Awesome video. The pacing was perfect - with this much info, other creators would have clocked in at a half hour plus, but with this pace it's easy to watch and rewatch. Thanks 10^6!
So glad you posted this!!! We talk about our off grid homestead and the importance of water!! Liquid gold is what I call it!!! and as far as we are concerned..EVERYONE should have a rain catchment...as long as you live where its LEGAL its a great water option for all to have!!
I know this comment is very dated, but just came across this very informative video. I had to laugh when I read that it's not "legal" to collect rainwater on your property. Firstly, possession is nine tenths of the law. If its naturally on your property, it's yours, "lawfully" unless you've signed away your rights to rainwater when you acquired your home (highly doubt anyone does). Alternatively, I'd think those "rules" would work both ways, if you own the rainwater, then you're responsible for any damages or loss due to flooding on my property; you best remove the snow from my property all winter as I just may slip and fall, then sue you; if my roof leaks due to your rainwater, you'd better repair or replace the roof, to my satisfaction, as well as costs incurred for inconvenience. Lol, it's simply a dumb idea for anyone to think they have ownership over God's creation.
I've lived in an apartment for my entire adult life but finally bought a house last fall. I've known I've wanted to have rain barrels on my property, but I had no idea how to go about doing that. This video comes at precisely the perfect time. Thanks, Steven! Best wishes from Calgary.
Congratulations on the Home! now you can follow along and build your long awaited rain barrels! if you have questions please let me know! that is what I am here for!
Dear Sir, Thank you so much for this tutorial. This year we bought 2 rain water barrels from Home depot and followed your step by step instruction to connect them to our water spout and it works fabulously. My husband is a big fan of yours. God bless you and your family for sharing this knowledge. With best regards from Shreematha and Pacchaiyappan USA.
This was excellent and one of the most comprehensive rain barrel how to's that I have seen! You even showed us what grade of plastic barrel to seek. Awesome work!
If you have enough room inside your home or a outbuilding that won't get down to freezing the collected water can be transferred to an inside barrel and used to water indoor plants. I've been doing this and found that the indoor plants when given this kind of water rather than tap water do so much better and look so much healthier too.
Gee, almost like mine! Wish I could have leveled mine that easy! LOL! If only my set up had been so quick and simple, LOL, but then, my episode was more of a sit-com, hahaha. Thanks for the shout-out!
It takes lots of hard experience to get that good :) I am sure your will be much more secure over the long run ! Hope your found a bunch more friends !
rain barrels are great! But I can't believe there are states where it is illegal. Shocking. I'm glad it isn't illegal here in Michigan, because I would do it anyways. Great video Steven!
I've heard this story told hundreds of times, but I haven't seen any evidence of people being prosecuted for collecting rainwater. I know Colorado did have some laws surrounding it but they have since changed after a study revealed 97% of rainwater never makes it into aquifers. The only story I have heard in relation to this was someone who dug a pond. If you catch the water before it hits the ground then there are no laws I have heard of that prevent you from using it to irrigate your garden in the US. I would love hear about actual cases where individual residents are being prosecuted over rainwater collection, or see this myth die.
wrathofsocrus it is no myth and it’s not dead in Colorado. It is called water rights and what it means is the rainwater that rolls off your roof and down your driveway belongs to someone downstream from you and you have no right to change, slow, or prevent it’s flow. There are cases of water rights law violations going back into the 1800’s in Colorado, you can do your own research to find the factual info you are seeking. Colorado sold its water rights to states of New Mexico, California, Arizona, Texas, and maybe a few others back in the 1800’s. That simply means that the water flowing down the beautiful mountain rivers from snow pack melting, or from the rain falling on your roof and driveway, etc, simply belongs to the end user in these other states and anyone in between can not stop, divert, change, or slow the normal, natural flow of water. If you do then you go to head of the line in court, you bypass the rapists and murderers and gang members and are the real threat to society and usually results in an extreme sentence beyond what the before mentioned criminals will be sentenced to. But again, this is not s myth, it is fact and has been for close to 200 years. Search under Colorado, Arizona, California water rights and you will probly uncover more info than you can digest in your lifetime
@@1982MCI Maybe you should do a little research your self. Law changed... www.denverpost.com/2016/08/05/colorado-household-rain-barrel-law-takes-effect-tuesday/ Years of acrimony over Colorado's rooftop raindrops officially end Wednesday as a new law takes effect making it crystal clear that household rain barrels are legal. Coloradans can store up to a total of 110 gallons of rainwater to use on their lawns and gardens in one or two rain barrels.Aug 5, 2016
Thank you. This was a really great video. It was especially relevant since I'm working with very uneven ground and need to create a really good foundation for a barrel that weighs that much.
Great video! Just a note, the connection between the two barrels will work better if placed at the bottom of the system. Instead of 2 40 gallon barrels, you would then have 1 80 gallon system, creating better pressure for the hose (and more convenient).
Now that was a 5 ⭐️ video.. covered everything thoroughly and perfectly precise! Thanks so much for making this video. Gave me the nudge I needed to begin my own rain barrel project!! :)
Also, instead of cutting the top, you can screw pvc pipe in the hole, use a "t" fitting on top to connect the barrels (as many as you want) and that will both fill and provide overflow.
