How to Build a Rain Barrel for $40 | Ask This Old House
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ย. 2015
- Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner how to make her own rain barrel on a budget. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)
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Shopping List for How to Build a Rain Barrel for $40:
- Reclaimed food-rated barrel
- Boiler shutoff valve
- Thread-sealing tape
- Rain diverter, hose, and tap
Tools for How to Build a Rain Barrel for $40:
- Power drill
- 1-inch hole-saw bit
- Hacksaw
Steps for How to Build a Rain Barrel for $40:
1. Drill a 1-inch hole at the bottom of the barrel using a power drill and a 1-inch hole-saw bit.
2. Wrap thread-sealing tape several times around the boiler shut-off valve threads and screw it into the hole.
3. Drill a 1-inch hole into the cap of the barrel using a power drill and a 1-inch hole-saw bit.
4. Attach tap to hole in the cap of the barrel.
5. Cut downspout using a hack saw into two pieces.
6. Attach diverter to downspout using a power drill and screws.
7. Connect hose to diverter and tap in cap of barrel.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Build a Rain Barrel for $40 | Ask This Old House
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![The BEST DIY RAIN BARREL Install [Complete Guide]](/img/n.gif)
Our county has a program that costs $20 and you go to an hour long class on rain barrels, then the hands-on portion is where you put most of the setup together. Then you get to take the entire barrel project home!
How cool! Must be a very community-oriented county!
What did they teach you? Or was it just building it?
@@ibeattheleaves5005 they taught the legality of rain capture, and how to utilize captured rain on your property. Then, just putting the barrel together and tips for winter storage
@@intolerant_left was it pretty much like it was shown here?
OUR COUNTY!!!! WOO HOO!!!!
Two tips. If you have a barrel of this size you’ll perhaps want a larger diameter out flow…. And two, you may want to consider painting it black to help block out the sunlight to reduced the growth rate of algae.
paint inside or outside?
@@ranjit3ooutside, it’s just to block the sunlight so algae won’t grow in the water inside the barrel.
Won’t black encourage heat?
"You wanna hold my valve."... Tommy smooth as butter
I wanted one of these. My mom and I got a 45 gallon trashcan. Today we got one of those bendable hoses to put at the end of the gutter and then we put it right over the hole I cut out of the lid. I also had a mesh screen I got from Amazon. It started storming. I mean crazy rain. It did so for less than an hour. We went out and water was over flowing from the can. Never in a million years would I have thought it could create that much water.
I do believe that a "how to" video should give all the details. I called my local recycling center for a barrel, they said they do get them in but they don't give them out but they would sell me an already assembled rain barrel for 40 bucks. So save yourself the time drilling, buying looking for a hole saw and call the recycling center! Also: so many comments about horrible "toxic roof water " all the plants are getting run off from the streets, decks all the rooftops in the neighborhood as well as the pesticides you neighbor sprays. Just one roof sounds pretty good!
I don't know who the producers are who choose which homeowners get on the show, but time and time again, they have proven that they are excellent at their jobs.
I am so glad I found this video. I didn't even know there was a diverter. I was looking to put a Gutter on the side of my garage. Thank you
"You wanna hold my belt?"
.
He gave it a shot.
It is worth pointing out that a light-colored or translucent barrel will grow algae in most cases. This will be aggravated when fed directly from a roof/gutter.
+LifeInOregon Could always paint the outside of the barrel or wrap it up.
even if it's used for drinking, algae is good for you.
Round why only for him
Guess you weren’t listening. It’s got a filter
Algae will still grow even with the filter. It's a microbe that grows. Also, white or natural plastics will also degrade and get brittle over time. It's best to put some gardening cloth around it to shade it from the sun rather than paint it. It should keep it cooler than painting it.
I have one I use to keep my fish pond water fresh & topped off. I installed a spigot at the top and run a hose into the pond. Every time it rains the overflow goes into the pond. In the winter I move the hose to the bottom spigot and leave that open. That way the barrel remains empty and can't crack from freeze up.
For anyone that doesn't know place the water outlet at-least 2 inches above the bottom or on the bottom because of sludge buildup ;-)
You're supposed to clean your barrels out so sludge doesn't build up. Rain barrels are not Maintenance Free, unfortunately.
