Play; just click the “Install” button and you’ll be ready to go.

iPhone or iPad users

Download the app for your iPad or iPhone.
Or, iOS (iPad or iPhone) users can search “Ri Industries” on iTunes, and click on the “FREE,” then “Install” buttons to download our Ri Catalogue App.

Of course, either Ri Catalogue Apps can be downloaded by visiting our website home page directly.

Share with us

We hope you find our catalogue app to be time-saving and convenient.

Click here to tell us how we’re doing—we would love to hear from you. And, if you have an idea of more conveniences we can offer our customers, please share it in the comments below.

3 Steps to a Healthy Septic

Sunday, 13 April 2014 by Ri Industries

In order to make sure that you are healthy, it is important to visit the doctor for a check-up from time to time.

But what ensures the health of your septic tank? Believe it or not, a healthy septic starts with you.

Here are the steps you should take to make sure your septic tank is healthy:

Step 1: Know the Signs

Just as a cough and a fever are signs of illness, your septic tank can exhibit certain signs that it might be time for repair. What are those signs that every responsible septic tank owner should know?

• Something smells funny- you know your septic tank is sickly if the air around it smells – usually like rotten egg gas.

• Something is damp- things are probably not working properly if the ground around your septic tank is damp or soggy, or pools form downhill.

• There is unusual grass growing- it might be time to contact a professional if you see dark green grass growing on or around the absorption area of your septic tank.

• Your flush is ineffective- a sure sign of a broken septic is when your toilet or drains are slow to clear, or keep backing up.

Step 2:.Pay Attention

If your septic tank has not been checked for more than 12 months, you may start to experience the smelly, damp, and slimy problems that come along with a malfunctioning septic. The most common cause of septic problems is when septic tank owners forget to pump out the septic every 3-5 years.

Step 3: Call in the Experts

Although you can play septic tank doctor now and then, it is also important to call in professionals when the going gets tough. If you see any signs of a sickly septic, you should act quickly so that the damage, and the cost of repair, does not get any worse.

Here’s who to call if you are experiencing any of these problems:

1) Your council environmental health officer– if in doubt, call for advice. Often a phone call to the council will either solve the problem or put your mind at rest.

2) A plumber, septic system expert or septic pumper –Plumbers, pumpers, and experts can be found under Septic Tank Cleaning Services in the Yellow Pages or Google search.

3) Ri-Industries– Do you have any questions about your septic? As always, do not hesitate to contact us.

Septic Tank Smells, Decoded

Sunday, 30 March 2014 by Ri Industries

Do you ever wake up from a long night of sleep, take in a deep breath and think, “Ah, I just LOVE the smell of septic in the morning!” You probably don’t. Or at least, we hope you don’t!

It would be natural for your septic tank to be smelly because it’s a receptacle for human waste. But you should never be able to smell the septic on your property because a Ri-Industries septic tank is designed to contain its own odour. The plague of uncontrollable septic odour is more than just a nuisance; it is a sign of sewage issues which, if left untended, can contaminate the water supply and lead to dangerous situations.

What is a diligent septic tank owner to do when their septic starts to smell? Ri-Industries has decoded some of the common problems that lead to stink, and how to solve them:

Smelly Problem #1: Full or Overflowing Septic Tank

Solution: This is the easiest smelly situation to solve. Simply have your tank pumped. A septic tank’s size is usually determined by the expected water usage for your home, and most septic tanks are designed to be pumped every 4 years. If you have a leaky tap, or are using more water than usual, you may need to have the septic tank pumped more often to reduce the septic smell.

Smelly Problem #2: Covered Septic Tank Vent

Solution: If your home has been remodeled or renovated since your Ri-Industries septic tank was installed, your septic tank may have been capped or covered up. If you have a septic tank in an older house, check to see that the head vent off of the main drain is still attached and extends above the roof line of the house. When dealing with an old septic tank, make sure to keep your vents uncovered and in best repair.

Smelly Problem #3: No Septic Tank Vent

Solution: If you are experiencing septic tank odour, you may need to install a proper septic tank vent in your home. If the tank wasn’t installed properly, it may have been installed without any sort of vent at all. If you notice the odour mostly after showering, then this is likely the case.

Smelly Problem #4: Bad Chemistry

Solution: Some things simply shouldn’t go into the septic tank. Here is a list of things you shouldn’t let go down the drain: cooking grease, oil or fat, industrial cleaning products, paints, solvents, feminine hygiene products, condoms, antibiotics and other expired medications, anti-freeze, transmission fluid, or gasoline. These can disrupt the sewage breakdown and cause pungent septic tank odours.

