There are lots of benefits to having a rain barrel , and rainwater can be used for many things. I use it mainly for watering my houseplants and outdoor potted plants, and for keeping my garden ponds and water features full during the summer.
Rainwater is also great for watering the garden and filling up wash buckets to use for odd jobs like washing windows or washing the car.
Rain barrels are used for rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels are designed for catching rainwater as it flows through or from the gutters of a house, garage, shed or other structure.
Once hooked up, the water from the gutter is directed into the barrel. A rain barrel can be hooked up to a gutter with a rain barrel gutter attachment , using a rainwater gutter diverter kit , or simply by attaching a piece of flexible downspout tubing.
The exact steps will depend on the type of rain barrel you have. But basically, rain barrels have an opening on the top or side of the barrel to allow the water to run in from the downspout or the tubing from the gutter diverter. Each time it rains, the rain barrel will be filled with rainwater from the downspout.
Flexible tubing diverts rainwater into the rain barrel. When the rain barrel is full, the diverter shuts off, and the rainwater will simply flow through the gutter like it normally would.
Most rain barrels have an overflow valve near the top where the excess rainwater will drain out when the barrel is full.
I have an old cut off piece of hose that I hooked up to the overflow valve on my rain barrel so I can control where the water goes when it overflows through the valve. But, if you plan to install a rain barrel next to the foundation of your house, and you have a basement, then I would definitely recommend using a rain barrel gutter attachment or installing a rainwater gutter diverter kit to avoid any risk of flooding.
To use your rain barrel, you simply turn on the spigot at the bottom of the barrel. I use concrete blocks to elevate my rain barrels, which not only makes it easier to fill watering cans, but also allows gravity to help with water pressure so the water comes out faster. I have a hose attached to my rain barrel spigot, but I can only use it if I keep it below the level of the spigot or sometimes slightly higher than that if the barrel is really full.
Also, the farther away you run the hose from your rain barrel, the slower the water pressure will be. Water flowing out of the spigot on my rain barrel. You can find rain barrels for sale at home improvement stores and garden centers, or buy them online. Many people have also made their own rain barrel out of anything from a small whiskey barrel to large food grade containers.
Now that you understand how rain barrels work, you can take the plunge and install your own rain harvesting system — whether it be a single rain barrel, connecting rain barrels together, or building a large rainwater collection system.
I live and garden in Minneapolis, MN zone 4b. My green thumb comes from my parents, and I've been gardening most of my life. Read More Hi Amy I have a single rain barrel that i use for watering. Now that fall is here i want to winterize my system. That means i empty the rain barrel and move it to storage. My dilemma is the spout for the barrel is 48 inches off the ground.
The lawn is 16 feet away over a concrete patio. Last year i tried a couple of lengths of downspout assembled and placed at a considerable drop so when it freezes the roof water or snow melt will flush it.
My problem is i used an old table to secure the downspout to it is not an acceptable for this season. Any ideas?
Perhaps a home improvement or hardware store would be the best place to start. I just got two rain barrels.
I love them, but the diverters are not working as they should. One of the downspout diverters does not divert as intended, and during a heavy rain, the water fills up my barrel and then spills out onto the ground not back up the diverter, which seems to have been a waste of money. And my 2nd problem: I have an extra hose attached to the top spigot of my barrels to help with overflow. Impractical for nighttime rains or during thunderstorms.
I would replace the hose on the overflow spigot, or the spigot itself, and also see if you can exchange the faulty downspout diverter for a new one. As you might expect, rain barrels are most effective in dry, arid climates. Residents of cities in parts of Alberta, BC, or Saskatchewan that experience little year-round precipitation, or those that frequently experience reservoir shortages may benefit from installing a rain barrel to reduce the strain placed upon their municipal water supply.
This depends on two key factors: the amount of rain in your area; and your usage needs. The average lawn requires between litres of water per 1, square feet. Collecting all of the rainfall from a roof of the same size will provide 2, litres for an inch of rain, but remember to divide this amount by the number of downspouts on your home when calculating your requirements.
Rain barrels are available from most hardware stores. Try Home Depot or Lowes , or simply make your own rain barrel by following the instructions found in this article. Want to learn more? Visit our resource centres for hundreds of helpful articles created specifically for homeowners, condo owners, landlords, and tenants.
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Get an online quote now. Even when you take precautions, accidents can happen. Home insurance is one way to protect your family against financial losses from accidents. Using rain barrels around your home. Topics Basics What is a rain barrel? Installation Water conservation tips Commonly asked questions. Basics of water conservation For those of us living in milder climates, water conservation can at times feel a laborious and futile endeavour, especially during winter months.
What is a rain barrel? How do I install a rain barrel? Collect your supplies. This will be your barrel. A length of downspout piping approx. Waterproof silicone sealant. Waterproof tape. A hacksaw. A utility knife or Stanley knife.
First, drill a hole in the side of the barrel around two inches from the base. Wrap sealing tape around the thread on the spigot and twist it into the hole you just made. Just like your clothing and electronics, the amount of water required to produce meat products may come as a surprise. Beef is the principal offender; one pound requires almost 7, litres of water. One pound of pork requires 2, litres, and a pound of chicken requires 1, litres.
This generally means collecting rain using barrels attached to downspouts of the home. Most rain barrels have a spigot at the bottom and utilize gravity to get water out. Some rain barrels are available with submersible, electric pumps. These can be connected to a standard garden hose, allowing you greater flexibility in where you use your water. Even if your water needs lead you to empty your rain barrel quickly after it fills, a good summer storm can fill the rain barrel much quicker than normal, often creating overflow.
Allowing the rain barrel to overflow and dump water right against the foundation of your home is not a good idea as wet wood can lead to structural issues and create a harborage spot for pests. There are two popular practices for managing too much rainfall.
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