Rain Barrel Gallery

Polka Dot Rain Barrel

This configuration works for folks with or without gutters. Place it under the eaves, a roof valley or under your downspout. A flexible downspout adapter can direct your gutter downspout directly into the open top.

Before you start:

Rinse your barrel and let it dry.
Where will you locate the barrel? Where will you use the water?
Where are your downspouts/roof valleys/greatest flow off the eaves?
How high does the spigot need to be in order to access with hose or watering can?
How can you best use gravity?
Where you will utilize the overflow?

Tools:

Powercord, if needed
Drill & drill bits
A 1” drill bit for the spigot (a 15/16th will work too)
The biggest drill bit, or hole-saw that you have, for rainwater entrance
Channel-lock pliers, pliers or adjustable wrench
Scissors for the screen
Hole saw for the sump hose. The size depends on the brand of sump hose.
13/8” hole saw for Water Ace Brand (Lowes)
1 ½” hole saw for H2O Brand (Home Depot)

Parts List:

Fiberglass screen
Bungee cord, 48” is easiest, 36” will work
¾” hose bib
1” INSIDE diameter washer.. You can do without this part, but it is recommended. If you can’t find this washer, use some silicone caulk. If you use epoxy, be sure that it can be used underwater, and is safe for potable water.
Teflon plumbers tape.
Sump hose, long enough to send water where you need it, and away from the foundation of your home

You will have overflow. Think about how you will use that overflow, don’t let it go to waste.

Option:

If you don’t have gutters and will place the barrel under the dripline/eaves of your roof. The size of your catchment area (how big is your roof) will determine how much overflow that you will have to deal with. For smaller catchment areas this works fine:
¾” x ¾” Hose Adapter, Watts # A-665 or # A-680
A Piece of garden hose for overflow. You might have an old, kinky hose to reuse, or find one in the roadside trash. A hose repair fitting can be used to make a custom garden hose. The plastic repair fittings work just as well as the metal ones. Garden shears make it easy to make a clean, even cut. You can also use a connector for a hose reel…it’s a short piece of hose with male and female ends.
Use a 1” or 15/16” drill bit

Building the Rain Barrel

Rainwater entrance:
Drill a series of holes in the top of your barrel. Use your biggest drill bit or hole saw. You could remove the entire barrel top, but that might give access to kids, cats, possums and raccoons. They could drown, so we need to keep the opening small enough to keep our friends safe.
Do leave the rim intact, as this provides more structural integrity for your barrel.
It will be helpful to have a helper that will steady the barrel as you work.
Cut a piece of screen to cover the top of your barrel, with enough overlap for bungee cord. Put screen aside.

Options:

Instead of a bungee cord, you can use screws to affix the screen. This means a little more trouble to access the inside, but it looks neater.
Instead of holes, use might use a colander, aquatic plant basket or hanging basket in the top of the barrel. Line it with screen and gravel. This opening will need a jigsaw to cut the hole.
The spigot:
Lay the barrel on its side
Think about where you want the spigot
Drill a hole for the spigot (hose bib), using a 1” or 15/16th bit. The spigot should be close to the bottom, just above the curve of the barrel. Leave enough room for some sediment accumulation, and access for watering can or hose.

Screw in the 3/4” hose bibb. This threads the hole. You may need to use pliers.
Back out the hose bibb, then wrap the threads with silicone tape. Once around is enough. Always wrap the tape away from the direction of the turn, or it will bunch up when you screw it in. If this happens, clean off the tape, and try again.
Insert the hose bibb through your metal washer.
Screw the hose bibb into the 1” hole. The washer will end up on the outside of your barrel. It will give some stability to the hose bibb. Be careful to keep the fit flush.

The Overflow

Think about which side you will want to utilize the overflow.
Use this overflow. Direct it to a rain garden, thirsty plants, or other needy area. Don’t send this to you neighbor’s yard, impervious areas, or the storm drain.
The overflow will be the maximum level at which your barrel will hold water.
Allow room for the bungee cord and screen that will cover the top of your barrel.

Under a gutter downspout or roof valley:

Drill a hole for the sump hose. The size depends on the brand of sump hose.
Crimp the hose and insert into the barrel. No fitting required. It’s inexpensive and simple.

Using the screen that you cut earlier, cover the top of you rain barrel. Secure the screen with a bungee cord. Trim as needed.

Congratulations! You have completed your rain barrel.

Your barrel should be located on a sturdy, level surface. Elevating on blocks allows for better flow and easier access to the spigot. The area that you will water must be lower than the rain barrel, or you can use a pump.

A full barrel weighs over 400lbs., be sure that it cannot tip over. Also be sure that the base is very strong and stable. Most decks are not designed for such a load in a small space. If you place the rain barrel on your deck, the deck will need to be reinforced.

The screen should exclude mosquitoes and debris. If mosquitoes gain access, drain the water and find their access. Mosquito dunks may also be used. Mosquito dunks are a disease selected to kill only mosquitoes. Be sure that your dunks are made with Bacillus thuringiensis, not chemical insecticides. Do not use other insecticides.

Water from your rain barrel is not for human consumption. Using harvested rainwater for potable water requires a more sophisticated system. Animal droppings on your roof can contaminate rainwater.

Your new Rain Barrel will need some sunscreen. Barrels must not admit any light, to prevent the growth of algae. While the algae are not harmful, they can smell bad. Also, the plastic barrel will break down more quickly when exposed to sunlight. There are several types of paints and primers formulated to adhere to plastic.

You may connect barrels in series to expand capacity. If connected at the top, they will fill one by one, and require a spigot per barrel. If connected at the bottom they will fill at the same time, at the same level, and will only need one spigot. If connected at the bottom, they should all be at the same level, or all will fill to the same level as the lowest barrel.

Once a year, clean the inside of your barrel. Hose it out and rinse with vinegar. Consider gutter guards. The cleaner your gutters, the cleaner the water in your barrel.