Great to see this install and saving rainwater! See comments below on putting the diverter just below the top of the barrel to automatically prevent overflow, see product instructions. We have installed a few of these and work great.
It's sealed why do you care about overflow? It'll just stop going down the tube and go down the downspout when full.
I think I would want my overflow to go in a secondary smaller portable container
Overflow into another barrel right next to it...or have the overflow attached to the 1st or 2nd barrel, connected to hose and ran out into the yard.
Oddly satisfying! Thanks for posting.
Such a cool day. I lived on the street over and as I open the door that morning I see Tom walking by and the whole crew getting ready to film.
Did he have his valve out?
all the way out@@danstvguy
Make sure the tape goes on the same way the threads run on the boiler fitting, so when you screw the 1” threads in, the tape stays on:-) Also, a one inch fitting with a washer screwed tight on to the inside will help the boiler fitting not leak :-)
The problem is if I’m not mistaken the top does not come off of this type of barrel- it only has the two holes
@@angelastanislowski8862 Most are like that. On PVC type barrels you have to cut the entire top off (level) then screen it, or what I’ve done is turn the top you’ve cut off upside down and set it back on the barrel for a bird-critter watering spot..Then you have the run-off from the gutter go into either the bird bath on top, or you’ll have to cut another hole into the edge of the top that drains the downspout to on top of the screen..Then drill a hole on the side that accepts your hose Bibb for watering..I always put a quick release-connector for the Bibb and hose in case I need to take it loose to go elsewhere :-)
Barrel will overflow. The inlet pipe should come in from the side about 2 inches down from the top. The diverter outlet elevation should be 1 inch higher than this so the water can flow to the barrel but when the barrel is full the excess water will backflow to the gutter.
Excellent advice. Thanks.
Never been an issue for me. Don't get enough rain to fill up 55gal
Feeding troth from tractor supply. Lid is an old screen door. Tarp over top when it's not raining. Troth comes with a hose and drain valve built in. $50
Excellent video! Thanks for your help. With your advice and how you demonstrated your technique, I have also created my own rain harvesting here in upstate New York. I created a video that hopefully helps. Thanks again.
When Tommy shows up to fix your problem in his street clothes and without his tool belt, you'll know you probably could have done it yourself.
That's what the basis of this show is about though I think.
He makes everything look far easier than it would be any first-time maker of a one-time thing.
Ok Elise, you just stand there and look pretty.
She’s beautiful
@@hezekiyahisrael5804 Ya know Tom got some wood standing next to her, but trying to be the gentleman he is LOL
Muy bonito y elegante, lo recomiendo da mucha elegancia en el sitio que lo quieras usar
They should preface: “we got a smoking deal on an old soda factory barrel that you probably won’t get”
😂 right?!
I've seen used food grade drums on craigslist before, they usually go for around $50.
Not $5, but I just got 2 for $15 each.
I just paid $25 for a 65 gallon one and considered myself lucky
@@JLJohnson Nice find man! Congrats!!
Tommy's a brave man. If I laid my drill on the railing it would have fallen off.
Tom: What do you think it was used for? Take a whiff of that...
Elise: *takes a whiff* uh..chloroform?
Tom: Yup! Pretty good!
hilarious
Oh man you had me laughing!
That cracked me up.
lol
Let's take those clothes off and call Bill Cosby
You can see water seepage on the wood deck from the great installation of the lower valve, after he fills the barrel with water. She covers the leak with the watering can before the camera pans down. Needs a bulkhead for the bottom valve installation to prevent water from leaking around the imperfect cut, Teflon tape alone won't slove this problem.
You have no idea what caused the stain. They could have flushed the chips from the barrel, ever think of that ?
Or it could have been because he wrapped his Teflon tape on backwards.
could of been water from the sky
Maybe a cat peed there
@@Kiss4cooper could be
Love this explanation
Very helpful video!
Don't forget to support the deck ,that barrel is heavy when full!
This is amazing. I can only find pickle barrels near me, but my plants won't mind.
My neighborhood only has Cracker Barrels. If you sit at a table, a lady brings you water.
Well that was easy. I'm gonna do it!
Are you suppose to water vegtable gardens using roof run off water? I heard the roof tiles can leach chemicals into runoff?