If you have tried all of these solutions to your smelly septic problem and the odour still persists, please do not hesitate to contact us with questions.

The Ri-Industries Water Dictionary

Monday, 3 February 2014 by Ri Industries

Ri-Industries strives for excellence and environmental efficiency with all of its products, from our rainwater tanks to the Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System.

We often use so many terms related to water conservation that it can be difficult to sort everything out. What is the difference between ‘hard water’ and ‘soft water?’ Is ‘grey water’ really grey after all? It’s about time someone answered all of these water questions, so Ri-Industries is here to clarify.

Grey Water: While it is not always ‘grey’ in colour, grey water is the leftover water from baths, showers, hand basins, kitchen sinks and washing machines around your home. Not comfortable recycling water right out of the sink? The Ri-Treat Aerobic Wastewater System processes the grey water from your main drainage pipe into clean, odourless water to use for irrigation. Reusing grey water from laundry and bathrooms can save about 100,000 litres a year. With the average Australian family using 800 litres of water each day, conserving grey water can be crucial to helping our environment.

Hard Water: Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, and is measured as the equivalent concentration of calcium carbonate (milligrams per liter). For this reason, it is considered ‘hard,’ like a rock. ‘Hard water’ tends to lessen the lathering of soap, shampoo and detergents. You can typically find hard water in wells and boreholes.

Soft Water: Hardness levels of water in Adelaide are classified as less than 200 mg/L, and are considered by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines as good quality. However, people may want to ‘soften’ the water in their home in order to avoid mineral build-up from excessively hard water that can potentially clog the pipes or stain crockery. While soft water does not occur naturally as often as hard water, it reduces the need for detergent because it doesn’t contain minerals that interact with cleaning products.

So there you have it: three entries in the Ri-Industries Water Dictionary. Above all, it is important to remember that the best kind of water is reused and recycled efficiently. Are you interested in ways to make your home more environmentally friendly? Ri-Industries can help! Contact us with any questions.

What To Look For In A Rainwater Tank

Sunday, 1 December 2013 by Ri Industries

South Australia is Australia’s driest state, and predictions say that it will only become hotter and drier as years go on.

Do you ever wish you had some sort of magical machine that could make it rain every day, or at least when you wanted it to?

Ri-Industries can make your wishes come true with our pre-cast concrete rainwater tanks. Rainwater tanks can help you harvest and save precious rainwater for a variety of uses around your home.

Here is a list of things that you should look for, so you can tell whether or not your rainwater has that magic touch.

Safety

At Ri-Industries, we believe in safety first. When purchasing and installing a rainwater tank, it is important to have a tight-fitting cover so that no children or animals can get access. A cover is also crucial so that water cannot be lost through evaporation and light cannot enter, which would promote harmful algae growth. Steel mesh is cast into all of Ri-Industries’ tanks and lids, and all fittings are made from brass so you can have peace of mind that everything fits together tightly and securely.

Discreteness

Even though a rainwater tank is efficient and environmentally friendly, it does not have to be an eye sore. With Ri-Industries, you can choose between an-above ground or underground rainwater tank, and both options offer aesthetically pleasing features. The underground rainwater tanks are out of sight and won’t take much space from your valuable real estate, while the above-ground tanks feature attractive conical or flat roofs. If you are building a new house, it can be especially easy to install a rainwater tank out of the way under the house, or at gutter level. Appearance is important when buying a rainwater tank, and discretion is key; that’s why Ri-Industries also offers to paint above ground tanks to fit in better with your surroundings.

Location

When installing your rainwater tank, you need to pay special mind to where you are placing it. For example, you should put your tank out of the path of the midday sun in order to avoid evaporation from the inspection holes. Thankfully, for those of us who are not rainwater-tank-placement experts, Ri-Industries is here to help. All Ri-Industries tanks are manufactured in our South Australian factory, and all inlets and outlets can be custom inserted at any required position to fit your specific needs.

Durability

This one is fairly self-explanatory. You want a reliable product that will last a long time without needing replacement. Ri-Industries’ concrete tanks are made from high frequency reinforced concrete, made from only the highest quality materials. All Ri-Industries rainwater tanks also come with a 10-15 year warranty, meaning you can be sure that your tank will go the distance.

Versatility

Did you know that some customers have used Ri-Industries rainwater tanks for a variety of uses, including installing them into the ground as cellars? You can install an underground rainwater tank and build a house or shed over the top. This can serve as a cheap, effective alternative to building a cellar out of bricks or pouring on onsite.

Keep these five features in mind when looking for your new rainwater tank, and you can’t go wrong. If you have any questions about your current or future rainwater tank, please do not hesitate to contact us!

