I have five rain barrels set up (275 gallons total) and all connected together. I use a small sump pump (1/8HP) to a handmade sprinkler system. Three years ago, 60107 Streamwood gave out free rain barrels (3) and I expanded to five. Absolutely a critical item for my gardening.
Awesome! I have 8 barrels total. One 45 gallon store bought barrel. I have, in 3 locations, seven 55 gallon blue food grade barrels I got off Craigslist, hubby created an attachment to hook the downspout to, an overflow, with a spigot. We have 2 doubles & 1 triple set up with ability to hold 430 gallons. I use chicken wire & air conditioner filter to keep debris out, as well as foam inserts in the eves. I wish I had a pump to a handheld hose, as I'm hand filling water jugs & carrying currently.
I just moved to 60107. I'm definitely going to put in some rain barrels. Water is like $12 out here! Insane. Previous homeowner was paying over $200 to keep the sprinklers going every month!
You might find the down spout will leak some with the pipe overlap backwards. Water should flow with the top piece inside the lower. Nice barrel and glad to see you added one to the garden.
Fun fact in some areas it's illegal to collect rainwater, so if you're unsure be careful who you tell. And Luke, you should have looked into some other options, some with an overflow diverter, that way when it's full it doesnt flood the foundation. Make sure it is not resting on the siding, that would be a fast way for water infiltration.
I live in the desert but water law is super complex. Ultimately it comes down to stealing water. The water that is available is usually so little that people in the past have dug ponds to use for farming, that water in the pond is hoarding water from the next person down stream who may now not get the water they paid for/need. Seems unfair but it’s also to protect everyone.
Joyce OQ search “riparian rights vs prior appropriation.” Most states east of the Mississippi abide by riparian rights, where the land owner owns the rights to the water on his/her property. Most states west of the Mississippi abide by the prior appropriation doctrine, which gives the water rights to whoever used the water first.
Monkey the Raccoon depends on your state. In Washington you can’t use rain barrels to make it drinking water, but you can use them to water the garden.
Love it! We have 10 - 55 gallon drums all attached together. That's 550 gallons & we still run out. I hook it to the pressure washer & wash the cars, house/windows & concrete drive. Those are my biggest outdoor water users. It's spot free, so I don't have to dry anything. Makes windows & cars a breeze. My hubby ended up with an electric pump that makes my rain water system just like my house faucet. I'm new to your channel & was blown away when you said you don't a rain system. Enjoy your new set up. When you realize just how much you can use rain water, I bet you upgrade :)
Its not perfect and he will need to manage the over flow but its a beginning. 55 gal will not go far in the dry season. My garden uses 25 gallons a day all summer with the drip system. Its all from rain water. When I started I did not want to put the strain on my well so I started looking for those totes I have 6 that are 230 gallon and 2 that are 330 gallons. I use a RV pump to provide preasure for the hose and the drip system. If anyone is interested look at the first flush system that goes in line with your down spout and has a switch so in the winter you just move the switch and its all back to going down your down spout. It also provides 2 stages of filtration. I do believe the plants like the rain water better and its fun. Does not cost anything (the pumps run on solar power) also my garden is over 400 feet from the house so this way I have lots of pressure (the little pump supplies 45 lbs of pressure and the drip system has a 30 lb pressure regulator. I must admit the barrel looks a lot better than my black totes (painted them to stop algae) but its in the back of out property and I am the only one that sees them unless a friend comes over to shoot and they do not care just want to use the range. Its a great idea and I think it worth the expense and the effort. Its a lot of fun also. When I first did it was last year and it was a little dry by the time I got it all set up and when it would rain I would go out in the rain with a flashlight and watch the rain go into it and listen to it running into the totes, I did not have enough brains to come in out of the rain!
Hey, my county extension service offers the rain barrel kits for $40, I have used this one for two years now. So happy with it. Check you county before buying more expensive ones.
Just as an fyi, if you have used up the extra water in rain barrels, and you still need water, you can use city water. Fill your rain barrel with regular city water, wait 3 days and the chlorine will off gas and dissipate. EPA considers water once chlorinated safe after 3 days. It work in a pinch but rain water is the best!
Good morning Luke. One thing I added to my rain Barrel down spout was a sock.,,this catches pollen and small debris that lands on roof.i check it once a month
Too funny! I used an old sock too. Pulled it up & used a wire tie around the pipe. It stops a lot of everything including asphalt shingle grit from going right into the barrel.
One of my plans, good to know to shop during winter. Though 55 gallons of fresh water weighs about 457.8 pounds (55 × 8.34 # = 457.8). Nitpicking I know. Might want to consider a brace as the ground will settle, Murphy says it will settle on the outside edge and barrel will tip over thataway. And maybe a splash guard under the overflow spout to direct water away and to keep that runoff from undercutting the base the barrel sits upon. Great video. Best
I just read an article about rain barrels and food gardens. If you have asphalt shingles (most homes do) you might want to research what contaminants may end up in your water, and thus, on your garden. The more you know.
