draining rain barrels or saving the water?

12 years ago

It gets pretty cold in north Mississippi here, down in the teens and even single digits for a few days, and already in 20s at nite. So I have 4 rain barrels with permanent hoses (clear so you can gauge the water level) attached. But the dilemma is that in winter I get plenty rain, so I don't need the water much, and I don't want the hoses or connectors to freeze. So each year I've been draining them. Do any of you use rain barrels? What do you do in winter? Also is there any way that the water can be saved in which it won't freeze ? I am thinking like a larger cistern but I only have 3/4 acre so that's not practical. Any ideas out there? I hate to waste water.

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Comments (3)

girlgroupgirl
12 years ago
Empty and store everything. You can get tanks in varying sizes that are very thick and heavy and will withstand the freezing. I do recommend then adding a leaf and crap catcher and if you have a food garden, a first flush. Water will be very clean, and everything but the hoses and a pump will be weatherproof.
I also don't water much in winter, but tanks, cisterns and rain barrels get me through summer just fine! I also have 3/4 of an acre.
As for the water: do you have a chore you need done that needs water? We will use it to wash our car (which we do very very rarely), moisten a compost heap if it's dry, wash garden containers etc. just to get it empty yet have the water functional and not wasted.
christinmk z5b eastern WA
12 years ago
I do have a "rain barrel" of sorts. There is no need to water here during the winter, so I dump it out.
The barrel I am using now is half of one of those barrels soap comes in from the car washes. Maybe you could could get some to hold the excess water until you need it? Wash out the soap barrel well and I think it should be fine to use the water on ornamentals... You could also get some of those plastic trash cans from Lowes to hold the water- plus they have lids so would be easy to scoop out the water as needed and also keep bugs and mosquitos from getting in it. Not sure how you would keep it from freezing though. Sorry about that! ;-)
CMK
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Calamity_J
12 years ago
I bought 3 55gal drums and 2 250gal containers last yr...so far am only using 2 of the 55 gal. I have huge gutter issues so it is kinda setting the cart before the horse...but when I do get it all running good I will be soooo happy! Things around my place do not get done too quickly...it's a challenge to how can I convince hubby that he wants to spend money on house maintenance...he fights it till the house is falling down...arg! Having said that, I have built a 8x8 structure, it will be my sunroom? down in my back yard, have used 4x4s/2x6s and have a plexi roof and it will have patio doors and windows that have been scrounged...so far it has cost me $380 to build. I built it a certain way...lean to roof, so I can attach gutter and fill one of my big 250 gal tanks...that I will use to water stuff down there! I am so excited about it! Right now I have 4 metal 55 gal drums down there(were there when we bought the place) and they do not have spouts, I just dip into them, but the big tank will have a hose!!! I bought it for $50!(all the tanks I bought were $50 each)(so right now it is like having $250 sitting around doing nuthin')and I bought 2 rain diverters (brand new) at garage sales...but as of yet, I only have one 55 gal drum set up where I want it, and have a soaker hose attached and it isn't bad, but I think I need to raise it up more for better gravity, and I think it is clogged, cuz I didn't use a leaf catcher...ya live and learn! Hopefully next year I will have new gutters and will be all set up! I am obsessed! Now I look at all roofs as possible rain collecors...bwah ha ha!!!

draining rain barrels or saving the water?

Comments (3)

girlgroupgirl

christinmk z5b eastern WA

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