3 Ways to Use Your Rainwater Tank

Sunday, 20 October 2013 by Ri Industries

Do you ever think about the ways that you could use your Ri-Industries rainwater tank? We certainly do. The possibilities are seemingly endless, as rainwater tanks could serve every purpose from water recycling to storage. Hopefully Ri-Industries can help spark some new ideas for how our products can suit your needs. Now let us help you utilise your rainwater tank to the best of its potential; here are just three of the countless ways you can creatively repurpose this product.

Water your plants-Keeping your plants well cared for can be a challenge, especially in this dry Southern Australian climate, but you can overcome the ways of nature by taking advantage of a Ri-Industries rainwater tank. Collect water in our concrete tanks and then use it to water your garden the smart way.
Store your things-Did you know that you can convert your below-ground rainwater tank into a cellar? In the past, customers have installed rainwater tanks beneath an outdoor shed for use as extra storage space. Ri-Industries guarantees our rainwater tanks as bullet-proof, vandal proof, and fire proof, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your belongings are safe and sound.
Record an album- Who knew that you could use your rainwater tank to make music? Plenty of people know that rainwater tanks are a way to collect and recycle water in your home. But Sydney music trio RUFUS used a rainwater tank in an entirely new way when they wrote, produced and recorded part of their debut album “Atlas” in a hollowed out water tank under one of their parents’ houses. Thanks to Ri-Industries’ high frequency reinforced concrete, you can rock out as much as you like in one of our rainwater tanks (after draining the water out, of course).

Have you thought of other ways to use your rainwater tank? Let us know! We always appreciate feedback from our customers.

Natural Ways to Keep Your Bathroom Clean

Wednesday, 9 October 2013 by Ri Industries

If you are interested in purchasing a Ri-Treat Waste Water system or septic tank, you are looking for the greatest level of water-filtering efficiency at the lowest environmental cost. These systems allow you to utilize your local ecosystem to your own personal advantage.

However, Ri-Industries products are not the only natural solution to your daily household needs; there are many natural ways to keep your bathroom clean without hurting the local environment with damaging chemical cleaners.

Here are just a few suggestions for how to clean your bathroom, the natural way.

Suggestion # 1: Daily Maintenance

Believe it or not, daily maintenance of your bathroom can ultimately lead to less intensive cleaning in the long run. How is this possible? To put it simply, cleaning your bathroom for a few minutes each day will keep your tub, sink, and commode from getting putrid. Use a cup to wash the soapy residue down the drain after you shower. Have a towel handy to periodically wipe dust off the mirrors and windows. Finally, try picking a day each week to wash the water around the toilet bowl using your toilet brush, focusing on the water line inside the bowl. With regular maintenance, you’ll never have to do any hard-scrubbing.

Suggestion # 2: Use Natural Cleaners

For those hard-to-reach spots that daily maintenance just can’t handle, you may need to add a bit of cleaner and extra attention. But this does not mean that you need to use a brand name cleaner that may contain harmful chemicals. Try using natural alternatives, such as baking soda and vinegar, or soft cleaners like vegetable oil soap. Vinegar and salt make an especially good surface cleaner, while baking soda is an effective ingredient for cleansing and deodorizing your bathroom.

Suggestion Number 3: Safe Disposal

Using chemical cleaners is especially damaging to your local ecosystem in a non-sewered area, where your waste water can filter in with the ground soil. To protect the area around your home, and work with your natural resources instead of against them, it is important to be conscious of what you are flushing down your drains. For toilet stains, sprinkle baking soda in the bowl, and add vinegar and scrub with a brush. When cleaning and freshening the sink drain, pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. You can flush the mixture away using boiling water. If baking soda and vinegar don’t satisfy you, make sure you invest in a biodegradable cleaner that will have the least impact on the environment.

Do you think you are up to the task of keeping a clean, all natural bathroom? Remember, every little effort counts toward maintaining a healthy local ecosystem. If you are interested in this and other ways that Ri-Industries can help you help your environment, contact us here.

How a Septic Tank Works

Thursday, 26 September 2013 by Ri Industries

If you are reading the Ri-Industries Blog, chances are that you might already own or are planning to install a septic tank on your property.

But how does a septic system work, exactly?

This is a fairly common question that people search for on the Internet every day. The Ri-Industries team is always here to answer your questions, so without further ado, let’s get down to basics.

Parts of a septic tank:

A septic tank generally consists of a tank (or sometimes more than one tank) connected to an inlet wastewater pipe at one end and a soakage field at the other. In general, the design of the tank usually incorporates two chambers, which are separated by means of a dividing wall that has openings located about midway between the floor and roof of the tank.

