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by Second Rain , Inc. RainBench™
Owners Manual
Page 1 of 6 Thank you for taking another step toward sustainable living.
With this RainBench™, you are beginning to: 1. Improve the quality of your nearby lakes and streams 2. Reduce CO2 emissions by buying local materials 3. Reduce pollution and runoff from your roof 4. Reduce flooding and erosion problems 5. Save natural, free rain to use as you wish 6. Increase the value and use of your outdoor spaces 7. Live more independently, feel good about it. Save money, rain, and the environment, Just by sitting in your garden. We have included in our Owner’s Manual the instructions for assembly of a Readyto-Assemble RainBench™ kit. This may not apply to you if you did not build your
RainBench™. However, it may help to understand how it was assembled.
Feel free to skip this part and go straight to the good stuff: How to use it. Either
way, we hope you enjoy it!
Tools List:


Drill/ Screwdriver (cordless), with Philips or square bit
Brush or rag for applying stain
Rain Bench Assembly Instructions:
1. Assemble solid side walls, attach to base
Lay Base
(part G)
on flat surface, 2x2s up.
(like right side of fig. 2)
a. Slide adjacent side & back panels (parts D and C) onto base as shown. (fig. 4)
b. Repeat step c with remaining side panel.
c. Using 4) 1⅝” screws, fasten side panels (D) into vertical 2x2s. (fig. 4 again)
Fig. 4 – Assembly of solid sides of bench, parts C and D. Screws spaced evenly.
2. Install Liner and Fittings
All Rights Reserved © 2010 Second Rain, Inc.
Patents Pending
by Second Rain , Inc. RainBench™
Owners Manual
Page 2 of 6 a. Slide both liner fittings into notches of remaining panel (B) so the square of the
fitting matches the 2 ½” wide square notch and locks into place. (fig. 5, part B)
Fig. 5 - Liner fittings slide into Part B notches
so that when seated, the fittings will not turn.
Fig. 6 – Liner and final panel are fastened to rest of
sides, screws placed 1 ¼” from edge.
b. Using 4) 1⅝” screws, fasten panel/liner assembly from last step very
carefully. (i.e. don’t screw through or pinch the liner) (fig. 6)
c. Using 8) 2” screws, fasten all four corners of base (horizontal) 2x2s onto
corners of vertical 2x2s, being careful not to allow any sharp points of screws
to protrude inside framework. Pre-what? Pre-drill…(fig. 7)
Fig. 7 – Fasten sides to base at corners.
Fig. 8 – Fittings assembly- *Tape threads*
d. Apply Teflon tape liberally to threaded fittings and install fittings so ‘T’ fitting
for inlet/outlet is at bottom opening and 1” 90° elbow for overflow/vent is at
top opening of liner. (fig. 8)
e. Unfold liner fully to reduce possibility of stretching as it fills. (fig. 9)
Fig. 9 – Extend liner and screw down cap.
Fig. 10 – Finished dimensions and fittings
All Rights Reserved © 2010 Second Rain, Inc.
Patents Pending
RainBench™
Owners Manual
by Second Rain , Inc. Page 3 of 6 3. Finish, Hook Up and Enjoy!
a. Prepare an area, at least 30”x40” (fig. 10) and place your RainBench™ on
washed stone or pea gravel (no fines), or by raising your RainBench™ slightly
off from the ground so moisture does not sit on or against any non-treated
wood you may have used. Seal wood using outdoor wood sealer to extend life.
b. Add water to RainBench and pull edges of liner to corners to reduce wrinkles.
c. Using last 4) 1⅝” screws, fasten cap onto bench. (fig. 9)
d. Hook up a downspout diverter or greywater line using garden hose or 1”tubing
to fill your RainBench™ at the bottom T-fitting. More can be added to increase
capacity and create unique outdoor spaces. Just use garden hose or 1” I.D.
tubing, and if using 1” poly irrigation line, secure with hose clamps.***
Congratulations! You have just become part of the solution by creating a functional,
sustainable way of enjoying your garden and outdoor spaces!
You can customize your RainBench™ by facing it with a veneer of any style or by adding
more RainBench reservoirs. Even customize them to make tables (up to 96 gallons) or
planters! Each RainBench™ can be easily connected in series using 1” I.D. vinyl tubing so
they fill and empty simultaneously. The top overflow fitting can be adapted to an elbow or
T-fitting similar to the bottom, and excess rain directed to a rain garden or green space.
*** This is very important: In order to handle extremely heavy rains, your
RainBench™ must be configured to fill from the bottom due to its sealed nature.
The top fitting is for overflow and pressure release only. Damage or
harm could result from failure to hook up water source properly.
Warranty: We will repair or replace any part of your RainBench™, supplied by Second Rain, Inc., that arrives broken or fails due to manufacturing defect. Punctures or tears are not covered after liner has been used, unless failure is due to manufacturing. Come on, it’s a flexible liner. Be nice to it. Disclaimers: These instructions are suggestions only and have not been engineered in any way. Build and enjoy your RainBench™ at your own risk… Make sure structure supporting RainBench™ is capable of holding full weight (~520lbs, approx. 80 lbs per sq. ft. for 65 gal. RainBench™ above) Liner is sealed and FDA approved, but water is not recommended for drinking due to source, unless adequately filtered. Runoff collects all kinds of nasty stuff from roof & gutters (asphalt, bird droppings, dead things… you get the idea. Not stuff you want in your tea.) When fastening veneer, use overhanging sides of cap and base. Never fasten screws into the side of a RainBench™. This may puncture liner. Not to be stacked or used in building applications unless properly designed and engineered. See website for upcoming related products. Any other hare‐brained idea that would potentially cause harm to you, others or their property, please don't do it. This applies to this product as well as life in general. Thanks. All Rights Reserved © 2010 Second Rain, Inc.
Patents Pending
RainBench™
Owners Manual
by Second Rain , Inc. Page 4 of 6 Using 1” line or garden hose allows reservoir to be placed far away from house. (1” I.D. irrigation line with hose clamps recommended for buried lines) Diagram of standard hookup using downspout from house and Saving Rain diverter.
Diverter must be mounted just above top of highest RainBench™ in order to fill to capacity.
Please note that adapters have been added to both diverter and RainBench™ kits so now
you can just use garden hose to hook them up. Flow is reduced, but it’ll do the job.
Use soaker hose or hook up a pump to pressurize your rainwater, and wash the car! Or the
dog, or the kids, or – use your imagination.
Operation
Here there are a few maintenance items that should be performed:

