homemade rain barrel

My husband and I made a rain barrel out of a 44 gal. trash bin and some other parts from Home Depot. This is the first time it rained since we made it. Looks like it works!

It's virtually mosquito proof because I used wire mesh from a broken window screen on the water entrance and I sealed all the pieces to the barrel with caulk. This also makes it watertight.

The water entrance is made of a large PVC reducing coupling with wire mesh secured with a hose clamp to keep out bugs and debris.

The overflow valve at the top directs excess water away from our foundation, toward a bush. For our overflow hose we used a 6' long pool hose and connected it to the barrel with a 2-1/2" plastic barbed male fitting. However, we couldn't find a locknut big enough for the fitting, so we used an adjustable rubber coupling to secure the fitting on the inside of the barrel. This works great. I felt it was important to have a wide hose for heavy downpours during which the water level would rise rapidly.

At the bottom of the barrel, we secured a 1/2" plastic hose bib with plumber's tape, a washer (the only washer we could find that was big enough was from the electrical department), and on the inside, a #14 rubber O ring, and a nut (also from the electrical department).

I stacked 6 cinder blocks to put the barrel on so that we would have room to put a watering can or bucket underneath.

And we replaced part of the drainpipe with a flexible drainpipe.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• rain barrel
• build
• raining
• garden
• conservation
• water

[brizzx32]

Good vid Christina, glad to see women getting out and doing stuff like this. Good job.

[christina2k]

thanks! i feel great using it to water my plants. the only thing is that here in florida in the summer months, it rains almost every day! so i haven't had much need for my rain water yet. but droughts are not infrequent here, so i'll be proud to put it to good use soon. and to give credit where it's due, my hubby helped quite a bit, especially with sawing the drainpipe (i'm too short).

[ttitanic121]

It works... why plastic barrel? everyones using plastic...use wood if u can, plastic will never biodegrade and will b here for ever.

Great job

[christina2k]

thanks! i love my barrel! i suppose we simply used a plastic trash can because it's the most commonly used container for a homemade rain barrel and it's widely available. but a wood barrel is a great idea if you can find one, maybe even for free!

[WANTONSOUPGUY]

It looks....sudsy!

[Allen2045]

@deasttn Good ideal deasttn. Thanks.

[deasttn]

@Allen2045

A siphon might also work for you (or sump pump).

[B4realalready]

really great set up. Thanks for the video.

[Allen2045]

IM able to get the 5 gallon pickle buckets from work I set them between our garage and our neighboots when it rains they fill up. I then pour the buckets thru a screen I place on the can when done I put the lid on and wait for it to rain again. ILL have to buy another trash can I beleave. When I need water for the garden I just sink the watering can in side. Later I will attempt to drill a hole in the bottom and place a water faucet.