Set Up a Rain Barrel Aluminum Garbage Can
Rain barrels save on your water use, which saves you money. Rain barrels can be used to water lawns and gardens or to wash cars. Rain barrels don't need to cost a lot of money to set up. A simple aluminum trash can makes a nice rain barrel. Use aluminum rather than plastic because the plastic is thin and could buckle. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Determine where to set up your trash can rain barrel. You'll want a flat spot of ground under a gutterspout. Scatter peastones in an even layer on the ground. Lay cinder blocks or bricks atop the peastones to form a platform for your rain barrel. This helps prevent the weight of the full rain barrel from compressing your lawn.
2. Cut a 5-inch round hole in the lid using a jigsaw or tin snips. The rain water will fall from the gutterspout through this hole and into your rain barrel.
3. Cut a length of mesh screen large enough to cover the hole you created in the lid. Use the electrical tape to adhere the mesh screen to the inside lip of the hole. Mesh screen prevents debris or insects from dropping into your rain barrel and contaminating your rain harvest.
4. Drill a hole 2 inches below the top lip of your garbage can to serve as an overflow hole. Use a drill fitted with a 3/4-inch bit.
5. Spread an even layer of silicone sealant on the inner lip of the PVC pipe extender. Insert the extender into the overflow hole and hold there for one to two minutes or until the sealant has begun to dry.
6. Place the lid on your garbage can and move it onto the platform. Use your measuring tape to measure the distance from the ground. Then measure from the bottom of the gutterspout up the exact height of your rain barrel when it's set on the platform.
7. Trim your gutterspout using the handsaw. Because your gutterspout generally sits 3 to 4 inches off the ground, you should have space between the rain barrel and the gutterspout; if you want a larger gap, cut off 3 to 6 more inches.
Tags: rain barrel, your rain, your rain barrel, Rain barrels, Aluminum Garbage, Barrel Aluminum, Barrel Aluminum Garbage