Connecting a downspout to a rain barrel eliminates water runoff and provides water for lawns and gardens.
Rain barrels are easily connected to downspouts and can save water, reduce water bills and prevent storm-water runoff. In dry areas or during the summer, rain barrels can collect enough water to keep a flower bed healthy or a lawn green. Municipalities often sell rain barrels or teach classes in making them. Once you've got the barrel, connecting it to a downspout is easy and can be done in less than an hour. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. If the rain barrel has a screened lid, skip to Step 7. If the barrel doesn't have a screened lid, center the dinner plate on the lid it does have, and trace the outside of the plate with the marking pen.
2. Cut a hole in the lid with the saber or keyhole saw by sawing along the plate's outline.
3. Center the window screen on top of the hole. Use the pen to draw a circle on the screen that's approximately 4 inches larger than the hole.
4. Cut the screen with the scissors along the marked line.
5. Center the screen over the hole so that it extends approximately 4 inches outside the hole.
6. Use the screwdriver and screws to attach the screen to the lid. Fasten the screws evenly around the screen, approximately 2 inches from the edge of the hole and 2 inches from the edge of the screen.
7. Place the two cinder blocks on their sides beneath the downspout. Set the barrel on top of the cinder blocks and in front of the downspout.
8. Use the hacksaw to cut the downspout 4 inches from the top of the barrel.
9. Slide the downspout elbow over the end of the downspout.
10. Slide the barrel under the downspout. Adjust the elbow so that it's in the center of the screen.
Tags: approximately inches, inches from, cinder blocks, from edge, inches from edge, rain barrel, rain barrels