My issue with your install is that the screen you removed keeps roofing stones, insects, and the large bird poop out of the barrel. I use the screens and have my barrels fed from separate downspouts in my back yard. I'm tempted to put even better screens on the barrels to keep any debris out. Our first year with the barrels, we didn't use the water and they grew quite the greenery inside. This year we have a garden. It's amazing how the shortest rain fills both barrels, independently. I had a pipe burst in my house and the shutoff didn't work, so I had to shut the water off from the valve at the meter. We lived for 24 hours like there was an apocalypse, and there was enough water to keep the garden and the toilet flushed. We've never run our barrels dry, even after the garden. I wonder what my close subdivision neighbors will do when they lose water. I also have a good privacy fence..
This looks like a nice little set up. The only suggestion I would make would be to put in a larger diameter valve for your spicket. It seems like your water flow is going to be a little weak. And along that same line with them sitting so low to the ground your gravity feed will not work so well. I had the same issue when I set mine up to begin with. And ended up adding more cinderblocks underneath to get them off the ground. Very well done my friend and as always thanks for sharing.
I bought an electric garden pump from Harbor Freight for $50 to alleviate that issue. There are also hoses you can get with tiny holes in them so you just lay them where you want the water, connect, and turn on the bottom spigot.
I thought about direct piping mine but after seeing this the shingle debris and junk will muck up the barrels. I really appreciate the video and you’re attempts at modifications will help me with mine. Thanks you inspired me to try some other ideas to improve the downspout. Also I’m going to secure my barrel to the house with something to keep it from tipping (nothing too static but if the kids play around it). I have the same brand but slightly different 65 gal. Maybe I’ll do a diy to compare. Thanks!!
FYI. The rain barrel website, shows the hose from the rain spout going to one of the places in the back of the barrel. You used one for overflow, the other one can be attached to the rain spout. Wouldn't have to have the hose coming onto the top. Seems like the part that sticks out would accommodate the hose. I can't find the hose attachment at present, so wondering if the hose fits over the part that sticks out, Just don't know and am about to fix my barrels. Thanks for sharing. :)
Yes, it’s not supposed to collect everything, with the hole in the middle is for overflow. You collected enough water in that storm, anyway. The original instructions also had something about being a big more level from the downspout to the rain barrel.
They're inside the barrel when you buy it. You also get different sized hole saws in the kit. Other RUclips video reviews of these rain barrels show everything that comes in the kit, laid out with the instructions.
The rain diverting kit comes inside the barrel. This kit on Amazon is identical to what came in my barrels: www.amazon.com/dp/B005CJFBJE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YDJfFbHJ1X4BN
Bird poop, seeds in the poop, and roofing stones will get in the barrel. I used the screens and my barrels still fill up completely during the shortest rains.
The flat back pop out, bows out when the barrel fills with water. WTF? That cannot be good , all that flexing in/out of the plastic back probably means premature failure in the integrity of the barrel
My issue with your install is that the screen you removed keeps roofing stones, insects, and the large bird poop out of the barrel. I use the screens and have my barrels fed from separate downspouts in my back yard. I'm tempted to put even better screens on the barrels to keep any debris out. Our first year with the barrels, we didn't use the water and they grew quite the greenery inside. This year we have a garden. It's amazing how the shortest rain fills both barrels, independently. I had a pipe burst in my house and the shutoff didn't work, so I had to shut the water off from the valve at the meter. We lived for 24 hours like there was an apocalypse, and there was enough water to keep the garden and the toilet flushed. We've never run our barrels dry, even after the garden. I wonder what my close subdivision neighbors will do when they lose water. I also have a good privacy fence..
This looks like a nice little set up. The only suggestion I would make would be to put in a larger diameter valve for your spicket. It seems like your water flow is going to be a little weak. And along that same line with them sitting so low to the ground your gravity feed will not work so well. I had the same issue when I set mine up to begin with. And ended up adding more cinderblocks underneath to get them off the ground. Very well done my friend and as always thanks for sharing.
Great suggestions thank you brother!
I bought an electric garden pump from Harbor Freight for $50 to alleviate that issue. There are also hoses you can get with tiny holes in them so you just lay them where you want the water, connect, and turn on the bottom spigot.
I thought about direct piping mine but after seeing this the shingle debris and junk will muck up the barrels. I really appreciate the video and you’re attempts at modifications will help me with mine. Thanks you inspired me to try some other ideas to improve the downspout. Also I’m going to secure my barrel to the house with something to keep it from tipping (nothing too static but if the kids play around it). I have the same brand but slightly different 65 gal. Maybe I’ll do a diy to compare. Thanks!!
Thanks for watching and glad I could help
Just bought one. Thank you for this awesome video.
Love these rain barrels.
FYI. The rain barrel website, shows the hose from the rain spout going to one of the places in the back of the barrel. You used one for overflow, the other one can be attached to the rain spout. Wouldn't have to have the hose coming onto the top. Seems like the part that sticks out would accommodate the hose. I can't find the hose attachment at present, so wondering if the hose fits over the part that sticks out, Just don't know and am about to fix my barrels. Thanks for sharing. :)
Yes, it’s not supposed to collect everything, with the hole in the middle is for overflow. You collected enough water in that storm, anyway.
The original instructions also had something about being a big more level from the downspout to the rain barrel.
Do you have any problem with leaves and debris getting into the barrel?
Sometimes. But only when the leaves fall
I know when we get a lot of rain so much water could be saved by this method.
Great video! Where did you get hose and attachment to go into gutter?
If you brought them at Costco, the part will be in the counters. If not, I believe you can get more part from there website
They're inside the barrel when you buy it. You also get different sized hole saws in the kit. Other RUclips video reviews of these rain barrels show everything that comes in the kit, laid out with the instructions.
Where can i get a rain diverter kit similar to the one you are using?
Try there website. If no luck, Amazon eBay might be able to help
The rain diverting kit comes inside the barrel. This kit on Amazon is identical to what came in my barrels: www.amazon.com/dp/B005CJFBJE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YDJfFbHJ1X4BN
So, no screen for debris and bugs?
No screens and not many bugs get into the rain barrels
Bird poop, seeds in the poop, and roofing stones will get in the barrel. I used the screens and my barrels still fill up completely during the shortest rains.
Why not just run your downspout right into your barrel? Why fuss with drilling into your downspouts if it doesn’t collect all of the rain water?
The rest of the water that goes down the drain water my peonies flowers
The flat back pop out, bows out when the barrel fills with water. WTF? That cannot be good , all that flexing in/out of the plastic back probably means premature failure in the integrity of the barrel
I've had my barrels for 2 years and they've flexed and even frozen with no breakage. It's good that they have the give.
Mine has a crack on bottom, had to order new one, now sure how old it is