Nice description of a problem that is very easy to fix. All designs are tradeoffs of something, and many features come with unexpected side effects. Good design does not stop with deployment. Continuous improvement is the way to get a better set of problems over time. The immediate solution here is just to install an overflow of some sort and route the excess elsewhere. It's not rocket science.
Why not an overflow valve at the bottom? I would think it'd make it easier to clean in addition to lowering the water level putting one at the bottom. I don't have one, nor know anyone but the recent drought here in SW Virginia has me thinking about getting one. I walked around the house looking at downspout locations just yesterday.
What about a 4" hole at the bottom where you pass the overflow through (sealed with some type of flange and epoxy or your sealant of choice) then elbow it 90° up and run the pipe vertically to about an inch or two below the lid. Then when the water gets that high it will just drain out through the overflow inside the barrel. This all hinges of course on how well you're able to seal the hole where the pipe goes through the wall of the barrel. If you mess up, you ruin your rain barrel.
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Nice description of a problem that is very easy to fix. All designs are tradeoffs of something, and many features come with unexpected side effects. Good design does not stop with deployment. Continuous improvement is the way to get a better set of problems over time. The immediate solution here is just to install an overflow of some sort and route the excess elsewhere. It's not rocket science.
Why not an overflow valve at the bottom? I would think it'd make it easier to clean in addition to lowering the water level putting one at the bottom. I don't have one, nor know anyone but the recent drought here in SW Virginia has me thinking about getting one. I walked around the house looking at downspout locations just yesterday.
What about a 4" hole at the bottom where you pass the overflow through (sealed with some type of flange and epoxy or your sealant of choice) then elbow it 90° up and run the pipe vertically to about an inch or two below the lid. Then when the water gets that high it will just drain out through the overflow inside the barrel. This all hinges of course on how well you're able to seal the hole where the pipe goes through the wall of the barrel. If you mess up, you ruin your rain barrel.
@@bishopp14 good point