How To Make Your Own Rain Barrel

The City Of Winter Garden promotes water conservation by use of rain barrels. You can put yours together for about $30.00.

Tips for using your rain barrel:
– Do not use collected water for drinking, cooking or bathing.
– Keep the lid secure so children or animals cannot fall into the barrel.
– Disconnect the barrel during the winter to avoid constant overflow during the rainiest months. Attach it in the early spring to fill it for use.
– Most recycled barrels need to be cleaned before first use.
– If a moss killer has been used on the roof let a couple of rainfall events go by before collecting the roof runoff.
– Elevate your rain barrel slightly to make access to the spigot easier.
– The screened louver vent will prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your barrel.
– Consider joining multiple barrels for additional capacity!

Step 1
– Use a hole saw, a saber saw, a keyhole saw or a drywall saw to cut a hole on the top of your barrel.
– Drill two holes with a 15/16” drill bit, one towards the top for an overflow and one towards the bottom of the barrel for the faucet.
– Rinse your barrel out thoroughly, as it previously had a food product in it.

Step 2
– Twist threaded side of the plastic hose bib adapter into into the 15/16″ threaded hole towards the top of the barrel.
– Prepare the threaded side of hose bib:
Wrapping it tightly with teflon tape, make four or five rotations until all the threads are covered; or
Applying a thin ribbon of All Purpose Adhesive Caulk, PVC glue or similar sealant.
– Twist in the threaded and now prepared end of the faucet into the 15/16″ threaded hole towards the bottom of the barrel.

Step 3
– Cover the hole in the top by placing the louvered screen onto the barrel with the louvered side up and the screen side down.
– Slide a hose onto the hose adapter at the top of barrel to direct the overflow water away from your home.
– Place two cinder blocks under the selected downspout and place the barrel on this raised base.
– Cut your downspout about 4″ above the top of the barrel, add an elbow, and make any final adjustments to the base and barrel.
– Add a hose on the faucet or keep it available to fill a watering can.
– Secure your rain barrel to the house with aluminum banding and crews
– Enjoy your rainbarrel!

What you’ll need:
– Drill
– Hole Saw (a saber saw, a keyhole saw, or a drywall saw will also work)
– 15/16″ Drill Bit
– 3/4″ Plastic Hose Bib
– Louvered Screen
– Teflon Tape or All Purpose Caulk