As you know Luke I collect the water from my air conditioner excess. It works very well for me. The hose is a 1 inch diameter. I get about 10 gallons a day when it is hot.
My rainbarrel is on the opposite corner of my yard. So I ran a 100 ft hose along the fence from the rainbarrel to my garden. It works like a charm. I'm in southwestern Ontario so not far from you. Same kind of weather. Also I do believe there are overflow hoses on every rainbarrel.
Hi Luke, I agree with Jeremy and Ed below, the last piece of downspout that you attached will leak at the last connection. Each section of the downspout, from top to bottom, has to go inside the piece below it, to prevent leaks. Thanks for the great videos !!! Well Done !!
I thought there would be a diverter to put into the downspout for the gutters. That way when the barrel is full water still gets pushed away from the house. When I put my rain barrel in it came with a diverter and instructions. Fortunately, I attached mine to a small shed that was already set up for rainwater collection. Here in Oregon, it takes less than a few hours of moderate rain even with that small surface area to collect 55 gallons.
We have three rain barrels in different downspouts. However, with all the flooding rains we get in Spring, we decided to get even more water for free. We bought some inflatable 10 foot long by 3 foot wide swimming pools and put them out in the yard in the field. They received enough rain to almost fill them up in March and April, and in the past few days, they received another 3 or so inches. If you try this, make sure to add essential oils to kill mosquito larvae and discourage toads and frogs from laying eggs in them. As for our garden hoses, we have Boogie Brew water filters on them, and they filter out chloramine.
Luke, you are an amazing gardener and gardening coach. Thank you. A tad bit of Engineering coaching. When up against your house foundation, it is important to set up drainage away from the house structure. Basically, you first want to slope the impermeable layer (soil) away from the house. Second, when you ‘level your barrel’ use a uniformed size stone bed on that footprint for your stand so the water that is not captured in the barrel or any overflow from the barrel can pass through the stones and then drain away from your house’s foundation. And always strap that bad boy so the postulated tip over doesn’t take out a pet or heaven forbid injure a human.
yeah, i have a hose that I attach when it rains heavily... I regulate the amount of water that flows out with the amount of rain coming down so it usually stays full while routing water to areas that can handle it
@@mx1867 that isn’t going to be enough for an overflow off a roof. Both my tanks have 90mm (3.5 inch) pipe overflows. Really it needs to be the same as the inlet/downpipe that runs in.
My states Dept of Natural Resources used to offer them at a discount for a basic barrel. I bought them for 2 years in a row Currently I collect over 150 gal max. They have not done that lately. This year they offered a compost bin for halt off. Keep searching and you will find deal. Thanks for the vid.
You need a diverter so that when rain barrel is full, the overflow will go into a downspout and away from your house. And the rain barrel will fill up fast. You will still need a hose to get the water to your garden. You can get a special hose for that which is healthier and not the usual rubber type.
I LOVE your "dorky-ness"!!! You remind me a bit of some of the dorkier guys I knew, growing up, whom (now) I wish I'd dated back then! You made my day! -Thank you! :-D
Residential MI gardener here. Stumbled upon the channel last week and have watched hours of content already. Love the videos. Just have to point out that water is a chemical. 😉 haha Keep up the good work.
I hope you have an overflow plan. You’ll be shocked how fast that fills, which will then run straight down your foundation. You may also be shocked how fast you will go through 55gal!
ALL depends on how large a garden serviced, type of plants serviced (some require more H2O than others), and emitter specs... many output too much. Do your homework, and adjust your system as fits your needs. Relying on a "1 size fits all" like these posts WILL doom your project, otherwise !
That down pipe will leak, should be on the outside of the pipe and you need an overflow. Next year you will be re-leveling the rain barrel because it should be on the cement sidewalk block
Just a tip on downspouts- you need to run the bottom piece on the outside of the top or else water will seep out your connection. You have it backwards
Also. We use the trash barrel with a larger plastic tray under and a cheap trolly under it all to capture water from the washing machine. To pour on the grass. Not the garden. But the yard. The soap kills all the bugs and the grass is as green as anyone could ask for. Each load we just tip over on the next spot. Easy
The Rolls-Royce of barrels? Not getting that. First you had to cut your downspout entirely. There is nowhere for the excess water to flow so won't it be spilling over flooding the area around the barrel? And how do you deal with winter with half of a downspout hanging? The ones I bought, but have yet to install, have a reflow system and a planter on top. I didn't see anything about the filter system in the one you installed either.
Love it thanks for the help but for future reference, to make sure anything is level you need a level that will cover most if not the whole surface of the object you're trying to plumb up 👍 ik it sounds douchey but if I pulled up to my work with a tiny little level like that..I'd be the talk of the town lol...it happened actually..I was..
