How to automate your irrigation system from a water butt or garden tap

How to connect up your irrigation system to either a water butt or mains tap, so that if we ever do get to go on holiday again, our plants need not die while we are away.
You will, of course, have to make sure that your water butt is full before leaving.
Also note that my water butt is on a stand which increases the water pressure.
This is the water timer I used, though there are loads others on the market, just check that they are suitable for use with a water butt rather than a pressured mains system. The manufacturers of 'my' timer were specifically asked about suitability with a water butt and this was their response
Question:Will this work with gravity fed supply (i.e. water butt)?
Answer:Answer here...Yes , because all that the timer does is to open a valve for the water to flow. If your water source is a butt then the timer simply opens the valve for it.
So check commonly asked questions about any product you are considering or ask the manufacturer directly yourself.
Kingfisher electronic water timer amzn.to/3IdmAQO
These are the O rings : amzn.to/3ka8lnZ
And this is the hozelock adaptor 2170: amzn.to/3IuGxEb
You don't need to buy these from Amazon ( obviously), but hopefully this gives you more of a clue as to what you are looking for!
As I usually add links where I have bought items I have used anyway: I have just become an Amazon Associate, so I now earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. There is no extra cost to you.
#waterbutt
#leakygardentap
#howtostopadrip
#garden #gardeningtips
#gardenjobs
#automatewateringsystem
#wateringsystem
#automatedwateringsystem
#automatedwateringsystemfrombutt
#irrigation
#makeyourownirrigationsystem

[@ruthmcallisterkemp9689]

You are the Richard Feynman of leaking water butts! Oh my god. For weeks now, I’ve have been getting progressively vexed at my dripper system. Buying new bits when it didn’t work until I got to the end of my tether and spent 30mins on t’internet for answers. And there you are! Shining like an angel from heaven in her garden. All the info. Short and sweet and to the point. Went searching on all the other hose bits and bobs, levered off an o-ring and stuck it on the water butt tap. Ta da! THE DRIP SYSTEM NOW WORKS. Thank you for saving my sanity and my tomatos.

[@BecomingCreative]

Oh Ruth you are so sweet. I'm only pleased I was able to help. I abhor leaks, so was determined to sort this one out! Thanks for watching and I hope you have subscribed- it's an eclectic collection of videos, something for everyone and more to follow. x

[@emmacheeseman4758]

Alternatively, warm up a piece of hose pipe in boiling water and fit this to the tap nozzle then attach your hose connector of choice to the hose which connects to the timer. Xx

[@BecomingCreative]

I'd be interested to know if you've tried this and made it work? I suspect that the weight of the hose would eventually mean that it would slip off, leak or come loose, especially if the tap had a thread. Still, all roads lead to Rome. Thanks for watching and for joining in. It's always great to hear from people with other ideas, hope you've subscribed.

[@JakRadice]

Excellent thank you.

[@BecomingCreative]

And thank you for watching. Hope you've subscribed, there's plenty more nonsense where this came from.

[@exprezza1648]

Great video, very helpful, thanks.

[@BecomingCreative]

Many thanks, glad it was useful. If you're going on holiday, don't forget to fill the water butt before leaving. Hope you have subscribed? If so make sure it's to 'all' or you'll never hear from me again- the algorithm isn't sufficiently nuanced to pick up that the common thread to Handmade Originals videos is encouraging creativity in all fields. Don't worry I'm not too prolific!😊

[@jack-theoptimisticbaromete4278]

This video was very helpful. Thank you. 👍

[@BecomingCreative]

Thanks Jack

[@frankmillar1339]

I connected 2 water butts together by a length of hose and snap on connectors to the taps but kept leaking at the tap/hose joint. Saw your video and changed the o rings on the taps and its done the job perfectly. As you say the Hozelock o rings are just slightly larger and take up the slack. Brilliant suggestion, thanks for sharing.

[@frankmillar1339]

PS - will you marry me XXX

[@BecomingCreative]

That's great feedback Frank, thank you. All manner of eclectic videos to follow, so hope you have subscribed.

[@ElaineB-J]

Very clear instructions, thankyou.

[@BecomingCreative]

Glad it was helpful and thanks for taking the time to comment Elaine. I hope you've subscribed to 'all' as there are a lot more videos on all sorts of subjects which I hope you'll enjoy. Now get that garden ready for Spring😄

[@anuraaglal8263]

This is so ridiculously helpful thank you! Been trying to connect my water butt and this really helps!

[@BecomingCreative]

I'm a great fan of the ridiculous in life! Glad to be of help. Thanks for watching and hope you have subscribed.