Thank You. Very informative. We have a well and rain water is needed for the garden. I have to build a modified system to your a because I want to use it as a water run off when the barrels are full. I don't know exactly the correct hose size because the water can fill a barrel in 40 minutes. (example).
Excellent, I love water saving solutions whatever they are. I'd probably connect the two outlets into one if I was using a hose on there, and use a rainhead screen with first flush because we get so many leaves in our gutters. Another option is the water bladder that can be made to fit under a porch or landing so they're out of the way.
I don't have issues with leaves in my gutters but will use the screen to keep the stuff out! a bladder under the deck would be nice but hard to maintain and winterize!
Awesome video! When summer freezes over here, I empty my barrels and turn them upside down. I also find it quicker to dump a water can in the top to get out water, I have no patience to wait for them to fill up from the tap... Lol Thanks for sharing, Paul
I thought about dunking my watering can but did not have enough space lol. I think the new plan is to empty it in the fall and turn it upside down as suggested.
Wow! Very nicely done! I am using this video as an example when I add mine. Very perfectly done, and I'm glad you over engineered it so I could figure out how to use my watering can for the way back of my yard where my bok choy sprouts are. Thank you so much for your hard work.
Just a technical point; the Teflon tape is NOT meant to be used on those threads in this application as the seal is made with the large black rubber washer on the inside of the barrel. (the threads do not require taping.)
great job Stephen! I use an overflow system on my barrels and I need to monitor it during heavy rain falls. I use screens but sometime debris gets through and clogs the overflow. your design looks virtually maintenance free besides the winterizing. I simply turn my barrels upside-down and leave the valves open before winter hits.
You are really wonderful at detailing your process so there’s nothing left to wonder about! Excellent!! I really enjoyed watching and thank you so much! I feel confident that I can easily do this in my yard now 🍀🙏😃💖
I use similar barrels, but I did not cut them. I connected the downspout to one of the two openings on the top of the barrel and I use the other opening to let the water exit the barrel when it is full. My downspouts are circular and just slightly larger than the openings on the barrel so there is a nice fit. Before winter, I simply empty the barrel and I leave the faucet open until spring so that water can flow through the barrel.
For the tap, I drilled a hole similarly to what you did, but I did not do anything on the inside of the barrel. I only put teflon tape on the threading of the pipe plus a black gasket and I screwed it tightly to the barrel.
Nothing perfect, but it works for me. And I connect multiple barrels using the other openings at the top. I use the same pvc pipes used for the downspouts: two 90-degree curves + one short pipe and the two barrels are connected!
Great job, Steven, constructing AND video-sharing your system! Wondering how the overflow worked over the past several years. When the barrels are full, did the water back up in the supply hose to the downspout, or did it spill out over the bug netting? The "diverter" hole looks higher than the tops of the open (but screened) barrels. Otherwise, thanks for a great presentation!
I am finishing a 12'x16' shed, and I have a food grade pallet tank to collect water. The tank holds probably about 200 gallons. It already has a valve at the bottom, and I'll come up with the downspout hookup. I'll permanently have the downspout connected, with the overflow exiting the upper part of the tank, to be connected to a drain hose that leads to the lowest elevation beyond the shed.
A cheap drip system would prevent you from manually filling your water bucket and saving you a huge amount of time. There are great videos on TH-cam explaining drip irrigation.
Add cheap goldfish or feeder fish to your barrels and they will eat all of the mosquito larvae while adding free fertilizer to the water that your plants will love. I have barrels in my house in Florida with gold fish that I bought 5 for a $1 that are still alive after one year. The only thing you might come up with in the way of an objection is that the water will freeze in winter killing the fish. To that I say, spend another dollar in spring for more goldfish or bring them in the house for the winter. Pure and simple
Alberta Urban Garden Simple Organic and Sustainable that would be an awesome testing gardening assumptions episode. It's not too dissimilar from the ideas behind urine and feces in the garden. And it's already being applied in aquaponics. But it would still be cool to see the results. Plus if it's positive, you'll educate people on a cheap alternative to control mosquitos and fertilize their gardens simultaneously.
Hi Stephen. I really like the base you made. Very sturdy and long lasting. I have a couple of 1000 litre pallet tanks, but they aren't pretty and since our neighbourhood doesn't have backyard fences, my wife doesn't want them out in the open. I have an unobtrusive spot in mind but it's at the bottom of a gully and would need a pump. S if you do put a pump, please, please make a video. Would also be interesting if you install a first flush system Thanks
If I find I need to speed up watering I certainly will do a video on the pump as it is something I would need to research quite a bit and would love to share my findings! The only issue with the base is its scratchy and my watering can needs a little buffer between it and the concrete ;) that is ascetics I can fix with time!
Awesome! I have done something similar, only I got five 50 gallon kalamata olive barrels from a Greek deli. What's nice about them is that they have two-piece screw top lids, like mason jars. I can remove the plastic lid, put a piece of screen in its place, and secure it with the ring. When the summer comes and we have no rain, I put the plastic lid back on to keep the water from evaporating. They are a very nice terra cotta color too. I'm not very tall though, so I have to lay them on the ground and crawl halfway in to install the spigots. :D
That would be nice. I was looking at a 200l version of those but the fellow would not come down on price so I passed :) I could barely reach the bottom of my barrels and I am 6 foot tall :) no harm in leaning it over and crawling in !
