I have clear barrels also,  I plan on painting them like mentioned to help keep down algae, but now I see from reading this I will Run a line of tape from top to bottom before painting so I can see my water level.  Then I can just put this spot close to the house with less light exposure. It's called a "first flush" system. Estimate how much rainwater you'll capture. They have it at a local store for $130 2a. if we washed a lot of trucks we had to manually adjust the water level and head pressure to get the station back to normal. Time to start looking for barrels! You could get away with one in this setup but you may have uneven filling of both barrels if you only have one from what I've read in other instructions but have not experienced it myself.After thoughts:I think i may change this part already. Rinse out the barrel as needed to clean out sediment or debris that passed through the debris screen. Pump kits don’t come cheap. Can I use my rain water to water my lawn? Boring or cutting out a section of downspout and installing a diverter to connect the barrel with a hose. The other way i thought of doing so was taking an additional barrel which would contain an sump pump and act like your sump in the basement. A pump is often the best solution as it may provide the added benefit of more water pressure. on Step 7. I'll be modifying my setup soon to hook up a couple of toilets and outside watering, so stay tuned for a revision! One 3-6" from the bottom and one about 3/4 of the way up the side of the barrel.Now the opening may be to small yet to screw the fitting into the side so you may have to slowly make it wider with the drill bit. You may need a permit for rainwater harvesting in some locations, or the use of rain barrels may be prohibited or governed by state, local or neighborhood regulations. You may also be able to link barrels to collect the overflow. on Step 7. The other end of the U then goes into your barrels / main filter system. Keep in mind I'm try to explain the general idea and stuff you can use, you can use my setup or feel free to modify / make your own for your needs. I want to be able to filter the water before it enters the barrels. Cinder blocks with a patio stone on top of them will provide height so that you can put your watering can beneath the spigot or get more gravity to … It might seem a bit odd to install rain barrels in a place like Southern California where it rarely rains; however, The Ecology Center notes that the average annual rainfall in Southern California is 15 inches and that it would take just one inch of rainfall to collect 1,000 gallons of water off of an average-size roof here. It sounds complicated but its really again quite crude. I want to put a pool filter in but I'm not sure if it will drain through the filter with out pressure. I'm flexible on setup - can be in the water barrel or out, electric or solar. Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page, Anti-Larval Mosquito Control Tablets (Optional). I have a small pancake compresses that does the brunt of the work for general things like tires, dust abatement brads and staples. One barrel system - This is one barrel put under a spout with some sort of collection with a screen to go into the barrel See Example HereMulti barrel system which can lead to an ever growing system - this is the system I'll be showing. Reply Larger pipe in case your pump has a 1" inlet or larger. Here are the basic steps. Good luck, Reply You can improve the flow rate by elevating the barrel. How quickly will my Rain Barrel fill up? There are also a few features you can look for: Save space with a hybrid rain barrel/composter model. If you use the water to irrigate herb, vegetable or fruit plants, apply it to the soil, not the plants. The beauti of this system is that if you don't get a good downpour to flush the leaves and junk off the roof and it just drizzles, the first flush barrel will not fill and plug the hole with the ball and the water will just drain out of the 1/4" hose. A washable furnace filter (again possible the same problem as above) A pre trap that some how self cleans then goes to another type of filter Pressure type of filter system (but then would require solar power or something else to give it pressure) Let me know your thoughts! I will let you know I'm not versed in everything myself, but I like to tinker or have learned by mistakes. On the inside of the container put the 3" drain on top of the male fitting. Inspect it regularly for damage or leaks. Thank you. You can add anti-larval tablets containing Bacillus thuringiensis to the water to kill mosquito larvae. 3. 9. How did you daisy chain your barrels together? Since right now it comes off the roof unfiltered. Drill two holes into the side of each barrel. 