[@frewen1705]

Great video!!

[@BecomingCreative]

Thanks v much Liam. I've found a solution to the drip! Coming soon. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@EJ_S-hz1ou]

Super content, very helpful indeed.

[@BecomingCreative]

You are one of the last comments of 2021. What a great way to end the year, thank you so much, glad to have helped. Please subscribe for more- a very eclectic mix! Happy New Year everyone.

[@paul00]

Really helpful thanks so much!

[@BecomingCreative]

Thanks Paul. I'm still trying to resolve the drip situation, but I think I might have a solution... Watch this space.

[@paul00]

@@BecomingCreative there is particular drip kits with thinner pipes I have seen in some other videos. Definitely going for that timer though thanks

[@worapadathabphet3780]

Great video, I'm just thinking to do the same.❤

[@BecomingCreative]

And now you know what, and what not to do! Thank you for watching, I hope you have subscribed, more coming soon.

[@mikebergin9919]

Might be worth adding a to your description that not all water timers are suitable for water butt service. The low pressure provided by the head of water in a butt means a timer that is suitable for working at 0 psi/bar is required, and there are very few reliable units available in the UK....

[@BecomingCreative]

Good point Mike and I have added to the vid description to clarify. Thank you. Hope you have subscribed.

[@skindude9251]

Any suggestions for such a low pressure timer??

[@BecomingCreative]

@@skindude9251 Yes if you look in the drop down description under my video you will see a link to the timer I used which is specifically stated to work with water butts. You can also increase the water pressure coming out of the tap by a) raising the butt on a stand ( butt lift? 🤭)or b) filling the butt with a hose from an outside tap.Hope this helps.

[@skindude9251]

@@BecomingCreative Bless you ma’am!

[@suziequinton8270]

Hi found this video I have this exact timer and set up (though my water burr is higher) having awful problems with leaking when the timer is on 'closed'. You suggested an o ring, I have the simple plastic tap the water butt came with and using the hospice connection. Can you help me out with the o ring adaption?

[@BecomingCreative]

Hi Suzie, arrgh leaks! I had exactly this problem and made another video about how I solved it. th-cam.com/video/8cPRz8u71M8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=0WUPC7cSoUlR3akH
Hope this helps. Isn't it good to be out in the garden again?
Subscribe to all to make sure you don't miss any of my very eclectic vids. Happy Easter.

[@suziequinton8270]

@@BecomingCreative Hi just to let you know I bought the O ring and it worked! Thanks so much for your video

[@sidharthjoshi2979]

Thanks very useful. Where is the O ring fitted exactly? I am looking for a water butt with a tap that is connectable to Hozelock fitting.

[@BecomingCreative]

Thanks for watching Sidharth, glad you enjoyed the video. The O ring I mention in the video is on the tap nozzle fixed to the butt. Have another look at the video, I think I point to it, which hopefully will make it clearer. I had to change the tap fitting on my butt to make it compatible with the hozelock fitting, which I mention in this video.
th-cam.com/video/WXwhTxS1MTI/w-d-xo.html

[@sidharthjoshi2979]

@@BecomingCreative thank you I will give it a shot. Need to orde a waterbutt

[@BecomingCreative]

@@sidharthjoshi2979 yes that would be a start- try to get one with a tap that is compatible with hozelock. Good luck, let me know how you get on.

[@sidharthjoshi2979]

@@BecomingCreative Okay so that(O rings)didn't work. The water leaks underneath fitting. Any advice on this hozelock ocmpatible tap ? I can fit to a water butt. It seems there is alot out there but not sure what would be compatible with hozelock.

[@BecomingCreative]

@@sidharthjoshi2979 Hi there Sidharth, this is the tap I used www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M1MP9QZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Don't be disheartened, you WILL get it to work.

[@lucyharper2361]

How about Teflon tape?

[@BecomingCreative]

Yes I did think about that, (commonly called PTFE tape for those unfamiliar with the name teflon tape), indeed many plumbers use it. The only thing was that the connector, which was the bit that was leaking had an internal 'click' mechanism rather than a thread, which is why I tried replacing the rubber washer first. If that hadn't worked I would have had a go at a bit of jiggery pokery with the PTFE tape. Not such an elegant solution, but needs must. Great minds think alike. Thanks for watching

[@emplayz6659]

Ptfe?

[@BecomingCreative]

Yes I did think about ptfe tape and would have tried it if the alternative O ring hadn't worked- either that or chewing gum! See Back at the Butt for the drip solution. Thanks for watching and hope that you have subscribed.