You can do this on a much larger scale by using 250 gallon food grade tanks...around $25 used. And a downspout to 2inch pvc converter and run pvc pipes to the tanks. Fot larger gardens of course...best part you can always buy a tank for $25 and add it since you already having piping done, just use an elbow.
That second story porch ain't gonna hold the weight of 250 gallons of water dude! Ground level is fine but not this little porch!
@@hotrodhog2170 oh I know mine are on the ground. Was just saying you can use same concept on a alrger scale.
She’s an absolute stunner
Regarding faucets: are there faucets (like this one) that have a hose connection that’s lead-free and/or is good for human consumption of water?
very nice. living in Florida you don't gotta worry about winter lol
How do I pry off the lid of the barrel without cutting it. About 2 ins under the lid is a line and every 5-6 ins is a notch. How do I loosen the notches to take off the top?
I want to do this!
Nice info!
Ah, all I need to do is to go to my local soda factory outlet store.
Mine were used for soy sauce.
@@robertcraft1030 where’d you get it?
@@heyb6268 From a contracting business that had them left over. I get free pallets that way, as well.
@@robertcraft1030 do you remember the name of the company?
will the diverter be able to handle the small pellets that drop from asphalt shingles?
You should also either paint it or cover it to keep light from going in otherwise you will have a big problem with algae
Hi I like your post and I wanted to know if you're saying the Blue barrel and the top cover needs to be covered to prevent algae?
Really awesome
OK rain barrel sit to low so use 2 more cinder blocks to lift it up further. Also the rain water split unit should had been sit higher to begin with so that the 1" small hose only run's down and not like in this video demonstrated uphill before it goes into the barrel.
thank you for the Great video. can I use 6 cinder blocks instead of 2 to give it more elevation and get better water pressure?
Esplender M It’s 1 bar of pressure per 10 meters height. Adding 2 heights of cinder blocks would not even add 0.1 bar. Use a pump.
@@Engineer9736 When I elevate my water box, the water comes out much faster into my jug, and I only lift it into the air like 1 foot higher than on my kitchen counter...It works..So yes, even a little higher works, Esplender M.
It is not the elevation of the barrel, it is the height of the water column that corresponds to the pressure increase
2:27 music to my ears
So this is a video about how to drill a hole into the rail of your deck and cut the siding of your house with a hack saw?
In the UK I have two water butts designed for the purpose. The diverter on the downpipe still lets water flow through and is at the same level as the top of the containers so they won’t overflow.
Yeah, he seemed to fit the diverter in the total wrong place, that's going to overflow
I don't recommend doing this if you have Asphalt shingles. Chemicals from the Tar in the shingles can mix in the water. Especially on hot days. I would not use this water for ANYTHING.
If you have a rain barrel with water from an asphalt shingled roof, Fill a White 5 gallon bucket at least half full and see if it has a light brown color to it. If so, most likely it's from the Tar.
If you have a metal roof no problem.
.
It will need a pre bucket filled with floss and a screen/ possibly a carbon mat (like for a fish tank). Then for drinking it will need additional filtering as you drain water from it.
what city was this? Looks very cool
This is great, but how to avoid overflow when tank is full? Does the T-junction have auto shut off feature or is there something we can add to it ?
Look into an overflow hose, or a diverter :-)
This works if you get a free barrel and tap. Also you need tools to cut the hole. I paid 45.00 for my blue barrel with brass tap. Do not use a white barrel.
Rain diverter, hose, and tap is there a link where i can buy this product?
What was the connector pipe that you put into the lid of the rain barrel? Can you write a shopping list here and give a link to where you would get these parts? Thanks.
Just wondering if you need some type of a vent for the air being displaced by the liquid? Maybe it’s not really airtight?
I’m sure someone may have already asked and it’s been answered, but after about 25 sarcastic remarks I stopped reading comments. I really am interested in this, but wondering if there is negative pressure from inside the barrel then the water may get vapor locked and not flow into the barrel?
We have three water barrels connected to our roof. Here's the issue.....I recently watched a video that talked about the hazards of retrieving water from your roof as the materials they use are hazardous. Even if you use it to water your garden, you are putting toxic water on the food you and your family will be eating. I would like This Old House to respond to this as I can't find anything to the contrary and feel as if I have wasted time and money on these barrels. (I know it's been 6 years since this post, but I'm hoping someone sees it.) Thanks so much.