I bought an rv washing wand to clean my rainbarrel. It worked great for the sides but I still had to crawl into the barrel to clean the bottom edges. My wife thought it was funny to "help" rinse it out while I was still inside. I got even. (I know where she sleeps!) Lol!
Terrific video, Steven! Great inspiration. I need to figure out a way to do this and include a pump for a hose at the base of the barrels since my house is pretty far away from my garden.
The longer term reason I was thinking a larger access would be nice is I can put a submersible pump in. There are others that attach to the hose and then run the water through the pump. I might think about a pump if the watering can turns out to be too slow :)
It will leak at the junction between the tanks because you have screwed a 3/4" MHT (male hose thread) into a 3/4" NPT (natl pipe thread) also called iron pipe thread. They are close in size, but not exact. You can achieve the same connection with two 1" PVC male adapters , two 1" gaskets, one foot of 1" PVC pipe and two 1" lock nuts for about 1/4 the price of two bulkhead fittings. Home depot has them as a set, and they are called 1" washing machine pan adapters.
Great job Stephen. That was my job for this year till I decided to do the BTE garden. I have very sandy soil and and even though I was using a lot of organic material, I still had to use town water. No more. This has already been a dry spring and because of the wood chips, when I paw the chips away from the top of the soil, it glistens. I may use this idea for other purposes. Thank and God bless, Jim
I am glad you are having success ! I don't have to use a lot of water once my plants get going as my mulch layer works in much the same way. It is very nice !
Steven, 2 things: for the sawzall, the harder the material being cut the finer the tooth pitch, you would have been better off with a 6tpi wood blade, for the faucets, Teflon tape is meant for taper or pipe threads, and is more likely to cause than solve a leak on those strait threaded fittings... Though I have noticed in the past couple years a lot of the overseas made cheap junk they sell at the Home Deathspot has it in the instructions to use it where you should not...
That's why I mentioned the metal blade. I figured a smaller tooth would be needed and the regular starter kits that's the metal blade. Thanks for the tip! I spoke to my father about this before and he said a side benefit of the tape is it helps keep water out of the initial thread helping to prevent damage when the freeze thaw cycle starts. That is interning though you suggest it may not be needed. I am going to have to look into that more !
***** Teflon Tape's benefit comes from the fact that tapered threads crush it into filling the gaps between male and female threads, there by filling all possible space for fluid egress... Strait threads are not designed to do this, and mostly try pushing the Teflon Tape out of the way, often causing lumps with voids that allow fluid egress... I don't know how many times I have been called in so solve leaks caused by homeowners installing faucets and using Teflon Tape on the wrong fittings... The store has had to pay my time on many occasions when the home owner has shown me the supplied instructions that tell them to use it incorrectly... I guess the Asian manufacturers cut and pasted the wrong section of another company's English instructions...
Hi there! If you're using this only to feed plants, then there are several species you could take right out of nature like mosquito fish. You could also go to your local pet store and pick out some guppies, depending on how hot and cold it gets outdoors. They will happily eat any fry and add nitrate to the water if you keep them in number. Watch out for dragon flies. Their larvae will eat your guppies! Maybe use some hardware cloth to prevent them from laying eggs in your rain buckets.
Excellent!!!! Do you flush your barrels? If so, how often? You also winterize your system as well??? Can you use insect screen???? Again, thank you. Mike
Use a ball valve 3/4 inch so you can quickly fill your watering jug or bucket. your spigot is too slow especially when barrel is half full. For low pressure systems you need 3x the size of valves to achieve same flow rate. that way you can hook up a 3/4" hose and water your garden without carryng heavy water 10x back and forth.
One idea for the sand under the base is to mix cement in with the sand so when it beds down it provides a porous but firmer base and importantly will help suppress weeds and stop ants taking your sand away (or creating a nest). My father as a builder used to use this method when laying driveway cobbles.
The sand & cement are a dry mix, you're not mixing/making mortar. I think he used a 1:8 ratio (cement to sand) rather than I recollect the higher 1:4/1:6 for mortar.
No concern as the food grade plastics don't absorb from the content and vice versa. Some of the plastics in red don't leach anything but do pick them up as they are softer with higher poor space. I did confirm this with a expert in contaminants that I work with prior to going this rout.
Steve, when using a hole saw in plastic, start the hole rotating the bit in the normal way. Before you get through the material run the bit backward and you'll get a much nicer/cleaner hole. Thanks for all you do
An 8" pond plant basket in a 7.5" hole cut in the top of the barrel. Then line the basket with a nylon paint strainer. Easily removable for maintenance and it keeps insects out.