We have and organization here called River Action retain the rain program. The barrels are 55 gallons food grade and affordable roughly $75. It has a netted filter under the lid. We put river rock on top to prevent large debris from plugging up holes. We are able to daisy chain barrels together.
250 Gallon IBC totes can be found used for $25 - $100 and they work GREAT for rain barrels, check your local Craigslist. The 3 I've purchased all sellers even offered to drop the things off to me, so it would seem that people are desperate to be rid of them as well. Just be sure to do a thorough cleaning before using!
IBC totes are the best! We have 2 ready to hook up & are looking for 2 more. A lot of people are willing to just give them away around here. I can't wait to get our set up done. Doubling the amount of water we catch will be awesome!
I have 2 5kl tanks and 2 220l Containers. If the 2 220l containers are full it takes me one week to use all the water on a warm day. Most of my plants is in containers.
i should have looked more on line before I bought mine. It was almost $100 but it come already to go with spigot and overflow. I did find one cheaper but had to drive 2 hours to Santa Cruz to pick it up.
I agree with others about the downspout being backwards. You could just attach to each other with a couple of screws & then silicon seal around it to prevent the leaks.
Hey Luke! Loyal subscriber here in Algonac. I'm on my third year of using rain barrels and you would be surprised on how much you will use. I know you use core gardening but I believe you'll want to expand soon. I have 3 barrels, 165 gallons, and I run out in the hotter months. I think you'll also be surprised at how fast that barrel will fill up! Keep up with the great videos!
That is an awesome rain barrel! I have been combing craigslist to see if anyone is parting with some like that with the mosquito screen in it. Apparently it's rare to see someone getting rid of them so you made a good buy it's going to last!
I have 2- 55 gal. rain barrels but even though they are elevated I still need a pump to deliver the water to the garden by hose. I have been carrying it in buckets and it gets very heavy after a while. I am thinking of changing to a 250 gal container to make sure I have enough water. My garden is 20' X 50' .
I got a bit happy seeing your fruit trees in full green Luke! All of mine have lost their leaves for the winter, so you just reminded me of the goodness to come in about 5 months time
Looks nice, but I think you really need that plastic extension to bend into place. That straight piece is pointed not totally onto the screen and will start spewing water on the siding. You could wind up with moss on your siding.
Im thinking i could go the same route as my bucket gardens. Grab some more pickle buckets from the bk and have those collect the rain water. Free and food safe
Not to rain on your parade, I have two rain barrels set up in tandem and during dry stretches they only last about 4 days. I only have 4 beds (10 x 4 each). With the size of your garden, I don;t see that tiny barrel lasting very long. I am a firm believer in rain barrels and I do DIY barrels myself. Best of luck with the rain barrel. I'll post a pic of mine when I get a chance.
I have no gutters....what do I do with the water in the barrel? Please respond, do you read your comments? In FLORIDA mosquitos love it here unfortunately, what about standing water for those rascals? I am sure I will use it up but still...it can happen fast! Hate them
All depends on MANY variables... you MUST tightly oversee for the 1st few weeks after install to determine your need for such. I.e. IF you use very little, and water sits for days, weeks at a time... yes... if you have a robust system , in that system drains weekly... no.... make sense ?
On the downspout part the top section goes into the bottom or water will come out where its spliced together at. He should of squeezed the top then slid the shorter spout over it.
Can you give us a link to the product, the barrel with a filtering system. I can't find one. I found one that looks like that one but it does not say it has a filtering system.
Thank you for your videos . I’ve learned a lot from you. I knew there would be some negative comments , over look them and stay positive. Keep up the good work and the positive attitude.
The top piece should be inside the lower piece to prevent water leakage, gravity will cause water leaking, that's fact. Never install the lower piece inside the top piece.
How do you plan on getting the water out? I have this same barrel but need to get a pump if I plan on keeping the barrel at the same height you have yours to get water to feed out of the hose via gravity.
LOOK'S GOOD,YOU STILL NEED TO DO SOMETHING MORE WITH THAT DOWN SPOUT AND STRAP THAT BARREL TO THE HOUSE!!!! IT COULD STILL TIP OVER!!!!! YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT HOW FAST A 55 GAL DRUM WILL FILL UP!!!!!
Thanks for your videos. One question....we just installed one as well. Someone said not to water our vegetables with it because it's roof water. I have found conflicting info online. Do you water your fruits & veggies with the water? Other than the screen filter, do you have another filter? Thanks in advance for your response and thank you again for sharing your wealth of knowledge!!! God Bless!
Originally, MY roof water had ALL trees & plants closest to the dispensary thrived... so had no 2nd thoughts on the barrel collection addition... all is well. Now, IF such has a long term effect on humans... I've seen evidence to both sides of the issue...
@@escargot905 US Gallon of water is 3.78 L and Canadian gallon is 4.53 L so it depends which gallon. 1 litre weighs 1kg which = 2.2lbs so calculate that out.
