Rain Diverter for Rain Barrel

17 years ago

Not sure if this is the correct forum but I know there is a lot of great people here with great ideas.

Does anyone have any experience with a rain diverter that connects to rectangular downspouts. Can someone suggest a good model they like and where one can get it.

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Comments (8)

ponderosaq
17 years ago
No idea how good it is but I have been looking at one stocked by Gardener's Supply Co. You can find them on the web.
PQ
rad7
Original Author
17 years ago
PQ, thanks for replying. That is the same one I'm looking at also. It does look like a very simple design and should work ok I guess. Hopefully, somebody can chime in here that has bought one.
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kauai_hawaii
17 years ago
I purchased the downspout diverter sold by Gardeners Supply (Link below). This design didn't work well for me. It clogged up much to easily. Even with gutter covers the diverter tube would get blocked and the overflow couldn't handle heavy rainfall. It may work for some but not for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Divert Link
agardenstateof_mind
17 years ago
I also like the looks and automatic feature of that Gardeners Supply diverter, but was concerned it might clog too easily. I'm now considering one that Gaiam has; it looks pretty straightforward and perhaps less likely to clog (link below).

Here is a link that might be useful: Gaiam Diverter
chris_in_iowa
17 years ago
I am a really cheap person, I just hate spending money!

How about putting the barrel where the downspout would have discharged the rain.

Divert the downspout to the barrel, then when it is full the rainwater just overflows the barrel at the same spot it would have ended up anyway.

(note to self, (everyone please ignore this but tomorrow it may inspire me) think about putting the gutters back on the house, re-shingled in 1998 but not getting around to putting gutters back on for ten years is not good, you know where the gutters are, they are in the barn, and you know for a fact the downspouts are in the garage.)
agardenstateof_mind
17 years ago
I'm with you, Chris ... don't want to spend money where I don't need to ... I'd rather *divert* it to the stuff I really need/want.

However, I don't know if letting the rain barrel just overflow is a good idea; maybe it depends on where one lives. We've extended our downspouts out a bit from the house to avoid water problems. It isn't uncommon here to get heavy downpours on frozen earth (sometimes with a nice layer of snow), so if the water is discharged close to the house, naturally it goes where the earth is most pourous, i.e., right next to the foundation.

(Glad to see I'm not the only one with household projects hanging ... seems that houses, like gardens, are never finished.)
tfb4me
17 years ago
I dont see why you couldn't make your own with a pair of good tinsips and some aluminum flatstock?I made my own so i could fill up to 3 different barrels.Just make them at different heights on the downspout.
junegem13
17 years ago
After looking at a few choices available, I purchased a diverter like in the following link http://www.gardenwatersaver.com/
Overall I'm happy with it. However here in NE Ohio we had some VERY heavy rains last summer and it overflowed a few times-
I did buy an extra piece of guttering and removed the diverter and the 'cut' gutter before winter and put up the new piece. Wasn't sure about freezing and ice.
It does come with a 'cap' to plug the hole and not have water come out the tube.
Another site carrying it (2nd one down) http://www.composters.com/docs/water.html

Don't remember where I bought mine, but it was online for around $25.

Becky