Rain barrels are a great way to capture the best type of water you can give your plants and gardens, but how do they work?
This is a very common question that I get from readers, so I thought I would write a quick post about it.
Below I’ll tell you what their purpose is, how they work, and how to use a rain barrel, so you’ll know exactly what to expect. Plus I’ll give you plenty of tips, as well as other great uses for the water you capture.
What Are Rain Barrels Used For?
The purpose of a rain barrel is to capture and store rainwater as it runs off a roof and flows through the gutters on your house, garage, shed, or other structure.
There are lots of benefits to having a rain barrel, and you can use the water for many things. I use it for my houseplants and outdoor potted plants, and to keep my garden ponds and water features full during the summer.
But many people set up larger systems so they can irrigate their lawn and gardens. You can also use the water for household chores, like washing the windows or your car.
How Rain Barrels Work
Rain barrels capture water through an opening on the top or side, which comes from a gutter attachment or piece of downspout tubing.
Each time it rains, the barrel fills up with water from the downspout attachment. Then the water will sit in there until you’re ready to use it.
They don’t have any type of a pump system, and rely solely on gravity to get the water out. Learn exactly how to install a rain barrel here.
What Happens When A Rain Barrel Is Full?
Most rain barrels have some kind of a valve near the top to prevent it from overflowing. But during a heavy rainfall, many times the overflow valve can’t keep up, and excess water can bubble over the top of the barrel instead.
That’s not an issue for mine, because we installed one of them next to the garage, and the other is on the side of our deck. So the overflow simply runs downhill into the grass.
However, if you plan to install yours next to the foundation of your house, and you have a basement, then I definitely recommend using a gutter attachment or installing a diverter kit to avoid any risk of flooding.
That way, the diverter will shut off when your rain barrel is full, and the excess water will simply flow through the gutter like it normally would.
How To Use A Rain Barrel
To use your rain barrel, you can simply turn on the spigot at the bottom, and let the water flow out naturally. Here are some tips and things to keep in mind so you know what to expect:
- For the best water pressure, elevate your barrel using a stand or some other strong, sturdy, and level platform.
- If you attach a hose to your rain barrel, you’ll only be able to use it if you keep it below the level of the spigot.
- They don’t have a pump, so the water pressure is determined by gravity, and it won’t flow uphill.
- The farther away you run a hose from your rain barrel, the slower the water pressure will be.
- Because of the weight of the water, it will flow out much faster when the barrel is full than it will as it empties.
Related Post: Winterizing Your Rain Barrel In 4 Easy Steps
Rain barrels are easy to use, and work great to capture water that you can use for your plants and garden, or household chores (and save on your utility bills!).
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In the comments below, share your tips on how you use your rain barrel, and how well it works for you.
Jeff Van Zanten says
Hi Amy,
I am convinced using rain barrels are a good idea, especially in California with the droughts.
How long can you keep rainwater in the barrel before algae, mold or other growth can become a problem?
What is your recommendation for length of time for water storage.
Thanks.
Jeff
Amy Andrychowicz says
In Minnesota it rains often enough to flush the barrel and refresh the water, so I don’t have issues with it becoming stagnant. If you keep it out of the sun, and protect the water so bugs and other debris can’t get in there, it will last much longer than it would if you kept it open. I have seen a lot of rain barrels in CA, and some people have very sophisticated systems that I’m sure are made to keep the water from going bad, and also prevent it from evaporating. So I guess my point is that you may want to look into something that is more enclosed, rather than just a standard rain barrel like mine. You’d probably also want something much larger since it won’t be filled up very often, and you would probably use it up pretty quickly if you just had a small barrel.
linda says
Hi Amy! Thank you for this information! I will tell you why I am considering, the rain barrel. I do not have gutters or downspouts on my home. Do you think I could use the barrels to collect the rain and then divert the water away from my house? In the meantime I would love to learn more about gardening! Thank you for your time!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Without gutters, it will be difficult to position the rain barrel to collect water from the roof. You might be able to attach a rain chain to one corner of the roof and direct that into the barrel to collect some rainwater. But if your goal is to divert the water away from your house, then you definitely need gutters.
Merrie Pritchett says
Can rain-barrel water be used for other things besides watering plants? Such as cooking, drinking, showering and washing my hair. (I ask, because I thought rainwater was soft.)
Amy Andrychowicz says
While you certainly could use your collected rainwater for things like washing the car or windows as I mentioned above, I would not use it for washing your hair or showering, and definitely do NOT drink it! The water sitting in the barrel is not clean enough for those uses.