Last Updated on January 20, 2023
How To Setup A Rain Barrel System For Easy Water Collection
Are You Wondering How to Set Up A Rain Barrel?
This is Tim from Organic Backyard Gardening, focused on helping you grow more food with our tips and tricks. In this article and accompanying video, you will learn how to set up a rain barrel the right way, some ways to save money, how to set up multiple rain barrels, some things to consider for higher pressure, and how to set up a rain barrel with drip irrigation.
Save Money on Rain Barrels
The rain barrel I have is RTS Home Accents, a 50-gallon rain barrel I brought on Amazon two years ago for $109. Right now, it’s at about $130 dollars. If you want to save money, you can search Craigslist for rain barrels. There are many people selling food-grade storage containers that you can use as a rain barrel. I even found some whiskey barrels which were pretty cool. If you go this route, you can easily buy a rain barrel spigot on Amazon.
How To Setup A Rain Barrel
Now, in setting up your rain barrel, you want to elevate it. The higher the better. A water level 2.3 feet above its exit point will produce about 1 psi. Typical household pressures range from around 40 to 50 psi. Most moderate-flow garden watering systems need at least 10 psi. So, if you’re looking for more water pressure, the higher your rain barrel is from your garden, the better.
If your rain barrel fills up too much, it should have an outlet to let out excess water.
How To Setup A Rain Barrel Collection System
Now for the collection system that fits onto the downspout. This system has a rubber hose connected to the collection unit. This is the Oatey Rainwater Connection System I got on Amazon. I’ll put a link down in the description below. To install this, you can simply just cut the gutter and slide the unit in. This unit is needed to prevent debris from clogging up your rain barrel. The way water travels down the gutter is from the edges. Most of the debris goes down to the center. This unit allows the water to be collected around the edges and funneled down into the rain barrel.
Once down into the rain barrel, I let it rest on top of another screen. This screen is helpful to prevent bugs and mosquitoes from laying eggs in the rain barrel.
Testing The System
If we continue looking at the downspout, you’ll notice that the system is working properly because we can see all the debris from the roof at the bottom of the downspout, not in the rain barrel. One rainstorm will fill up this barrel with no problem.
Can You Setup Multiple Rain Barrels Together
Yes, You can connect multiple rain barrels together if you’d like. There are kits on Amazon that you can get. They even come with drill bits to make it easy. I’ll put the link in the description below. Looking at the reviews looks like it was pretty easy to set up. It doesn’t matter if you link the rain barrels from the top or the bottom.
Connecting A Garden Hose
Something I like to do is connect a quick adapter to my spigot and attach a hose. Since I have some garden beds that are slightly downhill from the rain barrel, this works well and allows me to water them without any issues. However, as the level in the rain barrel goes down, the pressure reduces slightly.
Rain Barrel Pressure Tips
- Increase the size of the rain barrel by adding additional barrels or a larger tank.
- Install a pump to the rain barrel to increase the pressure.
- Add a second downspout to the rain barrel to increase the amount of water entering the system.
- Put the rain barrel on a stand or platform to increase the elevation of the water.
- The pressure increases by 0.433 pounds per square inch (psi) for every foot the rain barrel is elevated.
- Make sure the rain barrel lid is tightly secured to avoid water loss or evaporation.
How To Setup A Rain Barrel With Drip Irrigation
You can easily install drip irrigation to the end spigot of the rain barrel, some things to keep in mind.
- Install a filter right after the rain barrel spigot to catch any debris that could clog the drip system.
- Install a timer after the filter (see our article here on our top-rated drip irrigation timer)
- For optimal performance, a drip irrigation system requires approximately 25 pounds per square inch (psi) of water pressure. However, many emitters rated at 25 psi are able to operate efficiently with as little as 15 psi. While the flow output may be slightly lower, the watering time can be extended to compensate. See the tips above to increase pressure.
How to Set Up A Rain Barrel Is Easy As That!
I hope this video and article gave you some key pointers on what to think about when connecting a new rain barrel. Do you use a rain barrel now? Let me know if you have any tips and tricks in the comments below.
Common Question When Setting Up A Rain Barrel
A: You can search for used rain barrels on Craigslist or look for food-grade storage containers that can be repurposed as a rain barrel. You can also buy a rain barrel spigot on Amazon.
A: Elevating the rain barrel to a higher level or adding a pump to the rain barrel can increase the water pressure.
A: Yes, you can connect multiple rain barrels together using kits that can be purchased on Amazon. The connection can be made from the top or bottom of the barrels.
A: A collection system that fits onto the downspout can prevent debris from entering the rain barrel, and a screen placed on top of the rain barrel can prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
A: Yes, you can connect a garden hose to your rain barrel using a quick adapter on the spigot. However, as the water level in the rain barrel decreases, the pressure may reduce slightly.
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