The purpose of a septic tank:

A septic system uses natural processes to treat and dispose of wastewater in your home, and provides biological treatment of the sludge and scum layers that accumulate there. The soil acts as a biological filter for the undesirable wastewater components remaining in the effluent.

How a septic tank works:

Wastewater flows down through the sewer pipes in your home and enters the first chamber of the tank, allowing solids to settle (sludge layer). A crust then forms on the surface of the effluent, known as the scum layer. The settled solids are anaerobically digested, reducing the volume of solids. The liquid component flows through the dividing wall into the second chamber, where further settlement takes place, with the excess liquid then draining in a relatively clear condition from the outlet into the soakage field.

If you are looking for further ways to utilise your septic tank, check out the Ri-Treat wastewater treatment system. The Ri-Treat wastewater treatment system is an aerobic system which means you can recycle your wastewater for irrigation purposes.

Ri-Industries is always here to answer your questions, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Smart Way to Water Your Garden

Monday, 9 September 2013 by Ri Industries

You may have heard the saying, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” The moisture and nutrients in the drainage field of your septic tank help to fertilise your garden the natural way.

By taking interest in a Ri-Industries septic tank or aerobic waste water treatment system, you are already well on your way to conserving water and energy for your home. What you may not know is that the benefits of a septic tank or waste water treatment system do not stop with installation. Ri-Industries can help you water your garden the smart way, even after all of the wear and tear of daily use.

How to water your garden, the smart way:

#1: Use Ri-Treat to Irrigate Your Garden

The Ri-Treat Waste Water System works to clean and reuse your waste water from the toilet, kitchen, and laundry to irrigate your garden. Ri-Treat features a high quality irrigation kit for more effective irrigation. This system is certainly a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep your garden looking green and healthy.

#2: Water your garden only when it needs it

While the Ri-Treat system can efficiently recycle your waste water for your home, it’s up to you to decide when your garden needs watering. To find out if your lawn needs water, use this rule of thumb: stick your finger about 4 cm into the soil, and if the soil is not moist, it is time for a shower!

#3: Put your garden on a schedule

For those of us who do not have time to stick our fingers in the soil every day, it is recommended to water your garden deeply and infrequently (about 2.5 cm a week). But how do you measure how much water your lawn is soaking in? For this, you can use a rain gauge or a cup of water placed in your garden and a ruler. Run your irrigation system for about 15 minutes, check the amount of water left in the cup or rain gauge, and you can do some quick calculations to find out how much water per hour is coming from the sprinkler.

#4: Water early

When you use your irrigation system, some of the water will evaporate before it even hits your garden. To make sure that your garden drinks up the highest amount of water possible, try watering very early in the morning, sometime between 4 am and 9 am.

As always, the most important tip for using your irrigation system the smart way is: location, location, location! Make sure that you are watering your garden, and not the pavement or the letterbox. To discover more sustainable living options from Ri-Industries, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Guidelines for Planting Your Garden Around a Septic Tank

Tuesday, 27 August 2013 by Ri Industries

Your septic tank is made up of a main outlet, a holding tank and a drainage field. The tank receives wastewater from your home plumbing system where it collects for a certain length of time until it exits the outlet and empties into the drainage field. There are certain plants that will fare better on or around your drainage field. So, what plants are good or bad for your wastewater treatment system? Here are some helpful “do’s” and “don’ts” for planting a septic tank friendly garden:

DO stay shallow

While being “shallow” is not considered a positive personality trait, it is very important that you stay shallow when it comes to planting your garden over a Ri-Industries septic system. A septic tank is generally installed about 0.6 to 0.9 meters underground, meaning you do not want the root systems of your small plants or shrubs to extend below this depth. The best plants to use near drainage fields are flowers, grasses, and small groundcovers that will not grow deep enough to disrupt the pipeline of your septic tank.

DON’T plant trees too close to your septic system

While Ri-Industries septic tanks are made from 40 MPa concrete, and the engineer-designed tanks are built to withstand anything, contractors generally believe that no tree is safe to plant too close to a septic system. This is because the root system provides a tree’s primary way of absorbing water, and those roots will extend toward the most abundant source of water in your yard. This means that if a tree is planted too close to a septic system, its roots will grow in the direction of the wet drainage field around it. Trees with smaller, less complex root systems are less of a risk to plant near the septic system, but especially try to avoid planting gum trees, cypress trees, maples, or willow trees anywhere near your Ri-Industries septic tank.