So, what if you are on a well? All that toxic water comes off the roof, onto the ground, and into your well.
@@AStanton1966 True, and we are on a well, but we have a filtration system that filters the water coming from the well into the house. I am truly confused what to do.
@@alicemaggio8854 Maybe, start by getting the rain water tested and see if it does contain any toxic substances. I use rain water for my garden and power-wash projects around my house. I have 3 Tractor Supply livestock containers for a total of about 375 gallons that get filled from a shed roof. Then I have a 1,100 gallon tank that gets filled by my house roof. Even though we had a pretty good drought here some years back, I've never run out of water. I harvest rain water cause I'm on a well also.
@@AStanton1966 Thank you so much for your reply. This is great advice that I will be following.
boiler shutoffs can have lead and make the water non potable
I finally planted some trees, time to get me a water barrel 😎
I wood like to see more stuff like that.
Appalachian Homesteader Ha I saw what you did there you sneaky little man
I finally got a barrel like the one in your video. My problem is that we don't have rain gutters. Can you think of a way that I can catch the rain water? Maybe a giant funnel? I really need your help.
Rain gutters are pretty much the first step on collecting water from a roof... :-)
If you have a sloped roof, just install some gutters. If it’s a flat roof, i’m quiet sure that there is something that gets the water off it. A giant funnel should be the size of a roof to get something productional going..
Frank's a magician at 0:30
Elise is GORGEOUS !!!!!
Interesting
You should get a black barrel, if you can. White and clear barrels let too much light in, which will cause algae to grow in the barrel.
They can be painted with certain paint for this type plastic, but I agree with you.
Tommy, you had me at sillcock
I wish you would explain things like why you need to take the hose out in winter
Or flush the tank so that the shut-off valve doesn't just 'pop out' under the added pressure.
Do you water anything in the winter?
Hi Tom, i am just curious why there is no overflow line or hole?
I think the diverter does that
Pretty sure Tom doesn't read the comments.
So where can we get a barrel like that for 5 bucks is the question?
Where I live, Washington state, I started making something like this and was seen by my neighbor. They told the authorities and I was contacted by them. They told me I'd have to pay a 20% tax on the water I collected and forced me to put a meter on it. It upset me so much, I started using vodka to water my plants because it was cheaper.
So I had to ask, what is the 20% tax based upon, and they said it was based upon the amount of water I stole from them which would have otherwise fallen into the "system."
I'm much happier now that I better understand how our system works. I contribute more to the system by giving them my waste water which would have gone into the sewer then be transported to Indonesia for processing, thus reducing outsourcing. I think all Americans should have a government like ours, because they do so much for us!
I heard from someone that the roof material may affect the quality of the water collected. May be worth checking it out.
Everything u eat and drink from affects your health. Can’t win ‘em all.
I've done roofing and yeah I wouldn't drink that water if it touched shingles. They are made of tar fiberglass and other hazardous composites (literally says it on the packaging). If it was a metal roof or clay tiles I'd just filter out the dust/dirt, you'll be fine.
So they're up on the second-story deck any idea what the structure that deck is to support 55 gallons of water we see deck failures all the time
I don’t know if any you guys notice but when he cut the downspout if you look closely in the bottom one it was shoved under so all the water is just going to go on the outside of the downspout not the inside
Zackary Hilton , good eye. More than a few things wrong about this project.
Tom, you snuck in on Richards work. Perhaps because of the customer! Haha
69th Thumbs Up woot
It would have been nice if you explained what you did to the top of the barrel. What did you drill into? Where did you get that piece that you screwed into the top of the barrel? Was it a complete kit with that diverter? Otherwise, nice video!😉
That piece usually comes with the barrel and I believe it's called a bung/filler hole and he hole sawed the 1'' hole for the hose from the gutter diverter.
Where can you get the barrels for low price in Piedmont, NC?
There is no overflow hole?
