Most homes direct water into the barrel with gutters and downspouts but even homes without gutters can use a rain barrel.
How to strain leaves out of a gutter rain barrel.
On the bottom of one barrel trace an opening for the downspout flex elbow connector with chalk then cut out with a jigsaw images 2 3.
Next use a hole saw to cut out a hole for overflow at the top of the barrel on the left side image 4.
Keep the rain barrel clean.
Protect your rain barrels from external damage and put them on a platform.
Downspout filter for those without the alu rex leafguard system a funnel and clean out system can still be used to catch debris before it reaches your rain barrel.
A spigot or hose connector lets you drain the water for use around your landscape.
Rain barrels provide an alternative to using municipal water or well water for irrigation.
Use a platform or stand.
Not only do they effectively keep leaves and needles out of your gutters but the perfect perforations will allow your gutters to handle any amount of rain or snow.
Walk around your house during the next rain and observe the water.
This is where the rain will flow in from the roof.
Rainwater may accumulate below a rain barrel and the moisture and bacterial can damage it.
This means less cleaning for your rain gutters and rain barrels.
A rain barrel is a container that collects runoff from your home s gutter system connecting to the downspout with a rain diverter or fitting under a modified downspout.