I like your safety shoes that you are wearing while shifting around those heavy patio slabs! Just kidding. I harness rain water, too. I have an IBC which holds 1,000L and we also have a well in our barn. My husband has attached a jet pump to it and then the garden hose is attached to the pump. We don't pay for water as we are in the country but I think rainwater is the best for veggie gardens :)
My wife said that too. I unfortunately left my steel toes in my work vehicle that my staff had out during my vacation. I know safely first but crocks are protective right :) I was thinking of a pump too and may get one if the watering can business takes too long :) would you suggest a submersible ?
It's to ensure maximum water pressure to speed up water can filling. If the connector was at the bottom, the water pressure would be half (unless of course, both barrels are completely full)
I don’t live somewhere where it snows so this may not work, but just before the snow melts in spring, could you shovel snow into your barrels so you don’t have to wait for rain to start filling them?
FYI - for the cross barrel connection, you do not need to cut the hose short. You can buy a short hose (I have seen some at the Home Depot that are only 12-15 feet long. It can then be hooked up between the two barrel connections as shown. The extra hose can simply be coiled between the barrels. The only trick is that no part of the coil can be higher than the hose connections or the connection will not allow water to flow.
Great detailed video. I just built a greenhouse and noticed the great watering can you use in this video. It would be great for reaching far corners under shelves in my greenhouse. Could you please provide info on that specific watering can?
![The BEST DIY RAIN BARREL Install [Complete Guide]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/szMxYIKDXmU/mqdefault.jpg)
very good video thank you. it's really crazy how we live in a world, where new houses do not come with water catching systems pre installed.
you beautiful Canadian Chris Pratt are so clear and concise with this process , save my life THANKS !!!!
This was the most thorough rain barrel video I've found. Thank you!
Awesome video. The pacing was perfect - with this much info, other creators would have clocked in at a half hour plus, but with this pace it's easy to watch and rewatch. Thanks 10^6!
So glad you posted this!!! We talk about our off grid homestead and the importance of water!! Liquid gold is what I call it!!! and as far as we are concerned..EVERYONE should have a rain catchment...as long as you live where its LEGAL its a great water option for all to have!!
I am glad to help! As in the title of my channel sustainability is important. It also helps me protect the collection of perennials I treasure!
Starry Hilder t)
Starry Hilder I
I know this comment is very dated, but just came across this very informative video. I had to laugh when I read that it's not "legal" to collect rainwater on your property. Firstly, possession is nine tenths of the law. If its naturally on your property, it's yours, "lawfully" unless you've signed away your rights to rainwater when you acquired your home (highly doubt anyone does). Alternatively, I'd think those "rules" would work both ways, if you own the rainwater, then you're responsible for any damages or loss due to flooding on my property; you best remove the snow from my property all winter as I just may slip and fall, then sue you; if my roof leaks due to your rainwater, you'd better repair or replace the roof, to my satisfaction, as well as costs incurred for inconvenience. Lol, it's simply a dumb idea for anyone to think they have ownership over God's creation.
I love how you made this extendable! You can add more barrels when you want. Amazing.
I've lived in an apartment for my entire adult life but finally bought a house last fall. I've known I've wanted to have rain barrels on my property, but I had no idea how to go about doing that. This video comes at precisely the perfect time. Thanks, Steven! Best wishes from Calgary.
Congratulations on the Home! now you can follow along and build your long awaited rain barrels! if you have questions please let me know! that is what I am here for!
Dear Sir,
Thank you so much for this tutorial. This year we bought 2 rain water barrels from Home depot and followed your step by step instruction to connect them to our water spout and it works fabulously. My husband is a big fan of yours. God bless you and your family for sharing this knowledge.
With best regards from Shreematha and Pacchaiyappan USA.
It's 4 years later and I'm wondering if he got his jig saw back... we need a follow up video please 😁
Hopefully, this video embarrassed the borrower enough to give it back!
He said it so matter of fact. The shade...😁
no seriously we don't
@@gardengnome3249 you don’t, I do 😂
@@galaxydreaming I can't tell if he meant "we don't need another video" or "we don't have our jigsaw back yet"
This was excellent and one of the most comprehensive rain barrel how to's that I have seen! You even showed us what grade of plastic barrel to seek. Awesome work!
If you have enough room inside your home or a outbuilding that won't get down to freezing the collected water can be transferred to an inside barrel and used to water indoor plants. I've been doing this and found that the indoor plants when given this kind of water rather than tap water do so much better and look so much healthier too.
This is a waaaay better set up than completely diverting my downspout. Thanks!
That was amazingly thorough. Very well put together. This was the best video on rain barrels. Thankyou!
Seconded. Just watched a few and this one is the best.
9:40 of my time very well spent, I feel smarter watching this vid, thanks for posting!
Gee, almost like mine! Wish I could have leveled mine that easy! LOL! If only my set up had been so quick and simple, LOL, but then, my episode was more of a sit-com, hahaha. Thanks for the shout-out!
It takes lots of hard experience to get that good :) I am sure your will be much more secure over the long run !
Hope your found a bunch more friends !
A few. :) Thanks! If I could get to your # of subscribers, I would be very happy.
It will happen my friend ! You have a great show!
rain barrels are great! But I can't believe there are states where it is illegal. Shocking. I'm glad it isn't illegal here in Michigan, because I would do it anyways. Great video Steven!