Check the debris filter periodically in the diverter, and empty as needed.

If flow out end of hose is reduced, remove fittings until whatever was clogging it has
passed from the line. Replace fittings. If this happens often, check to be sure the filter in
your diverter is in place correctly. An inline gasket screen can also be used in the line to
further keep out debris, but keep in mind that this adds friction and may reduce inflow.

Drain your RainBench™ periodically, especially if rain is in the forecast. It will then refill
with fresh rainwater, and you are helping to reduce more runoff every time it empties and
refills. Letting your bench drain very slowly, through a modified soaker hose left open or
on a timer, is the most effective way of maximizing the runoff control potential of your
RainBench™.
All Rights Reserved © 2010 Second Rain, Inc.
Patents Pending
RainBench™
Owners Manual

by Second Rain , Inc. Page 5 of 6 Re-paint or seal wood parts of your RainBench™ every few years, just as you would with a
wood deck or siding.
Winterization
In colder climates where freezing temperatures are common, you will want to drain your
RainBench™ as well as plugging the round holes in the diverter to prevent accidentally filling
it back up from some mid-winter snowmelt or rain.

If you are using the Saving Rain diverter, simply insert two rubber stoppers (included with
diverter, unscrew handles on filter basket) in the round holes on the inside of the casing

Store the filter basket (now without handles) right inside the the diverter, making sure it is not
blocking the rectangular opening at the bottom. Store the screws right back into the plugs.

Open or remove the shutoff valve (included) to drain the reservoir. There will be a few inches
of water left that can freeze without a problem. You can leave the shutoff open or close it
back up, depending on whether you feel some tiny animal might try to get inside the
RainBench™ through the drain hose.

For systems with buried lines connecting diverter to reservoir, you will want to blow out these
lines completely (similar to irrigation winterization)

For systems with a pump and/or retractable hose, you can either drain them the same way
and leave them in place, or disconnect each completely and store inside over the winter.

Start-up in spring is generally the opposite of what you did last fall to winterize it.
We hope you enjoy reducing your water footprint and playing with rainwater! Log on to
www.secondrain.com for more ideas for sustainable living and some great ways to make
your RainBench™ kit even better (I know, is that possible??) and easier to use, like…
this!...
or….
All Rights Reserved © 2010 Second Rain, Inc.
Patents Pending
RainBench™
Owners Manual
by Second Rain , Inc. Page 6 of 6 …these!
Or even…
A 1650 gallon ‘WaterShed’
Are we done yet? Oh, no we’re not!
We’re just getting warmed up. Did we mention www.secondrain.com ? … 
All Rights Reserved © 2010 Second Rain, Inc.
Patents Pending