Roof rainwater for your garden — non-potable, ornamental garden and lawn use
Practical rain barrel guides for your garden — non-potable, ornamental garden and lawn use only.
Rain Barrel for a Small Balcony or Patio The best rain barrel for a small balcony or patio is a slim 25 to 35-gallon upright barrel. It holds enough water for pots and a few ornamental beds, fits in a corner without blocking the door, and weighs 200 to 290 pounds when full — heavy, […]
How to Fix a Leaking Rain Barrel Spigot (and Other Leaks) A leaking rain barrel spigot is usually fixed in 15 minutes with a new rubber washer and a few wraps of plumber’s Teflon tape. Find the leak first — most leaks are at the spigot, not the barrel wall — then drain the barrel […]
How Much Rain Does It Take to Fill a 55-Gallon Barrel? It takes only about 0.09 inches of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof to fill a 55-gallon barrel. In other words, a light shower that barely wets the pavement can fill your barrel — as long as your gutters are clean and the […]
Best Rain Barrel for Beginners: 5 Picks Compared The best rain barrel for beginners is a 55-gallon food-grade plastic drum kit, usually $60 to $90 with the spigot, lid, and overflow fitting included. It holds enough water for a week of watering ornamental beds and a lawn patch, fits beside most downspouts, and is light […]
A rain barrel saves a little money, slowly. A typical 55-gallon barrel used weekly in the growing season saves about 1,000 to 1,500 gallons a year, which at the average US water price of about 1.5 cents per gallon is about 15 to 25 dollars a year. A barrel that costs 80 dollars therefore takes […]
Rain barrel maintenance takes about 10 minutes a month, and it prevents most barrel problems: smells, mosquitoes, leaks, and clogged spigots. Check the screen, test the spigot, and smell the water once a month. Clean the barrel and the diverter each season. Drain, scrub, and check the seals once a year. That is the whole […]