What is a rain barrel system?
Rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use such as on lawns, gardens or indoor plants. Collecting roof runoff in rain barrels reduces the amount of water that flows from your property. No-Gutter Rain Barrel Options If you don’t have gutters, you can still direct water into your barrel. One method is to place your barrel along the roof/drip line, though this is very inefficient.What happens if my rain barrel overflows? You can fit your rain barrel with either an overflow hose adapter or a diverter kit to connect it to your downspouts. The overflow hose adapter can attach to a garden hose so when the barrel fills, the overflow can be directed to a rain garden or other landscaping in your yard.One of the most common problems with rain barrels is mosquito breeding. Rain barrels need to be properly modified and maintained to keep mosquitoes out. Use collected rain water right away. Empty your rain barrel after a rain event.Where is the best place to put my rain barrel? Choose a downspout on your house or garage that is closest to the plants you water the most. If you choose to set up a drip irrigation hose, remember that Upcycle’s rain barrels operate by gravity so be sure you install the barrel so the water can run downhill.
What is the rain barrel method?
Rain barrels, generally 50- to 100-gallon containers, are a traditional method of rainwater harvesting. They are typically used to collect and temporarily store rainwater from rooftops using the gutter and downspout system (Figure 1). Rain Barrels This is the easiest and cheapest method of rainwater harvesting, especially for homes. In this method, barrels or water tanks are installed below the downspouts of a rooftop guttering system. The water is then funneled or directed into the tanks.Rain Barrels This method is the most common and one that many people are familiar with. This involves installing a barrel at a gutter downspout to collect rainwater. The actual barrel may be a recycled barrel or a new commercially available rain barrel.In order to protect your rain barrel from damage over the winter, it’s recommended that you drain the water from your barrel prior to the first hard freeze, leave the faucet open, and disconnect the downspout from the rain barrel. Once the barrel is empty, store it indoors if you have the room.Use a diverter to connect the rain barrel to a downspout. A diverter will prevent water from overflowing when the rain barrel is full, and it will divert it back to your downspout so the excess water flows out where it should.
How do you empty a rain barrel?
If you must leave the barrel outside, remove the hoses, open the spigots and turn it upside down to allow any water to drain out. But when winter weather arrives, you need to drain your barrels to avoid damage from freezing. If you don’t take this precaution you risk rupturing you barrel when ice expands inside. It can also damage your spigot or burst an attached hose.The only thing you need to do to prepare for the winter season is to drain all the water out of the barrel, remove any hoses, remove the linking fitting cap, and open the ball valve. If the barrel fills with water and freezes, the barrel will crack and void Upcycle’s one year warranty.
What happens when a rain barrel gets full?
Your rain barrel is meant to overflow when it is full. Water will spill from the opening on the top through the overflow opening or overflow valve. Connect a hose to the overflow opening or valve to direct the water away from your house. Once the barrel is full, you can manually close the diverter spout so the water runs down the downspout again. Or you can leave it open and allow the excess water to run down the sides of the barrel, if you don’t have to worry about an erosion problem.Saves drinking water resources and money: According to the US EPA, 30% of daily water use is used outdoors. Using the rain barrel’s stored water around the landscape saves water resources and reduces the amount of water purchased from municipal sources.Remember, a rain barrel may overflow nearly every time it rains. When the barrels are full, an overflow pipe must allow the extra water to flow into a rain garden, lawn, or other landscaped area or into the sewer/stormwater system if there is no safe landscape alternative.
What is the lifespan of a rain barrel?
Rain Barrel Maintenance The lifespan of a properly maintained rain barrel is upwards of 10 years. Basic maintenance for rain barrels includes: Cleaning the barrel’s filter out every 6-8 weeks (or after a major rainstorm) to prevent downspout clogging. Cleaning: Unless a lot of debris is collecting inside your rain barrel or there is bothersome algae growth, a rain barrel really only needs to be cleaned when it is brought inside for the winter or before it is reinstalled in the spring.
How long can water be stored in a rain barrel?
Some sources recommend no more than seven days, while others say it can be stored indefinitely. If you use it frequently, you’ll have more storage room available for the next rain. How long can water be stored? Some sources recommend no more than seven days, while others say it can be stored indefinitely. If you use it frequently, you’ll have more storage room available for the next rain.