@@KatBurnsKASHKA comes out to 8.316 pounds for the US gallon, and 9.966 pounds for the Canadian gallon. So I guess those who say 8 lbs and/or 10 lbs are BOTH correct!
Excellent video! Thanks for your help. With your advice and how you demonstrated your technique, I have also produced my own rain harvesting here in upstate New York. I created a video that hopefully helps. Thanks again.
Rainwater is always a better choice than city water, and sometimes a better choice than residential well water especially if your well water is extremely hard with a high pH.
Wouldn't it be better to sit on a solid surface like a patio stone? Over time it'll sink into the soil and may not stay level. Glad you got a good price for it.
NO ! Every foot in elevation (above ground height) gains water pressure ( don't quote, but I think between .5 - 1 psi), so IF ONLY depending on gravity to disperse... the higher... the better, essentially (keep safety in mind)
Curious to see how long 55 gallons of water will last you and how well the water flows through the spigot. If it's a standard spigot with just a couple feet of pressure on it, you might be taking a long time to get water out of it.
I loveyour videos and I take all your tips and use them in my oqn garden and I make videos on gardening to and I also live in michigan just like a few hundred miles north of you
I happened to receive for free two of the same rain barrels you just set up. However, I was on the University of Maryland extension site today and it does not recommend using water collected from a roof to water edible plants because of contamination from bird and mammal waste and wind born contaminants. It says rain collected from the roof should only be used to water ornamental plantings.
The rain barrel won't provide enough pressure (head) to water the garden. You can fill a watering can, but don't expect to stand back and spray your garden.
Ibc tank 1m³ meter of water 50 bucks used and cleaned. doesn't look as ugly as that plastic barrel. can hold more. lasts longer. a lot of attatchems for hoses because of standard cupplings.
![The BEST DIY RAIN BARREL Install [Complete Guide]](/img/1.gif)
I have five rain barrels set up (275 gallons total) and all connected together. I use a small sump pump (1/8HP) to a handmade sprinkler system. Three years ago, 60107 Streamwood gave out free rain barrels (3) and I expanded to five. Absolutely a critical item for my gardening.
Awesome!
I have 8 barrels total. One 45 gallon store bought barrel.
I have, in 3 locations, seven 55 gallon blue food grade barrels I got off Craigslist, hubby created an attachment to hook the downspout to, an overflow, with a spigot. We have 2 doubles & 1 triple set up with ability to hold 430 gallons. I use chicken wire & air conditioner filter to keep debris out, as well as foam inserts in the eves. I wish I had a pump to a handheld hose, as I'm hand filling water jugs & carrying currently.
Awesome. I got mine through the water district. Im in hanover park
I just moved to 60107. I'm definitely going to put in some rain barrels. Water is like $12 out here! Insane. Previous homeowner was paying over $200 to keep the sprinklers going every month!
You might find the down spout will leak some with the pipe overlap backwards. Water should flow with the top piece inside the lower. Nice barrel and glad to see you added one to the garden.
Noticed the same think. That's gonna be a big leaky mess.
Same.
Yea its a hack job. Also didn't use a diverter but I could care less about the second.
Is there an overflow on the barrel? You dont want the water spilling out in the wrong spot into you foundation or have it erod your soil.
Exactly why this is a horrible video. Come on now.
Fun fact in some areas it's illegal to collect rainwater, so if you're unsure be careful who you tell. And Luke, you should have looked into some other options, some with an overflow diverter, that way when it's full it doesnt flood the foundation. Make sure it is not resting on the siding, that would be a fast way for water infiltration.
So sad it's illegal. Pretty soon solar panels are going to be illegal, sucks our HOA doesn't allow it.
@@joyceoq4271, nope apparently some jurisdictions say that is their water.
I live in the desert but water law is super complex.
Ultimately it comes down to stealing water. The water that is available is usually so little that people in the past have dug ponds to use for farming, that water in the pond is hoarding water from the next person down stream who may now not get the water they paid for/need.
Seems unfair but it’s also to protect everyone.
Joyce OQ search “riparian rights vs prior appropriation.” Most states east of the Mississippi abide by riparian rights, where the land owner owns the rights to the water on his/her property. Most states west of the Mississippi abide by the prior appropriation doctrine, which gives the water rights to whoever used the water first.
Monkey the Raccoon depends on your state. In Washington you can’t use rain barrels to make it drinking water, but you can use them to water the garden.
Love it! We have 10 - 55 gallon drums all attached together. That's 550 gallons & we still run out. I hook it to the pressure washer & wash the cars, house/windows & concrete drive. Those are my biggest outdoor water users. It's spot free, so I don't have to dry anything. Makes windows & cars a breeze. My hubby ended up with an electric pump that makes my rain water system just like my house faucet. I'm new to your channel & was blown away when you said you don't a rain system. Enjoy your new set up. When you realize just how much you can use rain water, I bet you upgrade :)
Its not perfect and he will need to manage the over flow but its a beginning. 55 gal will not go far in the dry season. My garden uses 25 gallons a day all summer with the drip system. Its all from rain water. When I started I did not want to put the strain on my well so I started looking for those totes I have 6 that are 230 gallon and 2 that are 330 gallons. I use a RV pump to provide preasure for the hose and the drip system.
