Rain barrel
Rain barrels serve an environmental purpose as well as a practical one. Harvesting rainwater is a valid tactic in the conservation of water. Rainwater has very little mineral content and is better for plants, lawn and garden than ground water, which can be sodium or alkaline rich. Mineral-soft rainwater can collect surprisingly fast and can be used just as quickly to provide stain-free water to wash the car and for use in steam irons or humidifiers. Plumbing a rain-barrel is not difficult or expensive, requires few tools and can be accomplished in only a few hours of shopping and installing parts. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Use an electric drill to cut a 1-inch hole in the side of the barrel 8 inches up from the bottom. This will serve as the hole for the faucet.
2. Lay down a bead of ready-to-use clear plumber's caulking around the outside circumference of the hole. Repeat the process around the hole on the inside of the barrel.
3. Place a washer over the threaded end of the faucet that extends straight out from the body of the faucet. Insert this end of the faucet into the hole in the barrel, place another washer over it from the inside of the barrel, thread on the lock nut and tighten it firmly with a crescent wrench.
4. Drill a 1-inch hole 8 inches down from the top edge of the barrel. Insert a hose adapter into the hole with a washer on both the outside and the inside of the barrel. Thread on the lock nut and tighten it firmly with a crescent wrench. Screw on a water hose of the appropriate length and direct the overflow of water to the desired area.
5. Cut a 6-inch hole in the center of the barrel's lid. Cut out a large piece of nylon screen, drape it over the lid of the barrel so that it tucks under it and then fit the lid tightly in place. Weight down the lid or lock it in place so the lid is secure and children and animals cannot get into the barrel.
6. Select the gutter downspout that will feed the barrel and cut it off 2 feet above the top of the barrel. Attach an elbow joint to the downspout and direct it into the hole in the top of the barrel.
Tags: inside barrel, into hole, 1-inch hole, crescent wrench, firmly with, firmly with crescent, hole barrel