The doorway tank, also known as a slimline tank or wall tank, is a water holding tank with an engineering that is unique among available water tank types. The main feature of a doorway water tank is their thin, rectangular shape that provides a slender profile and small foundation footprint. The slender profile allows a slimline tank to fit through doorways, fence gates, into garages, sheds, barns, around buildings, in gardens, patios, along walkways, and with much greater ease compared to conventional water tank types. Indeed, there are many times a location will not fit any tank type other than a doorway tank for access or installation.
Conventional water tank types, such as vertical water tanks and rainwater collection tanks, are cylindrical in shape, making them wider and more difficult to maneuver compared to the doorway style water tank. The infographic below provides a visual comparison between a doorway and vertical water tank.
These features make doorway tanks individually unique from other poly water tank types as no other tank is engineered this way. Slimline tanks are frequently used in rainwater harvesting, gardening, for water reserves, and are common in residential applications as they are easy to move into place and install. Doorway tanks are also used in businesses, commercial applications, and agriculture most often for rainwater collection and use, fire protection, water holding, and irrigation.
Design Considerations
Most doorway tanks are made with a center hole or holes around the tank center as well as grooves in the tank engineering. This design is intentional.
The holes reduce total tank weight, reduce stress on the tank center, and helps displace the force of water weight on the tank walls. This engineering effectively lowers the tank’s center of gravity more towards the base and ground. This in turn improves the doorway tank’s stability, balance and resistance to tipping.
The integrated holes and grooves can also be used as restraint attachment points for tiedown straps or anchors. This is useful during transport, in install locations that experience high winds, heavy foot traffic, are around work equipment, or that are potentially exposed to seismic activity.
Doorway Tank Installation
When installing a doorway tank, it is critical to set them on a foundation that is firm, solid, weather resistant, and level. Even though doorway tanks are engineered for safety, their design makes them more prone to tipping or being knocked over compared to conventional, cylindrical water tanks. This is the reason why the installation site for doorway tanks is especially important.
Doorway tanks are recommended to be installed on a concrete slab, a foundation made from crushed rock (also known as crusher dust), or a wooden platform that is structurally strong and supportive. Doorway water tank foundations should be at least 8 inches greater than the diameter of the tank to be installed. Therefore, note the diameter measurement of your tank provided by the supplier or measure it yourself. Doorway tank foundations should be 2 to 4 inches thick.
The tank foundation process is recommended to be performed by digging out the area to the proper depth, width, and length, then firmly compact the spot to level, and fill with concrete or crusher dust made of stone no greater than 3/4 inch in size. If using concrete, allow concrete to dry and set prior to installing the tank. If using crushed rock, tamp the crusher dust to uniform compaction prior to tank install.
When placing slimline tanks alongside buildings or walls, keep at least 2 inches of clearance between the water tank and the structure. This will help keep moisture, moss and algae from building up by allowing wind and sunlight to reach and keep the area dry.
Pea gravel and sand mixture foundations are not recommended as they do not provide a firm, solid foundation. Bare earth, dirt foundations are not recommended as they are not weather resistant and can erode over time around the tank base, which can lead to tank tipping. Bare earth foundations can be used if protected from weather, is level and compacted, and checked over time to ensure it is remaining sound.
Details, Manufacture, Components
Doorway water tanks are available in different volume capacities ranging from 100 gallons up to 1000 gallons. The tanks are made from high quality, professional, long term reliable materials, colors, compounds, and components. Premium choice high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic is rotationally molded with ultraviolet stabilizing (UV) compounds to make doorway tanks. Rotational molded tanks are seamless, one-piece tanks designed to be leak proof and improve overall total durability. UV stabilizing compounds protect the tank for long term use outdoors.
Doorway water tanks are ANSI, NSF 61 approved fabricated with FDA approved materials certifying the tanks for use with potable, drinking water. The doorway tank products we offer for sale are made by the industry’s top leading manufacturers and are available in black, blue, green, brown, and white.
Most doorway water tanks feature an oversized manway lid on top, often sized around 16 inches. Rainwater harvesting models feature a strainer basket screen included in the manway design. Doorway tanks are built with at least one outlet. The outlet size will vary on tank gallon capacity and manufacturer. Most tanks feature only a bulkhead fitting set for outlet installation, meaning an outlet valve or spigot is not included and must be purchased and installed separately. Always verify the bulkhead size measurement prior to purchase of a valve or spigot to install. Depending on the tank capacity and manufacturer, the doorway tank may or may not feature an overflow fitting port. Rainwater model types will include an overflow fitting.
Available Doorway Tank Specifications
The following is a complete chart of volumes, measurements, weights, and price ranges typical for available doorway, slimline water tanks. Prices and weight can vary by manufacturer and tank design specifications.
Tank Capacity | Length | Width | Height | Weight | Approx. Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 Gallon | 38 in. | 22 in. | 45 in. | 41 lbs. | $300 – $450 |
130 Gallon | 49 in. | 17 in. | 50 in. | 127 lbs. | $900 – $1300 |
150 Gallon | 50 in. | 18 in. | 53 in. | 165 lbs. | $500 – $840 |
250 Gallon | 62 in. | 29 in. | 44 in. | 103 lbs. | $670 – $950 |
250 Gallon | 62 in. | 29 in. | 42 in. | 115 lbs. | $620 – $800 |
250 Gallon | 59 in. | 25 in. | 54 in. | 103 lbs. | $700 – $1000 |
265 Gallon | 59 in. | 25 in. | 64 in. | 110 lbs. | $900 – $1300 |
300 Gallon | 66 in. | 29 in. | 50 in. | 138 lbs. | $860 – $1200 |
300 Gallon | 62 in. | 29 in. | 53 in. | 159 lbs. | $810 – $1050 |
300 Gallon | 59 in. | 25 in. | 65 in. | 110 lbs. | $720 – $1020 |
300 Gallon | 59 in. | 25 in. | 65 in. | 110 lbs. | $720 – $1020 |
400 Gallon | 66 in. | 29 in. | 70 in. | 183 lbs. | $1120 – $1560 |
400 Gallon | 62 in. | 29 in. | 66 in. | 209 lbs. | $1050 – $1350 |
500 Gallon | 74 in. | 31 in. | 70 in. | 220 lbs. | $1200 – $1700 |
530 Gallon | 86 in. | 25 in. | 78 in. | 257 lbs. | $1400 – $2000 |
750 Gallon | 82 in. | 35 in. | 85 in. | 244 lbs. | $1680 – $2350 |
1000 Gallon | 92 in. | 40 in. | 89 in. | 384 lbs. | $2160 – $3050 |
Takeaway | What is a Doorway Water Tank
Doorway tanks are a unique style of polyethylene water tanks. Their engineering design is ideal for installation in tight spaces, difficult access areas, within backyards, gardens, sheds, and garages or simply to save space on your property for other uses. The tank type is often used in rainwater harvesting applications and rated with FDA, ANSI, and NSF potable water use approvals.
Doorway tanks can be customized as needed to match a specific use case on request. See our list of available doorway tank products here as well as our water tank accessories to get your water tank installed, up and flowing. If you have any questions, comments, or need help, contact our team of dedicated, knowledgeable professionals today.