If anyone is interested look at the first flush system that goes in line with your down spout and has a switch so in the winter you just move the switch and its all back to going down your down spout. It also provides 2 stages of filtration. I do believe the plants like the rain water better and its fun. Does not cost anything (the pumps run on solar power) also my garden is over 400 feet from the house so this way I have lots of pressure (the little pump supplies 45 lbs of pressure and the drip system has a 30 lb pressure regulator.
I must admit the barrel looks a lot better than my black totes (painted them to stop algae) but its in the back of out property and I am the only one that sees them unless a friend comes over to shoot and they do not care just want to use the range.
Its a great idea and I think it worth the expense and the effort. Its a lot of fun also. When I first did it was last year and it was a little dry by the time I got it all set up and when it would rain I would go out in the rain with a flashlight and watch the rain go into it and listen to it running into the totes, I did not have enough brains to come in out of the rain!
Hey, my county extension service offers the rain barrel kits for $40, I have used this one for two years now. So happy with it. Check you county before buying more expensive ones.
Luke, Best advice I ever got for my 4 rain barrels was to replace that crappy water valve with a good ball valve. Water comes out so much faster.
Just as an fyi, if you have used up the extra water in rain barrels, and you still need water, you can use city water. Fill your rain barrel with regular city water, wait 3 days and the chlorine will off gas and dissipate. EPA considers water once chlorinated safe after 3 days. It work in a pinch but rain water is the best!
Whaaaa ? I've NEVER had ANY plants die off because of using city water ! Indeed rain water is better, as it contains minerals the cities filter out...
What about overflow control once the barrel is full?
Good morning Luke. One thing I added to my rain Barrel down spout was a sock.,,this catches pollen and small debris that lands on roof.i check it once a month
Too funny! I used an old sock too. Pulled it up & used a wire tie around the pipe. It stops a lot of everything including asphalt shingle grit from going right into the barrel.
One of my plans, good to know to shop during winter. Though 55 gallons of fresh water weighs about 457.8 pounds (55 × 8.34 # = 457.8). Nitpicking I know. Might want to consider a brace as the ground will settle, Murphy says it will settle on the outside edge and barrel will tip over thataway. And maybe a splash guard under the overflow spout to direct water away and to keep that runoff from undercutting the base the barrel sits upon. Great video. Best
@@nascar427 @03:00 Luke stated that 55 gallons would last him a long time. Go look. Best
I just read an article about rain barrels and food gardens. If you have asphalt shingles (most homes do) you might want to research what contaminants may end up in your water, and thus, on your garden. The more you know.
Yup... but in a crisis when NO food is available in stores... potentially long term tainted food is AWESOME !
As you know Luke I collect the water from my air conditioner excess. It works very well for me. The hose is a 1 inch diameter. I get about 10 gallons a day when it is hot.
What do you collect it for to drink it? And would that be safe since some of the medal they drip on have lead?
My rainbarrel is on the opposite corner of my yard. So I ran a 100 ft hose along the fence from the rainbarrel to my garden. It works like a charm. I'm in southwestern Ontario so not far from you. Same kind of weather.
Also I do believe there are overflow hoses on every rainbarrel.
Hi Luke, I agree with Jeremy and Ed below, the last piece of downspout that you attached will leak at the last connection. Each section of the downspout, from top to bottom, has to go inside the piece below it, to prevent leaks. Thanks for the great videos !!! Well Done !!
I thought there would be a diverter to put into the downspout for the gutters. That way when the barrel is full water still gets pushed away from the house. When I put my rain barrel in it came with a diverter and instructions. Fortunately, I attached mine to a small shed that was already set up for rainwater collection. Here in Oregon, it takes less than a few hours of moderate rain even with that small surface area to collect 55 gallons.
We have three rain barrels in different downspouts. However, with all the flooding rains we get in Spring, we decided to get even more water for free. We bought some inflatable 10 foot long by 3 foot wide swimming pools and put them out in the yard in the field. They received enough rain to almost fill them up in March and April, and in the past few days, they received another 3 or so inches. If you try this, make sure to add essential oils to kill mosquito larvae and discourage toads and frogs from laying eggs in them. As for our garden hoses, we have Boogie Brew water filters on them, and they filter out chloramine.
You are a pro! Which essential oil do you use for mosquitoes ?
Lemon Eucalyptus
Luke, you are an amazing gardener and gardening coach. Thank you. A tad bit of Engineering coaching. When up against your house foundation, it is important to set up drainage away from the house structure. Basically, you first want to slope the impermeable layer (soil) away from the house. Second, when you ‘level your barrel’ use a uniformed size stone bed on that footprint for your stand so the water that is not captured in the barrel or any overflow from the barrel can pass through the stones and then drain away from your house’s foundation. And always strap that bad boy so the postulated tip over doesn’t take out a pet or heaven forbid injure a human.
