Lowering your water bill and limiting your water use, especially in areas prone to drought, is possible with a rain barrel. Rain barrels hook up to gutters to collect the water run-off from the roof, then store the water until you need it for your lawn or garden. The water can be scooped from the top into a watering can, but it is much easier to hook up a hose to a faucet on the bottom of the barrel. Attaching the faucet correctly ensures it does not leak while still providing easy access to the contents. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Drill a 3/4-inch hole in the side of the barrel 3 inches up from the bottom. Twist a 3/4-inch pipe tap into the bottom hole, then screw it out. A pipe tap allows you to make threads in the plastic for the faucet to screw into.
2. Wrap the threads on a 3/4-inch faucet with Teflon or plumber's tape. Wrap the tape around the threads four to five times, ensuring they are completely covered.
3. Screw the faucet into the threaded hole near the bottom of the barrel. From the inside, screw a 3/4-inch elbow joint onto the other side of the faucet to hold it tight. Screw until the elbow is facing down.
4. Fill the rain barrel with enough water to cover the faucet assembly. Check it for any leaks around the joint.
5. Dump out the barrel and wipe the area around the faucet dry if there are any leaks. Seal around the faucet with a thin bead of kitchen or bath all-purpose caulk. Let dry before using your rain barrel.
Tags: rain barrel, around faucet, bottom barrel, faucet with, your water