Question is how much of the water coming down the downspout goes to the barrel
My only dis appointment with rain barrels is that theres not enough pressure to hook a soaker hose to it. Pretty much gotta fill a bucket and lug it out to what ever you're watering. Don't get me wrong, I believe in harvesting rain water 100%. Now if the barrel(s) could be placed up high, 10 foot or so, more pressure would be created. But thats not acceptable in most cases. Love This Old House. My gosh, I've been watching since Bob Vila was doing it!!
in this case you could hook it up to your sprinkler hose. Use a transfer pump. (not $5!)
Right....from what I've learned since my post, a pump would be a great idea. Thanks!
Dash, this persons water barrel was up on a deck, so she would have enough pressure to do watering through a soaker or even a sprayer. My brother has one mounted just 6' and will shove water 30' to his garden so don't get disappointed, just make a small platform 6-7' high. You can do it.
My system is much easier... a RAIN CHAIN replaces my down spout, and fills up a large sized garbage can. Then we use Homer buckets to move the water to the garden. This video reminded me to shot off this system in fall :-) Thanks for the ideas.
Just curious about the weight they are on the they are on the 2nd story
Looked simple enough
I noticed the bottom downspout was inserted into diverter instead of diverter flange being inserted inside bottom downspout. I’m thinking that will leak.
"there it is, wow!" hahahaha!!!!
Where can we find this diverter? I like the flow-over style that filters out the large debris and diverts water, but don't seem to find this style online. Is it no longer available?
Ever get an answer on this? I’m looking to replace the semi-ghetto rig I’ve got now and I want to find the model of diverted he installed.
When he attached the bottom of the diverter to the downspout below he placed it OVER the downspout. This will cause leaking. Having installed miles of spouting in my life, you ALWAY place a piece of downspout inside a lower piece so water can't hit the joint and leak out. The way this was done is incorrect. I know I'll hear it could be sealed with gutter seal etc. These sealants all expand and contract with temperature variation and will eventually fail. Bottom line, this installation is incorrect.
A white diverter would be better also.
Will the valve leak (even when shut off) in any way if not initially, over time?
fruitfast777 No it will not leak if the threads where tight enough into the plastic. I assume This Old House wouldn’t upload this if it was such a fail.
What about overflow when the barrel fills up?
It pours on the ground. Much like it would do if there was no barrel.
Thank you old house for the video. I am finding it hard to find food grade barrel for $5. Could you leave us the link where you got it ?
try an abandoned toxic dump site, you can find one for free
Check with your local Pop bottler. Otherwise if you have large food plants. Snack foods, fish etc. Alot of times they get so many barrels they'll give them to you just to keep them from piling up.
If you want to go bigger, Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) are pretty cheap too.
@James Wolowiec 😂😂
🌭 Link
Aweson
wanna hold my belt...He just couldn't resist...:-)
Hi we like u
Who hasn't done that before in an iffy spot. Always wear a sturdy belt. :)
A throwaway line like that would never make it onto TV these days.
She said yes !
I don’t get it ? Cause he might fall leaning over?
Where can I get a diverted like this? What’s the brand? Anyone have a link?
Where do we buy this barrel?
Any tips on where I can get one of those barrels here in Indiana?
google "55 gallon drums near me" type in your town. Lots of places sell them cheap. Ours are $10 each not $5 like Tom got.
Where can I buy a reclaimed food-rated barrel?
How do you clean the inside of the barrel? Even with the diverter and a filter, the barrel will bound to get dirty over time
I put some water and bleach inside, put the barrel on the side and push it around my yard. You clean it and exercise at the same time.😊
Where did you get the diverter and what is that part called?
It’s called Fiskars DiverterPro. Found here:
www.fiskars.com/en-us/gardening-and-yard-care/products/gardening-replacement-parts/diverterpro-rainwater-diverter-71000035
Important to note that these bad boys weigh well over 600 lbs when full. So make sure if you're putting it on a deck like this that it can hold the weight!
How many gallons does this barrel hold?
I can't help but notice the bib has a handle that is in the same direction as the connector. Overtime, turning the handle will loosen the bib. Seems to me an easy solution is just use a bib to have a horizontal handle.
Its a good idea to anchor the barrel. Thats a lot of weight balancing on a concrete block when its full.
Does anyone know the high end temperature rating of rain barrels ?
so when the barrel fills up the water just overflows onto the deck?