Looks good look but make sure you have an overflow to move water away from you foundation. That barrel will fill very quickly.
yeah, i have a hose that I attach when it rains heavily... I regulate the amount of water that flows out with the amount of rain coming down so it usually stays full while routing water to areas that can handle it
what size hose and where and how do you attach it? 7/8ths is the opening at top?
@@mx1867 that isn’t going to be enough for an overflow off a roof. Both my tanks have 90mm (3.5 inch) pipe overflows. Really it needs to be the same as the inlet/downpipe that runs in.
My states Dept of Natural Resources used to offer them at a discount for a basic barrel. I bought them for 2 years in a row
Currently I collect over 150 gal max. They have not done that lately. This year they offered a compost bin for halt off. Keep searching and you will find deal. Thanks for the vid.
Miniature by Australian standards. Here it's pretty common to have a 10kl or bigger tank. We're much drier than where you are though.
You need a diverter so that when rain barrel is full, the overflow will go into a downspout and away from your house. And the rain barrel will fill up fast. You will still need a hose to get the water to your garden. You can get a special hose for that which is healthier and not the usual rubber type.
I LOVE your "dorky-ness"!!! You remind me a bit of some of the dorkier guys I knew, growing up, whom (now) I wish I'd dated back then! You made my day! -Thank you! :-D
Residential MI gardener here. Stumbled upon the channel last week and have watched hours of content already. Love the videos. Just have to point out that water is a chemical. 😉 haha Keep up the good work.
Luke I would still put a strap around the barrel and attach to the house. Safety first, anything that can happen may happen.
Murphy's Law.
I hope you have an overflow plan.
You’ll be shocked how fast that fills, which will then run straight down your foundation.
You may also be shocked how fast you will go through 55gal!
ALL depends on how large a garden serviced, type of plants serviced (some require more H2O than others), and emitter specs... many output too much. Do your homework, and adjust your system as fits your needs. Relying on a "1 size fits all" like these posts WILL doom your project, otherwise !
I got the same barrel. It’s great. We water all our flowers with it.
That down pipe will leak, should be on the outside of the pipe and you need an overflow. Next year you will be re-leveling the rain barrel because it should be on the cement sidewalk block
Just a tip on downspouts- you need to run the bottom piece on the outside of the top or else water will seep out your connection. You have it backwards
Ed Chartrand I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who saw that. Yes Luke, you’ll want to fix that or your downspout will leak and might fall apart.
Also. We use the trash barrel with a larger plastic tray under and a cheap trolly under it all to capture water from the washing machine. To pour on the grass. Not the garden. But the yard. The soap kills all the bugs and the grass is as green as anyone could ask for. Each load we just tip over on the next spot. Easy
My goodness... was soo awesome to find your post of common sense & intelligence here... one of the VERY few...seriously !
I would have some some sort of solid foundation like pavers or concrete slabs for a few extra dollars.
The Rolls-Royce of barrels? Not getting that. First you had to cut your downspout entirely. There is nowhere for the excess water to flow so won't it be spilling over flooding the area around the barrel? And how do you deal with winter with half of a downspout hanging? The ones I bought, but have yet to install, have a reflow system and a planter on top. I didn't see anything about the filter system in the one you installed either.
Love it thanks for the help but for future reference, to make sure anything is level you need a level that will cover most if not the whole surface of the object you're trying to plumb up 👍 ik it sounds douchey but if I pulled up to my work with a tiny little level like that..I'd be the talk of the town lol...it happened actually..I was..
Luke can you please post a link to where you got that rain barrel. I like it.
Watch the video. He says where he got it
@@nedg3740 ha ha ha... too many want to be spoon fed, not needing to do research/homework... GREAT answer !
We have and organization here called River Action retain the rain program. The barrels are 55 gallons food grade and affordable roughly $75. It has a netted filter under the lid. We put river rock on top to prevent large debris from plugging up holes. We are able to daisy chain barrels together.
I've wanted rain barrels for years. Thanks for another great video. 😁
What happened to the green piece you were going to connect? Shouldn’t the piece you attached go over the existing pipe not into it?
250 Gallon IBC totes can be found used for $25 - $100 and they work GREAT for rain barrels, check your local Craigslist. The 3 I've purchased all sellers even offered to drop the things off to me, so it would seem that people are desperate to be rid of them as well. Just be sure to do a thorough cleaning before using!
IBC totes are the best! We have 2 ready to hook up & are looking for 2 more. A lot of people are willing to just give them away around here. I can't wait to get our set up done. Doubling the amount of water we catch will be awesome!
MORE important is that they were used for food grade items ! If used for oils, chemicals...NO amount of rinsing will make them human usable !
