Save money and the environment by collecting water in your wooden rainbarrel.
Although the majority of Earth consists of water, the amount of usable water diminishes each day. Collecting rainwater in a rainbarrel is beneficial from an economical standpoint, and is beneficial to the environment as well. One inch of rain over a 500-square-foot roof yields approximately 311 gallons of water. The water can be used for laundry, washing your car or watering the lawn.
Instructions
1. Place a wooden pickle barrel on a level surface. Drill three holes on top of the barrel using a power drill and 2 and a 1/2-inch hole saw bit. Place the three holes on top of the barrel, at least 3 inches from each other and the 2 inches from the edges of the barrel. The three holes are for collecting the rainwater and are called the input holes.
2. Cut three 3-by-3-inch patches from an aluminum screen, using scissors. Place the screens over the three input holes. Staple the edges of screen onto the top of the barrel. The screens block unwanted debris, such as leaves, from entering the holes.
3. Drill a hole in the side of the barrel, which is the faucet hole. Position the faucet hole 2 inches from the bottom of the barrel. Use a power drill and 1-inch spade drill bit.
4. Wrap Teflon tape around the threaded portion of the sediment faucet and insert the faucet into the faucet hole. Push the faucet inwards while turning it until the entire threaded portion is inside the faucet hole. Seal the edges around the faucet to the barrel with silicone caulk. Let the caulk dry for 10 hours.
5. Drill a hole in the side of the barrel, which is the overflow hole. Position the overflow hole 2 inches from the top of the barrel. Use a power drill and 1-inch spade drill bit.
6. Wrap Teflon tape around the threaded portion of the irrigation valve and insert the valve into the overflow hole. Push the irrigation valve inwards while turning it until the entire threaded portion is inside the overflow hole. Seal the edges around the irrigation valve to the barrel with silicone caulk. Let the caulk dry for 10 hours.
7. Wait for the barrel to collect rainwater. Turn the knob on the faucet to pour the rain water into a container or bucket.
Tags: faucet hole, inches from, overflow hole, threaded portion, irrigation valve