Do’s & Don’ts When Making A Rain Barrel For Rainwater Collection

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Rain barrels are all the rage these days!

Did you know that 623 gallons of water can be harvested from 1 inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof?

In terms of rain barrels, a typical 1/2-inch rainfall will fill a 50- to 55-gallon barrel.

Today I’m going to show you:

• The biggest DIY rain barrel mistakes and how to avoid them.
• How to make a rain barrel yourself 
• How to prevent algae from growing in your rain barrel
• How to keep mosquitoes from using your rain barrel as a breeding ground
• How to winterize a rain barrel

Rain Barrel Do’s & Don’ts

DO keep pets and children safe by making sure your rain barrel has a sturdy top.

DON’T cook with or drink water that’s been collected in a rain barrel.

DO make sure all openings on your rain barrel are screened to keep out mosquitoes.

DON’T use old barrels that formerly held something toxic.

DO make sure your rain barrel adapts for overflow (either direct excess rainwater away from the barrel or link multiple barrels together).

This video has a good summary of the 7 biggest rain barrel mistakes that people make: 

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And this next video shows some outside-the-box ideas when using a rain barrel to harvest rain water:

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How To Make A Rain Barrel

Here are some fun and easy ways to make your own rain barrel:

• Build Your Own Rain Barrel
• Super Cheap & Easy DIY Rain Barrel
• How To Make A Rain Barrel Yourself
• 3 Cheap Rain Barrels That Actually Look Nice
• How To Start A Home Rain Barrel Project
• The EPA’s Tips For Making A Rain Barrel
• 3 Ways To Make A Rain Barrel For Less Than $10
• Step-By-Step How To Make A Rain Catcher

This is a great video that shows how to recycle rain water — rather than letting it become wastewater:

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3 Ways To Fix A Smelly Rain Barrel Water

If the water in your rain barrel gets starts to smell (or turns green), you have 3 good options:

Option #1 is to add goldfish! They keep the water very clean by eating the algae that turns it green. Keep in mind… when using goldfish as a temporary way to remove algae, don’t just dump the goldfish in a stream or river — because they’re invasive. Instead, give them to a child with a fish tank, or return them to the store.

Option #2 is to add barley-straw pellets. They will kill algae — but won’t harm plants.

Option #3 is to pour a small amount of vinegar into the water. It should clear it up relatively quickly.

As a bonus… the goldfish and the vinegar options (separately) will also kill mosquito larvae!

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How To Protect Your Rain Barrel In The Winter

If you get below-freezing temperatures where you live, then your safest option is to drain the rain barrel before the very first freeze of the season occurs. 

Here is a good summary of your options, based on how cold your winters are.

This video shows how to properly winterize a rain barrel:

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Here’s a good read: Top 10 Winter Uses For Rainwater

More About Rain Barrels

Here are a few more tips to help you make the best rain barrel set-up for your space:

• Other Ways To Collect Water
• Other Ways To Keep Your Rain Barrel From Stinking
• Other Ways To Winterize Your Rain Barrel

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