Rain Barrels

15 years ago

Does anyone here use a rain barrel? I don't see another forum that might fit the topic. I have one installed and got first rainwater this weekend. Have discovered a flaw in the engineering with the "mosquito hole". The water runs out of that hole instead of the pipe to the barrel. Have talked to Gardener's Supply, but they have not had this problem reported previously (they say). Anyone else have similar situation?

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Comments (5)

lehua49
15 years ago
Hi Boozie,

Don't have a rain barrel but if I saw a picture I probably could help you otherwise the magic word is "Duct Tape". If you do not know how to post a picture, I can help there too. Aloha.
sandsquid
15 years ago
I'm successfully using rain barrels in Memphis, TN area. I built my own based upon several plans I found online. The only time I loose any precious liquid sunshine is when I hit the over-flow hole at the top.
Many pictures of how I built it are online at the link below

For mosquito control I let loose a few Gambusia Affinis (AKA "The Mosquito Fish") into the barrels. I obtained for free from my County Vector (Mosquito) Control agent. The fish eat bugs, larva, and algae, and produce some nice mild fertilizer as a by-product. They handle the heat and reproduce quickly and will reach a maximum population density commensurate with the food available. Mosquito fish have been proven to be environmentally friendly and extremely effective controlling mosquitoes. Each fish eats up to 300 mosquito larvae per day. They require little or no feeding and their care is limited to protecting them from gardens sprays, chlorine and other chemicals.

When rain is forecasted I link all the barrels under downspouts, out to a "remote" barrel on the far side of my yard and they all fill up to the same level, albeit slowly.
once it's filled, I disconnect it all and use to provide a source for my drip-tape feeding my grape-vines in that section.

I'm still learning by trial and error but this works for me.

I'd be happy to discuss more details here or off-line.

Here is a link that might be useful: SandSquid's Rainbarrel Project
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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.)
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Actually, the more I think about it, it definitely is a siphoning effect. The water level always drops to around 1/3 when this happens, and I have 3 rain barrels all connected together. Too much of a coincidence for it to ALWAYS drop to 1/3, with me having 3 rain barrels. I have my overflow pipe coming up from the bottom of the middle barrel in the configuration, with a hose connected at the bottom and running into the yard. Ideally, as the water level rises, it hits the upper level of that pipe (inside the barrel) and starts draining out the overflow right down the center of the barrel and into the yard. HOWEVER, my center barrel also happens to be a closed system. Other than the overflow pipe, there is no outlet to exchange air for the water coming into the barrel (the outside barrels both are vented - one with downspout entry, the other with a nail-sized hole on the top). So, when that middle barrel completely fills up (like it does in a downpour), it then completely fills up the overflow pipe and siphoning effect occurs. It then siphons ALL the water out of the outside 2 barrels, until enough water is siphoned out so that the level drops to the top of the overflow pipe in the middle barrel. It then slowly levels out the water from that 1 full barrel to all 3 barrels. That's why it's always roughly 1/3 full after this phenomenon occurs. To fix this, I need to get some air exchange happening in that middle barrel. To do so, I have to eliminate the "closed system" aspect of my middle barrel. I can do that by simply putting a nail-sized hole in the top like I did in the other. I think I'll try that first. Oh, and the reason I didn't see this happen when I tested this before, is that I didn't let the water completely fill high enough and long enough for the siphoning effect to start. It would have been a period of time AFTER the barrels all appeared full. I obviously didn't wait long enough. I think that makes sense to me. Make sense to anybody else?
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When wood dries out, it shrinks and then leaks, so using wine barrels in the summer to catch rainwater probably is not going to work. I bought three plastic drums from a local company that was selling them for $5 each. Often things such as juice concentrate or other liquids are shipped in them. Ask around, someone in your area may be able to tell you who is selling them. Maybe if you indicate where you live, someone reading your post in your area may be able to help you out.
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miastern
15 years ago
I am really into rain barrels and ESPECIALLY the hardware called diverters that connect the downspout to the rain barrel. You can email me a photo if you like. It sounds like your rain barrel isn't set-up correctly. You might want to alsoask someone at the company where i got my diverters. They are really helpful and work weekends - I talked a guy's head off last Sunday morning about how to do this and that. They're tech support is really good.

Here is a link that might be useful: The site where I got my rain barrel support
freedee
15 years ago
I talked to this gentleman on line and I think he might have worked out all the kinks. He makes his own rainbarrels and retails some that he imports. The link is to a new design that will be in production soon. It has several features that sound very good. But,I don't like the way it looks.

He also sells parts to costomize your own barrels. He has a device to attach a larger overflow outlet. The problem with alot of the styles that I saw on line is that when they get full, the overflow is through a smaller opening than a full gutter. When it really rains, it's not enough. Let's get our priorities straight. If your foundation is going to get soaked, it not worth it.

I haven't used the product, but it sounds like it's better. I'll let you know.

Here is a link that might be useful: aquabarrel
hydro4me
14 years ago
Good to see some Rain Barrel posts on Gardenweb.

I just bought a 60 gal, "open top" one from a local store. I have my cinder blocks, paver stone, and barrel...now I just need confirmation that Outdoordecor.com will be shipping my Rain Reserve diverter soon.

With my "open top" design, the back pressure trick will require the top of the barrel (fill/overflow hole) to be level or slightly lower (1" they say) for these style diverters to work properly, or I could seal the holes on top of the lid...I'd rather not have to do that though.

We'll see how it goes...hopefully this week, since we're getting rain, but my rain barrel is currently in the house. Not doin' much good there :(

I looked at that green one, which also requires the barrel and diverter to be level, but like the slide open door, to clean out any muck, which might get past my downspout screen on the one I bought.

I LOVE this site, and growing plants indoors and out, and it's even more fun in rocks with hydroponics.

Rain Barrels

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lehua49

sandsquid

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