Rain Harvesting Leaf Eater Plus
The Leaf Eater Plus is our trusted Leaf Eater™ Original with a Clean Shield™ upgrade screen for improved leaf shedding and even easier maintenance.
RHLE08 | 90mm
RHLE09 | 100mm
Rain Heads filter leaves and debris out of your downpipes with their 955 micron screens. They also minimise splashing to increase the volume of rainwater you harvest.
Rain Heads secure the system with the 955 micron mosquito-proof screens that prevent insects and other animals from entering and breeding or living in your downpipes.
Features and Benefits
- Upgraded with new debris shedding single screen technology (Clean Shield™)
- Minimal maintenance
- Enhanced flow rate capacity
- Superior catchment efficiency at low and high flow rates
- A single mosquito proof stainless steel mesh screen with 0.955mm aperture
- Available in 90mm or 100mm outlets
Make maintenance a breeze
With only one screen to clean, Leaf Eater™ Plus is easy to inspect from below and simple to clean – just clip off, rinse and clip back on.
Improve rainwater quality and quantity
Leaves effortlessly glide off the rain head’s single screen 955 micron mesh, reducing “splash loss” to an absolute minimum for maximum water capture. And by keeping leaves, debris, mosquitoes and larger pests out of your downpipes, it gives you better quality water in your tank.
Install and paint with ease
This single screen rain head can be painted to match your home and used with wet and dry rain harvesting systems. Easily mount it beneath your gutters or, in dry systems, closer to the ground for even more convenient maintenance.
Installation Instructions
At Gutter Installation
1. Remove the existing Gutter Outlet from the roof guttering system.
2. Hold the new Gutter Outlet against the fascia and against the bottom and rear of the gutter where the new outlet hole is to be, then using the gutter outlet as a template, draw around the inside of the outlet to mark the underside of the gutter for the new hole and cut out with in snips. Fit the gutter outlet to the gutter, secure it using pop rivets or screws. Place a small amount of sealant in the sealant groove.
3. Mount the main body of the Rain Head evenly under the gutter outlet by securing it to the fascia with pop rivets or screws, making sure the backing plate fits snugly up to the bottom edge of the gutter but NOT between the fascia and back edge of the gutter.
4. The Leaf Eater® Original is now ready for connection to the downpipe. Do NOT glue the Leaf Eater® Original to the downpipe. SECURE with a screw for easy replacement.
Mid-Mount Installation
To improve access for cleaning, Leaf Eater® Original Rain Heads can be mounted on a wall at a convenient height. When ‘pushing water’ over long runs and depending on the volume of water required to be moved, the Rain Head may need to be mid-mounted more than 1.2m above the discharge point.
It is important to note that when mid-mounting, the flow directional benefits of the rectangular gutter outlet supplied with the Leaf Eater® Original will be lost. However this is to be balanced with the benefits gained from easier access for maintenance.
For mid-mounting, discard the top flow-directional gutter outlet. Cut the entry downpipe at 45˚ allowing 50mm clearance between the pipe and the mozzie screen. This ensures the end of the pipe is parallel to the screen and helps direct the water onto the face of the screen most effectively.
How high should I install my Leaf Eater rain head?
Rain heads must be installed so they are higher than the inlet on your rainwater tank. This is necessary to allow water to flow through the pipework to your tank and to avoid water overflowing from your rain head.
If you have a wet rain harvesting system (a system where pipes feeding your tank sit below the level of the tank inlet and hold water), you should install your rain head a minimum of 500mm (19.6″) above the height of your tank inlet. Where possible, we recommend that you maximise the height of your rain head in relation to your tank inlet even further. This may be especially necessary if you have a longer wet system.
For best results, consult a licenced plumber to discuss the optimal height of your rain heads so you can avoid damage to your property, risks to your personal safety and other negative consequences of water overflowing from your rain heads.
Should I mount my Leaf Eater rain head at the gutter or on the wall?
The ideal location for a rain head is directly beneath your gutter outlet at the fascia board or eaves. Where access is difficult – for example, on a two-storey house – your rain head can be installed “mid” mount on the wall lower down away from the gutter. When selecting your installation point, it’s important to consider the height of your rainwater tank inlet, as your rain head should be installed a minimum of 500mm (19.6″) above the height of your tank inlet. Your chosen installation point should tread the balance between maximum height in relation to the height of your tank inlet, and safe and easy accessibility for maintenance.
Can I upgrade my Leaf Eater Original or older Leaf Beater with the new patented screen technology?
Yes. Upgrade screens are available for both new and old Leaf Eater and Leaf Beater rain heads. The patented Clean Shield Screens keeps leaves, debris, mosquitos and larger pests out of your pipes – no second screen required.
Can I paint my Leaf Eater rain head?
Yes. All the rain heads in our Leaf Eater range can be painted to match your home or building. Check with your local paint retailer to ensure you select a product that’s suitable for use with plastic.
I have pine needles. Which Leaf Eater rain head should I use?
All our Leaf Eater rain heads are suitable for use in areas with pine needles. However, due to the fine size of the needles, more regular maintenance will be required to remove any pine needle debris from your rain head.
My Leaf Eater rain head is overflowing. Why is this happening?
The most common reason a rain head overflows is insufficient or irregular maintenance. Check and clean your rain head screens regularly to ensure they continue to function optimally.
Alternatively, your rain head may overflow if there is insufficient “fall” from the rain head to the tank inlet – in other words, if your rain head is not positioned high enough in relation to the height of your rainwater tank inlet. A height difference between your rain head and tank inlet is necessary to allow water to be pushed through your rain harvesting system under gravity.
Will my Leaf Eater rain head splash water into my covered patio area?
Rain heads with an open “face” have an angled, self-cleaning screen designed to minimise splashing as leaves and debris are deflected away from the flow of water. This applies to all our rain heads that feature our Clean Shield screens, as well as the Leaf Eater Original.
If you are still concerned about splashing, consider choosing a rain head with an anti-splash cover such as the Leaf Eater Slimline or Leaf Eater Ultra.
What’s the difference between the Leaf Eater Original and Leaf Eater Ultra?
The Leaf Eater Original is our trusted, original, all-round rain head. It features a primary self-cleaning stainless steel screen with a 5.4mm aperture (hole size) and a secondary mosquito-proof 955 micron stainless steel screen.
The Leaf Eater Ultra is the result of many years of research, development and refinement. It features a patented VH Pivot for installation on horizontal and vertical downpipes, a sleek anti-splash cover and a patented Hydro Activated Filtration screen system for maximum leaf shedding.
What’s the difference between each rain head in the Leaf Eater range?
All our Leaf Eater rain heads feature mosquito-proof screens and are designed to keep leaves, debris, mosquitoes and other pests out of your downpipes and rain harvesting system. Several of our rain heads feature patented VH pivots for installation on horizontal and vertical downpipes, some feature anti-splash covers and some feature additional technology such as our Hydro Activated Filtration screen system and red overflow indicator flags.