My Garden Needs Water… Make Your Own Rain Barrel!
I recently became interested in using a water barrel to water my small Brooklyn backyard. After searching local (no luck… large garden supply stores didn’t know what a rain barrel was) and searching online, I found that rain barrels sold for about $90 to $250 (not including the rain spout diverter or hoses).
It took me about one week to realize that I could build my own rain barrel for about $35 and not have to pay for shipping. I started by searching online for articles and found some great video tutorials on YouTube. After that, I made a shopping list, got project approval from my wife and then carved out about 4 hours over the weekend to build my rain barrel.
Step 1: Design Your System
Plan out what you need and how you want to do this project before going to the hardware store. You need a method for gathering rainwater which is typically your roof’s rain gutter. The barrel will need to be located directly next to the down spout so check out the area to make sure you have room. Also make sure that you can live with the big barrel outside your house. In our case, it is behind our house in an out of the way corner so I had no reservations about putting it there. Plan out your system and then make a list.
I made a shopping list of everything I needed:
- Large water-tight garbage can (35 to 45 gallons)
- Water Faucet
- Silicon Adhesive / Sealant
- Flexible Water Spout Diverter
- Small Garden Hose (15′ so I can fill my watering can, you may need longer)
- 2″ PVC Threaded Elbow with Coupler
- 2′ PVC Pipe (2″ Width)
Things I already had:
- Utility Knife
- Hack Saw
- Drill
- 1 1/4″ Hole Cutting Drill Bit
- Magic Marker
- A few Cinder Blocks
My total cost was about $35. I picked up everything I needed at Lowes. These items can be purchased at just about any hardware store.
Step 2: Prepare Your Work Space
Take time to clear all other items from around the down spout and get your tools together along with the barrel (garbage can, pickle barrel, whiskey barrel, whatever…). You will be cutting the down spout to your rain gutter as well as the barrel so have a magic marker and and organized work space. Plan and mark everything carefully. It’s a simple project but you will be cutting things so if you make a mistake, you probably have to replace the barrel or part of your rain gutter.
Step 3: Installing the Faucet (Spigot)
I started by marking a spot to install the water faucet / spigot at the bottom of the barrel. I measured about 3″ from the bottom to center the 1 1/4″ hole cutter drill bit and marked it. Then I used the drill and hole cutter bit to cut a 1 1/4″ hole in the side of the barrel. This provides a perfect fit that you can thread the faucet into. I put silicon sealant on the the threads first before rotating the faucet in. I tightened up a plastic nut that came with the faucet, on the inside of the barrel until it was snug then put a bead of silicon sealant on the inside and outside of the faucet connection.
Step 4: Installing the Overflow Pipe
Mark a 2″ circle towards the top of your barrel. The top of the circle should be about 2″ or 3″ beneath the top of your barrel. Position it towards the back of the barrel in relation to where you faucet is located. Make the circle marking by tracing around the 2″ PVC elbow (threaded side). You will be inserting the threaded side of the elbo through this hole so to get a tight fit, use your utility knife to cut through the vinyl wall of your barrel (garbage can). The cut should be within the lines and a smooth circle so cut slow and easy making a marking cut first and then several controlled passes to cut out the circle. After you have the hole cut, put some silicon sealant on the threads of the PVC elbow and then fit the threaded end of the elbow through the hole, screwing it in until it is snug and the outside of the elbow is pointing downward so it will drain. Screw on the PVC coupler (nut) on the inside. Apply a bead of silicon to both the inside and outside before tightening completely then wipe off excess. Attach the 2′ section of 2″ PVC pipe to the outside of the elbow so it points downward (remember this is the drain… points down). Allow to dry for an hour.
Step 5: Install Inlet and Rain Spout Diverter
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