I had no idea that it was illegal in some states. I wonder what the reason is.
Thank you for the kind comment Luke I appreciate it.
***** Yeah... people out west are getting in HUGE trouble for it. United states is getting more and more.... dictatorial.
I've heard this story told hundreds of times, but I haven't seen any evidence of people being prosecuted for collecting rainwater. I know Colorado did have some laws surrounding it but they have since changed after a study revealed 97% of rainwater never makes it into aquifers.
The only story I have heard in relation to this was someone who dug a pond. If you catch the water before it hits the ground then there are no laws I have heard of that prevent you from using it to irrigate your garden in the US. I would love hear about actual cases where individual residents are being prosecuted over rainwater collection, or see this myth die.
wrathofsocrus it is no myth and it’s not dead in Colorado. It is called water rights and what it means is the rainwater that rolls off your roof and down your driveway belongs to someone downstream from you and you have no right to change, slow, or prevent it’s flow.
There are cases of water rights law violations going back into the 1800’s in Colorado, you can do your own research to find the factual info you are seeking.
Colorado sold its water rights to states of New Mexico, California, Arizona, Texas, and maybe a few others back in the 1800’s. That simply means that the water flowing down the beautiful mountain rivers from snow pack melting, or from the rain falling on your roof and driveway, etc, simply belongs to the end user in these other states and anyone in between can not stop, divert, change, or slow the normal, natural flow of water. If you do then you go to head of the line in court, you bypass the rapists and murderers and gang members and are the real threat to society and usually results in an extreme sentence beyond what the before mentioned criminals will be sentenced to.
But again, this is not s myth, it is fact and has been for close to 200 years. Search under Colorado, Arizona, California water rights and you will probly uncover more info than you can digest in your lifetime
@@1982MCI Maybe you should do a little research your self. Law changed... www.denverpost.com/2016/08/05/colorado-household-rain-barrel-law-takes-effect-tuesday/ Years of acrimony over Colorado's rooftop raindrops officially end Wednesday as a new law takes effect making it crystal clear that household rain barrels are legal. Coloradans can store up to a total of 110 gallons of rainwater to use on their lawns and gardens in one or two rain barrels.Aug 5, 2016
Chris Pratt is a very versatile person! He also makes great TH-cam videos about rain barrel usage.. Thank you, sir! 🤗
Thank you. This was a really great video. It was especially relevant since I'm working with very uneven ground and need to create a really good foundation for a barrel that weighs that much.
Great for any garden vegetables or flowers. Excellent video, short but everything u need to know.
Thanks
Good job 👏......I'm sure this will help many folks 👍...even me 🙂
Many thanks for taking the time to create the vid. It is clear, concise and well put together. Exactly what I was looking for. Nicely done, my friend.
I am glad I could help my friend !
Great set-up. I love that base you created. Rock solid. I may have to copy that for my barrels.
I work with a lot of engineers. If I did not over engineer it I would not be doing by job!
I've been searching for the correct fitting for about 2 hours. the words "bulkhead fitting" have solved all my problems thanks :-D
Great video! Just a note, the connection between the two barrels will work better if placed at the bottom of the system. Instead of 2 40 gallon barrels, you would then have 1 80 gallon system, creating better pressure for the hose (and more convenient).
Thank you for the tip ! I appreciate it ! Next time :)
pressure is determined by the height of the water in the barrels, not by the volume of water.
Advantage: you will need only one tap.
Now that was a 5 ⭐️ video.. covered everything thoroughly and perfectly precise! Thanks so much for making this video. Gave me the nudge I needed to begin my own rain barrel project!! :)
amazing video! I have two of the same barrels I wanted to use, so this is SO helpful! thank you for being so detailed and informative!
Glad you enjoyed!
When he's not pictured, I feel like i'm listening to Kip from Napoleon Dynamite.
Also, instead of cutting the top, you can screw pvc pipe in the hole, use a "t" fitting on top to connect the barrels (as many as you want) and that will both fill and provide overflow.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 absolutely terrific tutorial. You answered 100% of the questions I had and some I didn’t even know I should ask 😂 THANK YOU
I am glad I could help my friend.
This was an excellent, clear video. THANK YOU!
Glad I could help
I made the same base except I added another level of blocks to raise it up more and increase the pressure coming out of the hose. Good video overall.
Thank You. Very informative. We have a well and rain water is needed for the garden. I have to build a modified system to your a because I want to use it as a water run off when the barrels are full. I don't know exactly the correct hose size because the water can fill a barrel in 40 minutes. (example).
Wish you have purchasing list for all the parts, great video, thanks.
Excellent, I love water saving solutions whatever they are. I'd probably connect the two outlets into one if I was using a hose on there, and use a rainhead screen with first flush because we get so many leaves in our gutters.
Another option is the water bladder that can be made to fit under a porch or landing so they're out of the way.
I don't have issues with leaves in my gutters but will use the screen to keep the stuff out!
a bladder under the deck would be nice but hard to maintain and winterize!
With the downspout diverter higher than the top edge of the barrel, won't the barrels overfill, rather than overflow back down the downspout?