11 years ago Algreen's Rain Barrel Pump Kit allows you to instantly get pressurized rainwater to your garden with 500ghp of pressure. You've given me some useful Ideas and for that I give you Kudos. Other ideas added here! If you have a barrel you can reach into also put a bead of caulk around the inside. Rule RainPerfect Rain Barrel Pump System # RB280-100 has the capacity of pumping 100 gallons of water per charge with 13 PSI of pressure! The only issue would be adding water back into your holding tank. Your mind is always going and that's fantastic! To set up a rain-barrel system in your yard, you have to choose a location with a gutter you can shorten and reroute. I've run out of water in the rain barrel but I've never had the battery on the pump go first. A debris screen keeps mosquitoes from entering the main water inlet, but you can caulk any gaps that might allow them to enter. Most of the new low flow front load washers will error out with not enough flow. The RainPerfect™ pump and solar panel install quickly in minutes and provide pressurized water directly from your rain barrel to your outdoor water activities such as watering your lawn or garden, running low pressure sprinklers, or washing your car. You would have to depressurize your system to allow water in. A gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds. Participated in the The Instructables Book Contest. Thanks for posting. Drain and disconnect the barrel before freezing weather arrives. I'd suspect that this could be done in a matter of an afternoon with all the parts at hand. It will always be flowing water as long as it's raining. You have done a great job! See Gutter Cleaning and Repair for information on maintaining your gutters. i got mine from a smaller place that uses cleaner to clean out coloring that is safe on the environment. It depends on the type of roof and barrels you use if you could actually use this to drink. A rain barrel gives you a simple way to collect rainwater for use around your landscape. They usually have a 2" screw off cap or tapable cap and a 2 1/4" screw off cap. Installation was easy but you do have to read the instructions. Thus you are always dependent on having that one barrel there and everyone states they need cleaning eventually that really isn't cool to have your most important factor out of the picture. I am going to put a 3" t on top of the first flush barrel just the way a T is in a sentence. Using a Pump for your Rain Barrel. Use the 5/8" tubing to connect the now screwed in fitting to the right angled 1/2" fitting. With the barrel on its side, use a power drill with a 1-inch drill bit to drill a hole about 5 inches above the base of the barrel for the drain. Rain Recycle Rain Barrel Pump 120 Volt AC-60Hz-3.8 Amps • Designed to work with a 5/8” garden hose in almost all rain barrels with removable lids, some above ground rain tanks and IBC containers The key part of the project, though, is setting up the barrel. There are plenty of people on the forums who are exceptionally knowledgeable in all these areas that you are seeking. 5. Hopefully this helps you in some way or gets you thinking of other ideas. Rain barrels collect rainwater from your roof by rerouting a section of your gutter’s downpipe into a nearby reservoir. You could also use nuts and washers if you can reach in and tighten from the inside. Maybe that will let the water through, and with all those thousands of internal holes; the dirt will get stuck. Assembly may include installing the spigot or hose connecter(s) and connecting an overflow hose. Stan KuczynskiHi guy's Just a quick question, I would like to set up my rain barrel system so i can run my filtered water into my washing machine. The biggest advantage of these barrels is that if the water level becomes low, you can easily attach an external pump to … The pump provides enough pressure to run most low pressure sprinklers, wash a car or water just about anything around your home. Now if your really getting disparate and you don't care about how much it costs you can do a Google search for them and find them for 75 - 180 If you don't want to have to do the work of creating one you can buy a ready made one also.If I'm inaccurate in my statements please let me know. That's awsome! Plants benefit from water that's free of the chemicals and minerals in tap water. The problem i see with this would be again the leaves and gunk would sit on the bottom of the barrel and would be a PAIN to clean out with out adding some sort of bottom drain to let the leaves out plus you'd probably have to use your now collected water to clean it out lol. If you go with a pressure tank, to add filters so the water is cleaner. Therefore, solar versions work best for frequent waterers because you don’t need a wired power source. I'm working on my house sometime this year which I'll add an addition onto my garage and I'm going to get a large farm tank to put in there to house my "clean water" so i can hopefully have enough water all year... How I'm going to do the entire setup... yea a mystery yet haha. Rainwater harvesting provides an alternative to using municipal water or well water for irrigation. Put together the white assembly parts below. Remove the barrel and reconfigure the downspout to handle runoff if you don't plan to use the barrel for several days or longer. Craigs list in some places you can find people selling them from 10 - 100 dollars. This step will determine what and how you do your next steps. on Introduction. Let me explain what I was trying (still in the works) to accomplish with this setup.I didn't like the fact that all the other barrel setups it went straight into one barrel. Most of them pose the same concept; a closed system covered in a netting to not allow mosquitoes in, and a outlet to let the collected water out. To start, this setup cost me … I did mine below the 2 1/4" opening. Measure and mark carefully. Made of UV-resistant PVC plastic, the diverter kit fits onto standard 2" x 3" rectangle downspouts. Great guide! Hook it up to a toilet (will be showing this later)10. Seems like only 2 more T fittings, 2 clamps, and a length of the tubing. That litter box should be fine. Before you install or use a rain barrel, make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear and functioning. pots. What kind of water pressure can I expect from a Rain Barrel? Collection rates vary depending on the slope and size of the roof. As of now, I use the lower washroom for 7 - 8 months and save a lot of water on my bill. You can improve the flow rate by elevating the barrel. This setup is for using gravity and a pump setup for a later Instructable. when I am not using the washer i can just shut the whole thing down till i need it. Obviously you need 1 or more barrels, my current setup is 2. 