You might want to mount higher so that gravity gives you a little more pressure coming out the hose. Maybe a couple of blocks or 2"x4"base.
I have 2 5kl tanks and 2 220l Containers. If the 2 220l containers are full it takes me one week to use all the water on a warm day. Most of my plants is in containers.
i should have looked more on line before I bought mine. It was almost $100 but it come already to go with spigot and overflow. I did find one cheaper but had to drive 2 hours to Santa Cruz to pick it up.
I agree with others about the downspout being backwards. You could just attach to each other with a couple of screws & then silicon seal around it to prevent the leaks.
Hey Luke! Loyal subscriber here in Algonac. I'm on my third year of using rain barrels and you would be surprised on how much you will use. I know you use core gardening but I believe you'll want to expand soon. I have 3 barrels, 165 gallons, and I run out in the hotter months. I think you'll also be surprised at how fast that barrel will fill up! Keep up with the great videos!
That is an awesome rain barrel! I have been combing craigslist to see if anyone is parting with some like that with the mosquito screen in it. Apparently it's rare to see someone getting rid of them so you made a good buy it's going to last!
Are you planning to remove it in the winter and change the down spout configuration again?
Good question :D Or can you maybe just keep it the way it is and keep the spigot open? :D
I have 2- 55 gal. rain barrels but even though they are elevated I still need a pump to deliver the water to the garden by hose. I have been carrying it in buckets and it gets very heavy after a while. I am thinking of changing to a 250 gal container to make sure I have enough water. My garden is 20' X 50' .
I got a bit happy seeing your fruit trees in full green Luke! All of mine have lost their leaves for the winter, so you just reminded me of the goodness to come in about 5 months time
Where do you get your rain barrel from
What's the update on this rain barrel? Does it work? Would you recommend it?
Bingo! I get so tired of expensive money saving items! You have so much rained compared to AZ!
How are you liking it so far? Thinking of buying one today.
my local water department supposedly sells rain barrels used and new, might want to check with your water dept and see if they do the same
Looks nice, but I think you really need that plastic extension to bend into place. That straight piece is pointed not totally onto the screen and will start spewing water on the siding. You could wind up with moss on your siding.
Im thinking i could go the same route as my bucket gardens. Grab some more pickle buckets from the bk and have those collect the rain water. Free and food safe
I put in a 275 gallon Container to catch water from one side of my garage. It only takes 1 1/2 inches of rain to fill my tank.
I bought the exact rain barrel last year, it is fantastic
How do you deal with the overflow? 7/8ths is the top spout. Does ,not hardware comes for this nor is it a normal tube size?
Not to rain on your parade, I have two rain barrels set up in tandem and during dry stretches they only last about 4 days. I only have 4 beds (10 x 4 each). With the size of your garden, I don;t see that tiny barrel lasting very long. I am a firm believer in rain barrels and I do DIY barrels myself. Best of luck with the rain barrel. I'll post a pic of mine when I get a chance.
Um, I don't think you actually showed your spout connecting to the barrel.
I have the same barrel. It's 3 years old now and the plastic has broken down. I had plans to epoxy it but the cracks are everywhere
I have no gutters....what do I do with the water in the barrel? Please respond, do you read your comments? In FLORIDA mosquitos love it here unfortunately, what about standing water for those rascals? I am sure I will use it up but still...it can happen fast! Hate them
When you store rain water in this way do you need to put something in the barrel to prevent algae buildup?
All depends on MANY variables... you MUST tightly oversee for the 1st few weeks after install to determine your need for such. I.e. IF you use very little, and water sits for days, weeks at a time... yes... if you have a robust system , in that system drains weekly... no.... make sense ?
On the downspout part the top section goes into the bottom or water will come out where its spliced together at. He should of squeezed the top then slid the shorter spout over it.
Interested to see you do a town water v rain water lettuce beds growth comparison.
Very nice rain barrel....I plan on getting one of those at some point. Hopefully sooner then later.
Can you give us a link to the product, the barrel with a filtering system. I can't find one. I found one that looks like that one but it does not say it has a filtering system.
Make sure you drain it every fall. Ice will crack it.
NEVER had that problem, here in Tampa...lol
Wow - that was one of the easiest rain barrel installations I've ever seen. I think I could handle this one.
Thank you for your videos . I’ve learned a lot from you. I knew there would be some negative comments , over look them and stay positive. Keep up the good work and the positive attitude.
The top piece should be inside the lower piece to prevent water leakage, gravity will cause water leaking, that's fact. Never install the lower piece inside the top piece.
How do you plan on getting the water out? I have this same barrel but need to get a pump if I plan on keeping the barrel at the same height you have yours to get water to feed out of the hose via gravity.
LOOK'S GOOD,YOU STILL NEED TO DO SOMETHING MORE WITH THAT DOWN SPOUT AND STRAP THAT BARREL TO THE HOUSE!!!! IT COULD STILL TIP OVER!!!!! YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT HOW FAST A 55 GAL DRUM WILL FILL UP!!!!!
