Rain barrels are a low-cost, environmentally conscious way to conserve water.
Stored rainwater is ideal for many outdoor uses -- watering flower or vegetable gardens, washing cars or even filling swimming pools. Savvy homeowners can use rain barrels to collect and store this free resource -- directly from their gutters. Does this Spark an idea?
Filling Your Rain Barrel
To keep your rain barrel supplied with water, connect it to the gutter and downspout system of your home. Situate the barrel beneath the downspout and place the end of the downspout directly above or into the intake opening of your barrel. (This may involve shortening your downspout or attaching a gutter elbow.) Some brands of rain barrels come with attachments or downspout diverters that guide the water into the barrel; these can also be purchased separately and mounted to your barrel if you have made your own.
Things to Avoid
A well-designed rain barrel lets plenty of water in, while keeping out other, less desirable things. For example, roof debris like leaves and twigs may be swept along with the rainwater through your gutter system and into your rain barrel if you do not have some sort of cover or filter on your gutters. Accumulation of this debris in your barrel can clog the outlet at the bottom. Prevent this by installing a filter to the top of your barrel or the end of your downspout. A well-fitting lid will keep out curious children and prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your barrel.
Tips
When situating your rain barrel under your downspout and adjusting the downspout, remember that the rain barrel needs to be elevated. Gravity is the force that causes the water to flow from the discharge valve, making it essential for the barrel to rest roughly 15 inches above ground level.
Depending on the size of your roof, average rainfall in your area and your watering needs, you may want to invest in more than one rain barrel. One inch of rain falling on 1,000 square feet of roof will yield roughly 600 gallons of water; from this, you can calculate how much water you can expect to collect and figure the number of barrels you need.
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