Don't let rainwater go to waste down the gutters; collect it in a rain barrel.
Instead of letting precious rainwater run down the drain or into the ground, conserve the water for use in your garden with a rain barrel system. Not only do they the add charm to outside of your home, but you'll be helping the environment. Although you can use open or close-topped barrels, barrels with a closed top keep the water inside the barrel free from debris such as dirt and leaves. Cover open-topped barrels with a piece of mesh or a basket to prevent debris from getting inside the barrel through your gutter system. Look for barrels with an installed spigot, or purchase one from a hardware or home improvement center, and insert it near the bottom of each barrel. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Position three barrel block pavers on the ground near your current downspout in a triangular pattern. The blocks provide a solid surface and lift the barrel up off the ground so you have easier access to the spout at the bottom of the barrel.
2. Level the pavers to ensure that the barrel will sit correctly on the pavers, and adjust the soil underneath the blocks as necessary.
3. Position the rain barrel on top of the blocks.
4. Disconnect the original straight piece of the downspout at the elbow joint with a screwdriver.
5. Attach the diverter piece to the downspout at the elbow joint with an electric screwdriver. The diverter sends water into the rain barrel instead of the regular downspout, but also diverts water to the regular downspout when the rain barrel is full of water.
6. Cut the downspout, using the manufacturer's supplied template, so it fits nicely with the diverter piece. Use tin snips to get the cleanest cut possible.
7. Slide the cut downspout into place over the small section of the diverter piece, and have someone help you push it into place.
8. Connect the downspout to the diverter piece, and secure the downspout to the wall.
9. Connect the diverter hose to the top of the rain barrel. Use the zip tie from the kit to secure the hose to the downspout. If your rain barrel does not come with a hole in the top for the hose, drill or cut a hole large enough to accommodate the hose.
10. Instill other rain barrels around the home at each downspout in the same manner, or only where you need access to water.
Tags: rain barrel, diverter piece, barrels with, downspout elbow, downspout elbow joint