Why the "shouting" ?
The area mine is in gets little to no wind ... i.e. needs NO attachments !
Do your homework & adjust accordingly folks !
I have a tote that handles 275 gallons with a gravel filter. BTW it is 8 pounds per gallon. 55 gallon 440 pounds.
sounds about right... that plastic pedestal better be thick! I'd rather use cinder blocks
I think you put the downspout in wrong. The top should have fit into the bottom one, so the rain water doesn't come out the sides.
Why is that barrel so small.and that stand you have it on makes me nervous.what was the green bendy piece for then.what about a screen for mosquitoes
i thought you were going to use the green spout.. left a like
luke, in setting up two 1200l ibc totes. would i want to put a solar powered air stone?
Thanks for your videos. One question....we just installed one as well. Someone said not to water our vegetables with it because it's roof water. I have found conflicting info online. Do you water your fruits & veggies with the water? Other than the screen filter, do you have another filter? Thanks in advance for your response and thank you again for sharing your wealth of knowledge!!! God Bless!
Originally, MY roof water had ALL trees & plants closest to the dispensary thrived... so had no 2nd thoughts on the barrel collection addition... all is well.
Now, IF such has a long term effect on humans... I've seen evidence to both sides of the issue...
A gallon of water is about 8 lbs.
A pint's a pound the world 'round.
BubblewrapHighway you learned the same way I did’
Jeannie Scarber 10 pounds is what I learned
@@escargot905 US Gallon of water is 3.78 L and Canadian gallon is 4.53 L so it depends which gallon. 1 litre weighs 1kg which = 2.2lbs so calculate that out.
@@KatBurnsKASHKA comes out to 8.316 pounds for the US gallon, and 9.966 pounds for the Canadian gallon. So I guess those who say 8 lbs and/or 10 lbs are BOTH correct!
I love this barrel but I hate that there's no cover to remove to properly clean the inside.
Was the rain barrel legal? I know in some regions of Michigan they are not... ( because of mosquitoes)
YES...MAYBE..NO... no one need dare do ANY homework in their area as to legality...
Excellent video! Thanks for your help. With your advice and how you demonstrated your technique, I have also produced my own rain harvesting here in upstate New York. I created a video that hopefully helps. Thanks again.
How do you control the evaporation? I've seen barrels that are more sealed. Did you consider that type of design?
Rainwater is always a better choice than city water, and sometimes a better choice than residential well water especially if your well water is extremely hard with a high pH.
Do you have to bring them in for the winter,will they freeze and crack?
Wouldn't it be better to sit on a solid surface like a patio stone? Over time it'll sink into the soil and may not stay level. Glad you got a good price for it.
NO ! Every foot in elevation (above ground height) gains water pressure ( don't quote, but I think between .5 - 1 psi), so IF ONLY depending on gravity to disperse... the higher... the better, essentially (keep safety in mind)
Can you include a link to one we can find online?
YAY I WANT TO DO THIS AS WELL! our rent house doesnt have gutters.. ITS THE WORST! wonder if i should just put a bucket out there hahaha
Buy a house, chief !
Curious to see how long 55 gallons of water will last you and how well the water flows through the spigot. If it's a standard spigot with just a couple feet of pressure on it, you might be taking a long time to get water out of it.
That Dumb and Dumber reference was awesome!
I loveyour videos and I take all your tips and use them in my oqn garden and I make videos on gardening to and I also live in michigan just like a few hundred miles north of you
What about when winter arrives? No one seems to ever cover this about rain barrels.
Do you seriously open garden in the Winter ? I need to buy some of your super tolerant seeds !
can't wait to see it in use... do you have a plan for if/when the barrel is full where the water will go?
Instead of a rain barrel we just use a large trash can to catch the rain. Works just as well, especially if you attach a spout.
I happened to receive for free two of the same rain barrels you just set up. However, I was on the University of Maryland extension site today and it does not recommend using water collected from a roof to water edible plants because of contamination from bird and mammal waste and wind born contaminants. It says rain collected from the roof should only be used to water ornamental plantings.
"Want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?" Having Dumb and Dumber flash backs XD
The rain barrel won't provide enough pressure (head) to water the garden. You can fill a watering can, but don't expect to stand back and spray your garden.
Could you please tell us where you found the rain barrel? I love the fact that it's a complete system all in one.
Johanne Perry I think he said Home Depot
Isn't tht illegal in some states? I've heard it was but I could be wrong I would love to get me a rain barrel too if it's legal
A minute amount of areas...totally illegal... a few...regulated... most...totally good to go ! Use the internet for your area's homework !
Ibc tank 1m³ meter of water 50 bucks used and cleaned. doesn't look as ugly as that plastic barrel. can hold more. lasts longer. a lot of attatchems for hoses because of standard cupplings.