Houzz TV: How to Install a Rain Barrel
This DIY tutorial shows how easy it can be to capture rainwater from your roof to use in your garden later
Annie Thornton
March 7, 2016
Houzz Editorial Staff
Just think — with 1 inch of rain, you can collect more than 600 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet of roof area. Water that otherwise would drain into storm drains and pipes can be used to water your garden. It takes no more than an afternoon, a few materials and some basic DIY skills to install a backyard rain barrel. Follow along as Evan Marks, founder and executive director of the nonprofit The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, California, shows how.
There are options when installing a rain barrel, but the basic components are simple: barrel stand, barrel with lid, spigot, hose or pipe to connect downspout to barrel. Depending on where you live, and how much rain you receive, you may want to install a larger or smaller barrel to best capture the rain draining off your roof.
Use the following equation to calculate how much rainwater you could potentially capture with your rain barrel:
Catchment area (square feet) x rainfall depth (inches) x conversion factor (0.623) = harvested water (gallons)
Watch on Houzz TV now: See how to set up and install your own rain barrel
Tool and Materials
Rain Barrel Components (available at garden retailers and The Ecology Center)
Use the following equation to calculate how much rainwater you could potentially capture with your rain barrel:
Catchment area (square feet) x rainfall depth (inches) x conversion factor (0.623) = harvested water (gallons)
Watch on Houzz TV now: See how to set up and install your own rain barrel
Tool and Materials
- Measuring tape
- Drill
- Solid-surface base (cinder blocks, bricks, wood blocks)
- Beam level
- Pencil
- Phillips screwdriver
Rain Barrel Components (available at garden retailers and The Ecology Center)
- Rain barrel (available at garden centers, specialty recyclers and Houzz). Choose a barrel that is watertight, made of a food-grade material and has UV protection. If repurposing a barrel, make sure its previous contents were food-safe.
- Hole saw kit (1½ inch and 2⅛ inch)
- Rubber gaskets for spigot and hose
- Spigot
- Flexible hose
- Downspout diverter kit
- Two screws
- Winterization hole cover for downspout (this cover seals the hole in your downspout in case you want to disconnect your rain barrel over winter)
Insert spigot. Put the rain barrel on a work surface. Using the 1½-inch hole saw, drill a hole about 2 to 4 inches up from the bottom of the barrel. This is where you’ll insert the spigot that you’ll use to water your plants.
Put a rubber gasket into the drilled hole and then screw in the spigot. Now you have a way to fill your watering can or attach the hose that will water your plants.
Site barrel. The container should be close to a downspout, near the desired area of use and preferably on a solid-surface base (cinder blocks, bricks, wood blocks — use what you have). Position the barrel.
Attach the fill hose. Measure about 2 inches down from the top of the rain barrel and about 90 degrees off the spigot. Drill a hole using the 1½-inch hole saw.
First insert the rubber gasket that accompanies the fill hose into the hole and then insert the fill hose.
Watch now: Learn how to collect water with your own rain barrel
Watch now: Learn how to collect water with your own rain barrel
Insert the rain diverter. Use the beam level and pencil to mark on the downspout where the top of the rain barrel is. Measure 2 inches down from that mark and drill a hole into the downspout using the 2⅛-inch hole saw.
Note: You want the hole in your downspout to be level with the hole in the rain barrel or just slightly below it.
Note: You want the hole in your downspout to be level with the hole in the rain barrel or just slightly below it.
Insert the diverter into the downspout hole with the funnel facing up.
Tighten the diverter with two screws. Connect the loose end of the filler hose to diverter.
Enjoy! The next time it rains, you’ll have a free supply of rainwater ready for your outdoor watering needs.
Watch now: See how to set up a rain barrel on Houzz TV
More guides to saving water
How to Harvest Rainwater for Your Garden
Is a Rainwater Cistern Right for You?
Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater
How to Design Your Landscape to Sink Water Into the Ground
More on saving water in the garden
Related: Find rain barrels in the Shop section
Watch now: See how to set up a rain barrel on Houzz TV
More guides to saving water
How to Harvest Rainwater for Your Garden
Is a Rainwater Cistern Right for You?
Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater
How to Design Your Landscape to Sink Water Into the Ground
More on saving water in the garden
Related: Find rain barrels in the Shop section
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Hydrant - manure is natural, meant to be broken down into usable nutrients by the plants.
Roof shingles are not natural, being oil based tar backing, plus all the dust/dirt in the area settling on your roof, then taking all of that and condensing it down into your rain barrel. Have you ever pressure washed the street? Seen how much crud comes off? Same thing with a roof...
Shahinadayaz, while completely possible to connect to your irrigation/sprinkler system, that completely removes the point of a rain barrel. The point of the rain barrel is to reclaim and re-use what your already getting for free vs water that has had to go through the treatment plant to be delivered back to you as drinkable.