Awesome video! When summer freezes over here, I empty my barrels and turn them upside down. I also find it quicker to dump a water can in the top to get out water, I have no patience to wait for them to fill up from the tap... Lol
Thanks for sharing,
Paul
I thought about dunking my watering can but did not have enough space lol.
I think the new plan is to empty it in the fall and turn it upside down as suggested.
Wow! Very nicely done! I am using this video as an example when I add mine. Very perfectly done, and I'm glad you over engineered it so I could figure out how to use my watering can for the way back of my yard where my bok choy sprouts are. Thank you so much for your hard work.
Wow.... this was... very informative. Clear instructions and great audio and visual. Subscribed!
Just a technical point; the Teflon tape is NOT meant to be used on those threads in this application as the seal is made with the large black rubber washer on the inside of the barrel. (the threads do not require taping.)
Best rain barrel tutorial for beginners!
Awesome information video. Love the side jab to the dude who borrowed your jigsaw.
great job Stephen! I use an overflow system on my barrels and I need to monitor it during heavy rain falls. I use screens but sometime debris gets through and clogs the overflow. your design looks virtually maintenance free besides the winterizing. I simply turn my barrels upside-down and leave the valves open before winter hits.
In theory the system should be maintenance free but we shall see.
I had not thought of just flipping the barrels. Thanks for the tip !
That is the plan now!! Thanks for the tip it is appreciated!
Actually, you need to leave the faucets open during the winter so any residual water doesn't freeze and crack the faucet.
I had planned on that as well.
6:33 I think you're getting a little sawzall happy, I usually just cut garden hoses with my pocket knife LOL
You are really wonderful at detailing your process so there’s nothing left to wonder about! Excellent!! I really enjoyed watching and thank you so much! I feel confident that I can easily do this in my yard now 🍀🙏😃💖
1:58 in and I am hooked! Thank you!!!
Great video. So clearly (pun intended) demonstrates first flush. Thank you!!
I use similar barrels, but I did not cut them.
I connected the downspout to one of the two openings on the top of the barrel and I use the other opening to let the water exit the barrel when it is full.
My downspouts are circular and just slightly larger than the openings on the barrel so there is a nice fit.
Before winter, I simply empty the barrel and I leave the faucet open until spring so that water can flow through the barrel.
That is a great tip for winterizing! Thanks !!
how did you get your tap installed?
For the tap, I drilled a hole similarly to what you did, but I did not do anything on the inside of the barrel.
I only put teflon tape on the threading of the pipe plus a black gasket and I screwed it tightly to the barrel.
no leaks thats great!
Nothing perfect, but it works for me.
And I connect multiple barrels using the other openings at the top.
I use the same pvc pipes used for the downspouts: two 90-degree curves + one short pipe and the two barrels are connected!
sounds like you are a touch more resourceful than I!
Great job, Steven, constructing AND video-sharing your system! Wondering how the overflow worked over the past several years. When the barrels are full, did the water back up in the supply hose to the downspout, or did it spill out over the bug netting? The "diverter" hole looks higher than the tops of the open (but screened) barrels. Otherwise, thanks for a great presentation!
I am finishing a 12'x16' shed, and I have a food grade pallet tank to collect water. The tank holds probably about 200 gallons. It already has a valve at the bottom, and I'll come up with the downspout hookup. I'll permanently have the downspout connected, with the overflow exiting the upper part of the tank, to be connected to a drain hose that leads to the lowest elevation beyond the shed.
This does a great job of presenting all the info nicely.
Excellent demo!! Best thus far!
A cheap drip system would prevent you from manually filling your water bucket and saving you a huge amount of time. There are great videos on TH-cam explaining drip irrigation.
Add cheap goldfish or feeder fish to your barrels and they will eat all of the mosquito larvae while adding free fertilizer to the water that your plants will love. I have barrels in my house in Florida with gold fish that I bought 5 for a $1 that are still alive after one year. The only thing you might come up with in the way of an objection is that the water will freeze in winter killing the fish. To that I say, spend another dollar in spring for more goldfish or bring them in the house for the winter. Pure and simple
That might be a good idea! I wonder what kind of nutrient levels they would add. Ill have to test my tank inside!
Alberta Urban Garden Simple Organic and Sustainable that would be an awesome testing gardening assumptions episode. It's not too dissimilar from the ideas behind urine and feces in the garden. And it's already being applied in aquaponics. But it would still be cool to see the results. Plus if it's positive, you'll educate people on a cheap alternative to control mosquitos and fertilize their gardens simultaneously.
That certainly would be interesting. Ill have to do some research!
Can they survive without water pump?
Am I also intrested?
Hi Stephen.
I really like the base you made. Very sturdy and long lasting.
I have a couple of 1000 litre pallet tanks, but they aren't pretty and since our neighbourhood doesn't have backyard fences, my wife doesn't want them out in the open. I have an unobtrusive spot in mind but it's at the bottom of a gully and would need a pump. S if you do put a pump, please, please make a video.
Would also be interesting if you install a first flush system
Thanks
If I find I need to speed up watering I certainly will do a video on the pump as it is something I would need to research quite a bit and would love to share my findings!
