A rain barrel can save a large sum of money each year off the cost of watering outdoor pets, gardens and trees. The Rain Barrel Manual notes that 600 gallos of water can be captured forevery inch of rain that falls in 1,000 square feet of catchment area. Your actual savings are dependent on the catchment area leading to the rain barrel and your cost per gallon of water. Rain is a renewable item that is useful in many applications in the correct quantities at the correct time. Making a rain barrel from a trash can is inexpensive, economical and a conservationist technology for water usage that you store up and use on demand by attaching a garden hose on the bottom. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Drill a hole with a 1-inch drill bit about two inches from the bottom of the trash can. A large outdoor trash can will hold more water and has thicker walls to hold the pressure of the water inside. This will be the area for the spigot. Drill a hole with a 1-inch drill bit about 1 inch below the rim of the trash can in any position around the edge. This will house the overflow assembly. Drill about 12 holes 1 inch in diameter in various positions in the lid. Use a pocketknife or utility knife to remove plastic burrs from around and inside of each hole.
2. Wrap Teflon tape at least three revolutions in a clockwise direction around the hose spigot threads. Insert the hose spigot into the bottom hole by hand making sure that the end the hose fits onto is pointing down towards the ground.
3. Apply silicone caulk liberally onto one side of the 1-inch rubber washer, insert it from the inside of the trash can so that it fits over the spigot on the inside and press it flat against the trash can. Screw a 1-inch plastic locknut over the washer and hand tighten. Hold the spigot straight with one adjustable wrench and turn the locknut with the second adjustable wrench until the locknut is completely tight.
4. Wrap Teflon tape at least three revolutions around the 3/4-inch overflow valve on the end opposite from where a garden hose connects. Always wrap Teflon tape in a clockwise direction so that it does not unwrap when screwing on fittings. Place the overflow valve into the top hole in the trash can.
5. Coat the second 1-inch rubber washer liberally on one side with silicone caulk. Insert on the inside of the trash can over the overflow valve, attach a 1-inch locknut and screw tightly together in the junction as in the bottom junction.
6. Apply silicone caulk liberally on both the inside and outside of the trash can on the spigot and overflow valve in all areas that touch the trash can.
7. Place the trash can lid with the opening down onto a sheet of mesh screen and trace the outline with a marker. Add 1 inch to the measurements all around and cut out with scissors. Set the screen on top of the trash can and bend the extra 1-inch screen down onto the trash can. Place the metal band with snap closure around the screen and snap closed. This type of metal band is available at packaging stores to seal metal and plastic drum lids.
Tags: overflow valve, rain barrel, silicone caulk, Teflon tape, 1-inch drill