DO use shrubs that don’t require a lot of water, or are drought tolerant

Hydrophilic (water friendly) plants will grow deep into the ground, searching for moisture. The root system of water-loving shrubs can become entangled in the pipes of your septic system if planted too close to your drainage field, and cause problematic clogging. Try planting smaller shrubs whose root systems won’t cause a disturbance to your Ri-Industries septic pipes.

DON’T plant veggies near your septic tank

Fruits and vegetables should be planted at least three meters away from the drainage field of your septic tank to avoid bacterial contamination. This seems fairly simple, but it is also important to keep in mind as you plan out your planting!

DO plan ahead

Lay out the location of your shrubs before you start any digging. Plant shrubs near the end of septic tank lines where the soil is drier, or at least three meters away from the drainage field. You can also plant shrubs at the base or on side slopes of the septic mound, still keeping at least three meters away from the septic lines. Bushes planted downhill will absorb water and prevent erosion. Plants with shallow root systems can be planted right on the drainage field, while trees with deeper root systems should be planted at least 15 meters away.

Have any questions about how to design the perfect garden around your septic tank? Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions.

Ri-Industries Goes Mobile With New Product Catalogue App

Wednesday, 14 August 2013 by Ri Industries

Ri-Industries is proud to be the first precast concrete manufacturer to develop a new app to give our customers vital product information on the go. The free app is available for iOS (iPhones and iPads) and Android devices, and showcases our septic tanks and accessories; rainwater tanks; Ri-Treat systems; trade waste arresters; inspection openings; grates and frames; and sumps. It features a mobile version of our catalogue, and allows you to check specifications and exact measurements of all our products when you’re out and about using mobile devices. You can view sizes, diagrams, and much more.

Want to search for a product or share a product drawing complete with measurements? The app allows you to see your viewing history and share information through messaging and e-mail, all from the same place.

Download the Ri-Industries app today

You can download either app by visiting our website’s home page. The Android app is available on Google play, which you can access by clicking here. The iPhone and iPad versions of the mobile app can be found here or by going to iTunes and searching “Ri Industries.”

The mobile age is here, and Ri-Industries is hoping to make our customers lives so much easier with easy access to key information at your fingertips. Once you try it out, please let us know what you think by clicking here and giving us your feedback. We look forward to hearing from you!

How to Know if Your Septic Tank Needs Maintenance

Friday, 2 August 2013 by Ri Industries

When it comes to your septic tank, it can be nice to have a professional by your side to help you with septic tank maintenance. How do you know it is time to call in a professional? Inspecting your septic tank between pumping schedules is just as important as calling in a plumber or someone from your local council when you need help. Follow these quick guidelines for a routine at-home septic tank check-up. These tips can help you catch any potential problems early on, sometimes even before they happen.

When it comes to the septic tank in your home, you made need to ask some questions:

How often does my septic tank need pumping?

Most septic tanks need a pump-out every four to five years. In the meantime, you should check your tank for buildup every one to three years until you achieve a predictable maintenance schedule. The most common cause of septic tank problems is negligence, so make sure to keep annual or bi-annual inspection on your household to-do list.

What is my role in keeping my septic system safe and working properly?

As a septic tank owner, it is your job to make sure the house drains and tank don’t leak. It is also your job to make any needed repairs and get the tank pumped or de-sludged when it becomes too full. One of the key steps to keeping your Ri-Industries system well maintained is ensuring your system is regularly checked.

Can I inspect the septic tank myself?

If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can try an at-home inspection yourself, but keep in mind septic tanks may contain toxic or flammable gases.

Step 1: To perform this process, you will need to remove the inspection cover and leave the inspection site uncovered for a few minutes.

Step 2: Check that your effluent water is working. If it is clogged, try rinsing it with a hose or replacing the filter cartridge if the clog is especially bad. (Note: You should wear protective gloves to protect from exposure to harmful substances)

Step 3: Make sure there are no abnormalities on your lawn, such as especially damp or overgrown areas, or odd smells.

Step 4: Lastly, make sure all the drains in your house (toilets, sinks,, tubs) are working properly. Slow flushing drains may signify that your system needs maintenance.

What are signs of septic tank distress?

Your septic tank is probably in need of attention if the air around it smells unusual, or if the ground is wet and forming pools in downhill areas of the lawn. You can also tell if the septic system needs work if there is darker grass growing on or around the area surrounding the septic tank.

Ri-Industries recommends that you speak to your Local Council Health Inspector to understand maintenance requirements of your local area as you consider septic tank repair. Do not hesitate to call a plumber if you think your septic tank is showing signs of disrepair or distress. For more information about maintenance, contact us with questions at [email protected] / 08 8444 810, or through our Contact Us page.