The only issue with the base is its scratchy and my watering can needs a little buffer between it and the concrete ;) that is ascetics I can fix with time!
Awesome! I have done something similar, only I got five 50 gallon kalamata olive barrels from a Greek deli. What's nice about them is that they have two-piece screw top lids, like mason jars. I can remove the plastic lid, put a piece of screen in its place, and secure it with the ring. When the summer comes and we have no rain, I put the plastic lid back on to keep the water from evaporating. They are a very nice terra cotta color too.
I'm not very tall though, so I have to lay them on the ground and crawl halfway in to install the spigots. :D
That would be nice. I was looking at a 200l version of those but the fellow would not come down on price so I passed :)
I could barely reach the bottom of my barrels and I am 6 foot tall :) no harm in leaning it over and crawling in !
I bought an rv washing wand to clean my rainbarrel. It worked great for the sides but I still had to crawl into the barrel to clean the bottom edges. My wife thought it was funny to "help" rinse it out while I was still inside. I got even. (I know where she sleeps!) Lol!
Oh no! :D
lol thats why I did it while my wife was busy! no need to get an extra washing in ;)
Have you ever used a pressure gage to see if there’s enough pressure to run a drip system to your garden bed?
Terrific video, Steven! Great inspiration. I need to figure out a way to do this and include a pump for a hose at the base of the barrels since my house is pretty far away from my garden.
The longer term reason I was thinking a larger access would be nice is I can put a submersible pump in. There are others that attach to the hose and then run the water through the pump.
I might think about a pump if the watering can turns out to be too slow :)
It will leak at the junction between the tanks because you have screwed a 3/4" MHT (male hose thread) into a 3/4" NPT (natl pipe thread) also called iron pipe thread. They are close in size, but not exact. You can achieve the same connection with two 1" PVC male adapters , two 1" gaskets, one foot of 1" PVC pipe and two 1" lock nuts for about 1/4 the price of two bulkhead fittings. Home depot has them as a set, and they are called 1" washing machine pan adapters.
Thank you for the video. I do have a Q. Why that big opening in the top of the barrel. What is the function of that big opening? Thanks
Great job Stephen. That was my job for this year till I decided to do the BTE garden. I have very sandy soil and and even though I was using a lot of organic material, I still had to use town water. No more. This has already been a dry spring and because of the wood chips, when I paw the chips away from the top of the soil, it glistens. I may use this idea for other purposes. Thank and God bless,
Jim
I am glad you are having success ! I don't have to use a lot of water once my plants get going as my mulch layer works in much the same way. It is very nice !
Would you please list the materials used for the spout, and other fittings?
click show more
Can you send me a list of supplies, or links? Especially for diverter kit? Thanks and great video..
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ESB9XBY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=oneya-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00ESB9XBY&linkId=3c2168483a526412a48f96eeeb4eb548
I'm prob just gonna put my downspout into a plastic barrel. Dont judge me..
But amazing work you did here my friend!
Very well spoken. Thanks for the tutorial.
Can u pls provide the list of materials used in this video. If possible can give link to access this material. Thank you
Steven, 2 things: for the sawzall, the harder the material being cut the finer the tooth pitch, you would have been better off with a 6tpi wood blade, for the faucets, Teflon tape is meant for taper or pipe threads, and is more likely to cause than solve a leak on those strait threaded fittings... Though I have noticed in the past couple years a lot of the overseas made cheap junk they sell at the Home Deathspot has it in the instructions to use it where you should not...
That's why I mentioned the metal blade. I figured a smaller tooth would be needed and the regular starter kits that's the metal blade. Thanks for the tip!
I spoke to my father about this before and he said a side benefit of the tape is it helps keep water out of the initial thread helping to prevent damage when the freeze thaw cycle starts. That is interning though you suggest it may not be needed. I am going to have to look into that more !
*****
Teflon Tape's benefit comes from the fact that tapered threads crush it into filling the gaps between male and female threads, there by filling all possible space for fluid egress... Strait threads are not designed to do this, and mostly try pushing the Teflon Tape out of the way, often causing lumps with voids that allow fluid egress... I don't know how many times I have been called in so solve leaks caused by homeowners installing faucets and using Teflon Tape on the wrong fittings... The store has had to pay my time on many occasions when the home owner has shown me the supplied instructions that tell them to use it incorrectly... I guess the Asian manufacturers cut and pasted the wrong section of another company's English instructions...
I noticed that the diverter is quite small? Does it take a long time to fill the barrels ?
I put two feeder goldfish in my rain barrels. They keep insects from breeding in the water.
That is a good idea!! They also would fertilize the water.
goldfish shit in the water, just put good meshing on top (and you can add the mosquito donuts to it they wont affect the quality of the rainwater)
Make sure to have a proper amount of oxygen in the water
@@zolox4814 A goldfish in mine would die during the summer. The water gets to 100* F in the summer. Zone 7
Hi there! If you're using this only to feed plants, then there are several species you could take right out of nature like mosquito fish. You could also go to your local pet store and pick out some guppies, depending on how hot and cold it gets outdoors. They will happily eat any fry and add nitrate to the water if you keep them in number.