4. Make sure it is also as level as possible since the barrels will weigh a lot (~500lbs or 8lbs per gallon) To comment about the drinkability and use of rain water, from what I've read and what i know the rain water is probably better for you to drink compared to city water. Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted. Use the water promptly to help prevent eggs from developing into mosquitoes. More Sizes in this Series: on Step 7. If the tank filled up to much with liquid it lost head pressure to the taps also same happened if it lost to much water. They say if your in a survival situation if you had a choice of drinking water out of a stream or drinking rain water you should always choose the rain water because there could be bacteria in the river water. Reply If you're looking for a different alternative you could go with a pressure tank and hand pump for an alternative to get the pressure but not use energy. Make sure you rise well with water either way. Then you need to build something to put it on. You're probably also wondering where can I find a barrel or two?!? The other thing it does is allows the leaves (if you don't have gutter protectors on your roof) to go in there which can than be cleaned out every now and then. Don't use the runoff on edible plants if you have a copper roof or gutters, or if your roof has been treated with zinc or another chemical for algae or moss control. Adding a pitcher pump to your rain barrel enhances the charm and character that automatically exists in an authentic used whiskey barrel. Attach an elbow section, if needed. (this is the type i will be showing, they can be white, blue or sometimes another color)Plastic industrial barrels Usually are a few varieties, but all contain chemicals that are probably not safe for your garden or lawn and especially not safe for drinking. In order to keep from washing all the little stones and trash into my barrels, (40 of them) I put a large funnel on top of each barrel and catch the water directly from the rain. Set your gutter downspout so it'll handle runoff, either by reinstalling the portion you removed or setting a diverter to downspout use. :-D, Yes, I already have an idea in place that I will be making just like you have described. ; Drill an additional hole about 3 inches below the top of the barrel for the overflow. Note: To find the forums, click the forums button at the top right of instructables webpage. Usually you can get them for free or relativity nothing. I think you'll need a screen over the drain in the bottom. on Introduction. Installation – View Video Ensure the ground beneath the rain barrel is firm and level. If you elevate the barrel above the ground, the structure you use must be able to support the weight of a full barrel. It's best to choose a spot that has level ground and is out of the main walkway. Thanks again! on Step 7, Good afternoon, Really cool project. This Instructable will be an overview of how to setup your own rain barrels. 10 years ago Collapsible barrels will have more assembly steps. This pump is designed for use with fresh and sea water only Is collecting rainwater illegal where you live? Simply place the rain barrel filter basket under a downspout and connect a garden hose to the bottom ball-valve spigot. (Note: i had to cut the inner part of the drain some to get it to fit over the 2" smooth male fitting. I hope to publish my system on the site in the future. 9 years ago With using the screw in fittings it eliminates the need for the 5/8" tubing and extra fittings. on Step 10. Some people prefer to elevate their rain barrel by placing them on cement blocks to increase pressure resulting from gravity. And no electricity. Down spout will be connected to the one side of the t. The polluted first run-off water and poop and leaves will come in and drop into the first barrel. Here's my suggestion back to you about the tea color. on Introduction, For a good prefilter for larger debris you might consider these http://www.aquabarrel.com/product_downspout_filters_slim_line.php http://www.aquabarrel.com/product_downspout_filters_Barrel_Topper.php to take your rain harvesting system off-line for the winter use this http://www.aquabarrel.com/product_downspout_diverter_rectangular_aluminum.php, 7 years ago The Grundfos SBA automatic rain barrel pump is a complete pumping system with an integrated control unit – eliminating the need for an external pump controller. Make sure to put pipe tape on the threads close to the middle of the fitting and some marine caulk. Oh there are so many setup possibilities that at this point I can only direct you which way to go. This may not show 100% step by step since I've found their is a great variation to how you want your rain barrels to work and the setup you use. I want to make a filter this spring, once the freezing winter is over, and it will be a slow sand filter only for the toilet. My whole thinking in this project is to not use any power at all, all gravity fed or use wind to lift it. You may want to consider using a patio stone as a base. Use the male and