Rain Barrels

Rain Barrels (Full Version)

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LadyHathor -> Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:37:53 AM)
We are experiencing a severe drought here in our area and I want to add a rain barrel or two, pffttt of we ever get rain--but My spouts go to the ground , and end right at a cement runner, do I need to take part of the spout off? I know this sounds stupid,-anyone with RB experience, I'd love some direction--

LadyEllen -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:41:31 AM)
Before you cut anything, make sure its just rainwater from the roof going down the pipes. Dont know about your building regs, but over here if a pipe goes into the ground as yours seems to, its because there's more than rainwater going down it - effluent from the loo etc for instance - straight into the sewer system. E

mnottertail -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:45:30 AM)
yes, you will need to take the spouts off, usually they are one piece, strapped on to the siding, depending on what they are made of, they run anywhere from 2 bucks to 12 bucks apiece at Home Depot or Menards or Lowes or whatever you got there. Before you get to caught up, you will need a step ladder, might need a big one, and examine at the slide joints and at the strap to see if they have screws on them, that hold the spout to the others. You can cut them off to a decent lenght, and you can get 55 gallon plastic drums with tops on from most food factories and other places (of course you dont want the ones that contain herbicides and whatnot) but food grade (they usually have so many they dont know what to do with them and will give them or sell them for little or nothing) and of course you can go the expensive route and buy them at the store. Remember get a cover for saving, drill and jigsaw the hole for the spout, try to get it in the shade and out of the wind so it doesnt evaporate. Ron

Owner59 -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:47:31 AM)
Great idea.Those blue plastic food grade 55 gal. ones work great.Even better,a small pond where you can have fish and salamanders to eat the mosquito larva. Watch out for mosquitos if you use barrels.They will be making little mosquitos quickly if you don`t prevent it somehow.Standing water is perfect for them and before you know it they`re everywhere, all season long..

LadyHathor -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:48:52 AM)
*Thanks LE, no its pure rain water as they dont go into the ground but stop at a concrete thingy that directs the water put and away from the house--but thanks!*

KatyLied -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:51:01 AM)
Yes, you need to be careful if your area has West Nile Virus.

mnottertail -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:52:43 AM)
asphalt roof? make sure you have something to screen out the rocks and leaves and flies and junebeetles and twigs and whatnot somewhere in the mix. (although it will settle, but as I understand it, you wont get that much and use it quickly) dump a capful of hilex in it every so often and stir it up to keep the algae and whatnot down, and of course dont drink it till the smell is gone...... Ron you can make an s-trap with the spout and cover it and you wont have much issue with mosquitoes

DomKen -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:53:21 AM)
Are you looking to store water for outside chores like watering your flowers or are you looking to save enough water that you can use it for washing, cooking etc? A water barrel or two will work just fine for the first task but for the second you're going to need a lot more water than that. An in ground cistern would be what you need and that is something you'll need a contractor to help you with.

LadyHathor -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 7:56:28 AM)
Thanks Ron, this is what I was looking for, there is a place not far from us that sells them cheap, they are the food kind---- so that's what Iwas planning on and they have lids, or screens, we want to use the water for the garden is the reason. *Owner 59, Id love to have a pond but where they are at the corners of the house and the distance too any type of pondable land is a tad too far---but thanks!*

mnottertail -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 8:03:17 AM)
you can get pvc spouts for them if you want and hook them in the bung or drill them and silicon them then attach a nylon ntp to hose nipple on them and viola you can run the garden hose to them...........also you can (if it is not ever for potable water) dump and mix in your horseshit or whatever, and liquid fertilize your garden as you go. MrGreenJeans

CraZYWiLLiE -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 9:26:04 AM)
Danger...of drowning, or small critters drowning, be sure to put a screen over the top. A while back a woman drowned in her rain bucket, a 55 drum, a kitten fell in and she went to retrieve it.

LaTigresse -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 9:30:06 AM)
I use these at the farm. They have covers and spigots, well worth the initial cost. I've got two of the deluxe and one of the english type. I prefer the deluxe for the screen top. Am going to add two more this spring. http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Link-Keywordsearch?DefaultButton=findSimple&q=rain+barrel&x=0&y=0

mnottertail -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 9:33:48 AM)
you aint a cheap ass norwegian like me, I can do that for about 35-40 bucks (or less). But that is exactly the gimmick. Will you marry me? Are you rich? Answer the second question, first please. Ron

domiguy -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 10:32:22 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: CraZYWiLLiE Danger...of drowning, or small critters drowning, be sure to put a screen over the top. A while back a woman drowned in her rain bucket, a 55 drum, a kitten fell in and she went to retrieve it. If you drown in a rain bucket...Is it okay for people to laugh during the funeral?

LaTigresse -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 10:43:44 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail you aint a cheap ass norwegian like me, I can do that for about 35-40 bucks (or less). But that is exactly the gimmick. Will you marry me? Are you rich? Answer the second question, first please. Ron No, I am not rich. Lets just say........they were gifts of a sort There are also kits you can get to convert old wooden barrels, I've done that also.

LaTigresse -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 10:45:02 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: domiguy quote: ORIGINAL: CraZYWiLLiE Danger...of drowning, or small critters drowning, be sure to put a screen over the top. A while back a woman drowned in her rain bucket, a 55 drum, a kitten fell in and she went to retrieve it. If you drown in a rain bucket...Is it okay for people to laugh during the funeral? Absolutely.

mnottertail -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 10:47:29 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LaTigresse quote: ORIGINAL: domiguy quote: ORIGINAL: CraZYWiLLiE Danger...of drowning, or small critters drowning, be sure to put a screen over the top. A while back a woman drowned in her rain bucket, a 55 drum, a kitten fell in and she went to retrieve it. If you drown in a rain bucket...Is it okay for people to laugh during the funeral? Absolutely. For many; their lives would be eulogized as a 'gift of submersion'. John the Baptist

Jeffff -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 11:14:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail you aint a cheap ass norwegian like me, I can do that for about 35-40 bucks (or less). But that is exactly the gimmick. Will you marry me? Are you rich? Answer the second question, first please. Ron Can everyone else stop hitting on LaT?....I mean....come on... she will be mine! CityWaterDom

domiguy -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 11:38:39 AM)
Lat and I were on the verge of procreating when you made your first post here, Sonny. Perhaps you could serve as our wet nurse?...Now run along, before Lat has you squirming on the business end of four pounds of rubber.

Jeffff -> RE: Rain Barrels (2/12/2008 11:41:20 AM)
While you were in moderation jail....she needed.comforting. we didn't mean for it to happen....and yet.......I'm sure you understand Jeff

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