Watch out for dragon flies. Their larvae will eat your guppies! Maybe use some hardware cloth to prevent them from laying eggs in your rain buckets.
Thank you for your video. Where did you buy the large, green, metal watering can?
Thank you! I'm planning on putting something together. I cannot seem to find that particular diverter though. Do you have a link to it?
Thank you.
such a great to the point tutorial. thanks!
Glad I could help!
Excellent!!!! Do you flush your barrels? If so, how often? You also winterize your system as well??? Can you use insect screen????
Again, thank you.
Mike
Wouldn't the crosslink hose be more beneficial if it was located at the bottom of the barrel rather than as high on the barrel as you could place it?
Its Star Lord! Awesome video
Please make a list of all the materials and fittings etc. You used. In the video. Please put the list on the description below. Thank you.
Use a ball valve 3/4 inch so you can quickly fill your watering jug or bucket. your spigot is too slow especially when barrel is half full.
For low pressure systems you need 3x the size of valves to achieve same flow rate. that way you can hook up a 3/4" hose and water your garden without carryng heavy water 10x back and forth.
One idea for the sand under the base is to mix cement in with the sand so when it beds down it provides a porous but firmer base and importantly will help suppress weeds and stop ants taking your sand away (or creating a nest). My father as a builder used to use this method when laying driveway cobbles.
The sand & cement are a dry mix, you're not mixing/making mortar. I think he used a 1:8 ratio (cement to sand) rather than I recollect the higher 1:4/1:6 for mortar.
That is a great idea ! I might take this down next summer and add the mortar ! Thanks for the great tip!
What about the granulars from the asphalt shingles? Do we really want those in our edibles?
Very well done, Stephen. Any concerns about the plastic absorbing chemicals from the barrels' previous contents?
No concern as the food grade plastics don't absorb from the content and vice versa. Some of the plastics in red don't leach anything but do pick them up as they are softer with higher poor space.
I did confirm this with a expert in contaminants that I work with prior to going this rout.
Steve, when using a hole saw in plastic, start the hole rotating the bit in the normal way. Before you get through the material run the bit backward and you'll get a much nicer/cleaner hole.
Thanks for all you do
Thats a great tip thank you!!
That's not always true. I found when making my PVC Hydro tubes I got a much cleaner cut running forward.
thank you, will watch more of your videos. really well done - clear, informative, helpful.🙏
Thank you my friend. Let me know if you have questions.
An 8" pond plant basket in a 7.5" hole cut in the top of the barrel. Then line the basket with a nylon paint strainer. Easily removable for maintenance and it keeps insects out.
What I see is the bulkhead has the threads on the outside. The spigot has the threads on the outside, so how does the spigot screw into the bulkhead?
I like your safety shoes that you are wearing while shifting around those heavy patio slabs! Just kidding. I harness rain water, too. I have an IBC which holds 1,000L and we also have a well in our barn. My husband has attached a jet pump to it and then the garden hose is attached to the pump. We don't pay for water as we are in the country but I think rainwater is the best for veggie gardens :)
My wife said that too. I unfortunately left my steel toes in my work vehicle that my staff had out during my vacation. I know safely first but crocks are protective right :)
I was thinking of a pump too and may get one if the watering can business takes too long :) would you suggest a submersible ?
If you put the connector at the bottom then you would only need one tap at one barrel?
It's to ensure maximum water pressure to speed up water can filling. If the connector was at the bottom, the water pressure would be half (unless of course, both barrels are completely full)
Thank you for your excellent and detailed instructions!
I don’t live somewhere where it snows so this may not work, but just before the snow melts in spring, could you shovel snow into your barrels so you don’t have to wait for rain to start filling them?
FYI - for the cross barrel connection, you do not need to cut the hose short. You can buy a short hose (I have seen some at the Home Depot that are only 12-15 feet long. It can then be hooked up between the two barrel connections as shown. The extra hose can simply be coiled between the barrels. The only trick is that no part of the coil can be higher than the hose connections or the connection will not allow water to flow.
How did the overflow work out? It seems to me that with the open tops on the barrels the water won't ever get back up the hose with out spilling out.
It works fine. The diversion from the down spout is not a total one so I only get 1/4 of the rain.
Since yours had washer fluid in them I feel a little better about the barrels I was able to find, which contained liquid latex.
Great video. Do you have a link on where to purchase the eavestrough collection system so I don't have to hack my downspout? Thanks
It was on Amazon and if you check my website I should have a link at the bottom of the blog post. Good luck !
Awesome video. Would be good to provide a list of items to get.
Check my website for the blog post.
That dog is so cute
Thanks!
Great detailed video. I just built a greenhouse and noticed the great watering can you use in this video. It would be great for reaching far corners under shelves in my greenhouse. Could you please provide info on that specific watering can?
Thank you a detailed video 👍👍👍👍
Could you use this for drinking water if you had too? Because it had antifreeze in it?
Q. How is it considered food-safe when it originally held windshield washer fluid?
very noice, thank you for using both metric and imperial units :)
I think it’s the most practical to use both. I work in metric but know our American friends don’t.
Any regrets now that some time has passed? Any changes you would make to the design? Thinking about doing this soon!
Nice 🐶 👍