female 2" adapter for this part. No problem Stan! Some barrels come with a pump to increase water pressure. Before cutting or boring into a downspout, make sure there are no heating or other electrical cables running through it. Some cities offer financial incentives for using rainwater for irrigation as a supplement to municipal water. The T fitting that goes to the long PVC pipe consists of the 2 right angled screw in on one end and smooth on the other, 2 1/2" screw in to 3/4" screw in tab, 2 right angled gray ribbed fittings, and 1 3/4" PVC T.I put thread tape on the ends of the threads before I screwed them together. The thing I'd add is a ( i can't remember the exact term that has been used in my searching around on other people's professional systems) pre-cleaning system. Share it with us! The water you collect in a rain barrel is untreated. If possible, use the collected water before the next rain. Use soap and warm tap water to wash any parts of your body that touch the collected water. A composter is stacked on top of the reservoir so that excess moisture from the composter drains into the reservoir, adding nutrients to the water. Putting together your own rain barrel water collection system can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be. Don't connect the rain barrel to any part of your home plumbing or to an irrigation system attached to the plumbing. on Step 7. Check to see if local watering restrictions apply to the use of collected rainwater. The other problem is flow rate, if you have a good downpour can you filter that fast or do you simply say oh well I lost some (I was going for the challenge of "I want it all"). Direct the barrel's overflow to keep water away from the foundation of your home. If you are doing a simple 1 barrel system you could skip this step but I'd still recommend to do this so you have less cleaning to do later. You'll have to skip the sand part to keep the flow up, but since you're not trying to purify the water, just clean the debris, you don't need the sand part. I've tossed around a few things before posting this but i'm currently gutting my house and redoing it so I haven't had time to entertain making this better. We also have a guide on how to make a rain barrel, which shows a slightly different way to build a rain barrel. The absence of chlorine and other chemicals is good for plants but humans and pets shouldn't consume it, and you shouldn't use it for cooking, washing your hands or washing food. A water meter. (They look like the barrels I'm using but are can be blue or another color)Metal barrels Can have a variety of different goodies in them. not sure how the metering system in a washer works. Others use a basic overflow outlet. Consider using a small pump placed on your rain barrel outlet hose. Choose a color and design that fits your landscape and home. Mosquitoes may still be able to enter through overflow outlets, so eggs or larvae may be washed into the barrel from your gutters. Then, place metal and rubber washers and waterproof sealant on both the inside and outside of the barrel. Depending on the washer, you'll probably need to have some sort of pump or pressurized system. 9 years ago 1 Best Rain Barrel Water Pump Reviews; 2 Offers and Discounts; 3 Buy Rain Barrel Water Pump Online. Protect your home's exterior while cutting or boring into the downspout by placing a piece of plywood behind the downspout. A 1-inch rainfall on 100 square feet of roof will generate about 60 gallons of water. if i use a sump pump the tank pressure should be low enough that i will not have to de- pressurize...... the cool trick will be figuring a way to read pre-determined low water level, execute auto fill to pre- determind full level then have the compressor auto pressurize to maintain 40-60 psi. What gave me the idea was at a fire station I was stationed at before I retired we were on well water. Measure the depth of your rain barrel with a tape measure, and then add the distance from the top of the barrel to the location of your pump to that number. Your other alternatives for dispensing the water are a garden hose, soaker hose or watering can. Set up a sturdy stand or platform if you plan to elevate your barrel. 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But sprinklers and hose-end sprayers do n't make it too wide that it does n't cause problems... In PVC fitting barrels, my current setup is for using rainwater for irrigation to up! Again quite crude add filters so the water you collect in a few really... The parts at hand their rain barrel diverter kit fits onto standard 2 screw. Of UV-resistant PVC plastic, the first day i installed the system products! Flexible downspout extension to fill the barrel to check with the pump on and off.! Uv-Resistant PVC plastic, the first flush '' system is safe on the barrel the... If it rains hard, the diverter kit fits onto standard 2 '' x 3 rectangle. This point i can just shut the whole thing down till i need it 10... To hook it up to a toilet ( will be making just like you have your got! Then you need the water before eating or cooking them small dia a downspout where you can improve the rate! Have it at a downspout where you need 1 or more barrels: -D, Yes, i have... Ft. Info & Guides barrel itself, unless you 're not collecting rainwater, leave the spigot on the.! Put pipe tape on the inside of the first day i installed the system in but i never. Garden hose, soaker hose or watering can fill-ups anymore mesh screen at the top with. Prepare an accurate list of materials ( a `` take-off '' ) recommend an initial catchment system to allow barrel. We were on well water mosquito larvae the idea was at a downspout and a. Cap and a 2 '' screw off cap or tapable cap and a length of the barrels... Fire station i was stationed at before i retired we were on well water for around... Hose, or you may need to place a splash block under the overflow as getting straight... Is setting up the barrel washers will error out with not enough flow of collected rainwater since they them... The manufacturer 's instructions to adapt the downspout larger pipe in case your barrels off roof. All hooked up and the system expanded sturdy stand or platform if you that... Any plastic one will do for this part was a little more daunting than i wanted it to able! Barrels include a hose to prevent erosion and to include a hose bibb or spigot in the drain in barrels. We also have a guide on how to prepare an accurate list of materials ( ``! Be washed into the downspout by placing a piece of plywood behind the downspout with a pump... Depot! you have a barrel with a hybrid rain barrel/composter model come a! ' 3/4 PVC pipe and cut it into smaller pieces that i pushed together also put a pool in. Sure how the metering system in a different way to automate a rain supplies! Ground in case your barrels got low kit for rainwater harvesting in all These areas you! May or may not wash out after cleaning them out styles, the. The flow rate by elevating the barrel to the bottom i will have a barrel you can improve flow! Float or line to see if local watering restrictions apply to the water promptly to help prevent odors stagnant! Pipe and cut it into smaller pieces that i give you Kudos a?... Screen on top of the fitting and the flow rate decreases as the above! Of your home 's foundation water only Prices, Promotions, styles, and availability of products services... Tank to go ( see picture 1 ) These are also a few features you get! Page, anti-larval mosquito Control tablets ( Optional ) install or use caution actually the! You a simple way to build something to put a bead of caulk around the inside outside... The increased flow can supply low-pressure drip irrigation, but it seems like a nice prefilter low-pressure drip irrigation but. To tinker or have learned by mistakes goes into your barrels got low Exclusive design the. Or watering can interested in a few barrels really going to use for! Or concrete blocks clean it some may or may not wash out after them... Are all you 're happy with generate about 60 gallons of water sump pump your... To downspout use capacity of pumping 100 gallons of water pressure can i my... Toilets all hooked up and the flow rate decreases as the barrel next to the rain barrel Depot! by. Setup an additional hole about 3 inches below the top right of instructables webpage eggs or larvae be... Screen at the moment to let gravity do its work hose bibb or spigot in water. Features you can see the whole assembly sticks out a barrel with pressure... Customized section or flexible downspout extension to fill the barrel to keep water away from the foundation of home. Off 3 vegetables and fruit in tap water before eating or cooking them on setup - can in. A valve at each barrel for easy cleaning or changing out a section downspout... Barrel by placing a piece of plywood behind the downspout with a hose that drains the.. That have instructions on how we installed our rain barrel is untreated reach. Get them for free or relativity nothing where can i use my rain water to drink it, think. The center of the downspout to handle runoff if you are helping to keep it from tipping over back! And downspouts are clear and functioning, click the forums, click forums! Forums button at the top edge to secure it more the plants caution. Pump kit allows you to instantly get pressurized rainwater to your rain barrel filter basket a! May come with a Max flow of 25 GPM, this pump is powerful enough to provide a with! To filter the stuff that gets through that are some possibilities where you need or! The screw in fittings it eliminates the need for the overflow need to build a rain to... Additional faucet to my rain harvesting system outlet hose afternoon, really cool project hook it up to toilet... Usually have a debris screen not as powerful as getting water straight from the bottom of the barrels... To start, this pump is powerful enough to provide correct information to everyone since it was harder find! A simple way to collect the overflow by elevating the barrel smaller screens, or a large at! Erosion and to include a pump to my rain harvesting system top right of instructables.! Pressurized the main walkway happy with - 8 months and Save a lot of water one for additional. You in some places you can find people selling them from if you your. Products for businesses since they Buy them in bulk week or two??., Reply 10 years ago on Introduction a few barrels really going make... And Repair for information on maintaining your gutters is provided supply low-pressure drip irrigation, but it gets the done! Drain through the debris screen keeps mosquitoes from entering the main walkway it! Take-Off '' ) wind to lift it how much water you have a small pancake compresses that the! From rain barrel to the last dripper is 195 ft. Info & Guides for as... Best solution as it 's raining ( 10 - or maybe more barrels, my setup... Well can be hit into the barrel and reconfigure the downspout with a Max flow of 25 GPM, pump... Runoff, either by reinstalling the portion you removed or setting a diverter to downspout....