Okay, this will be kinda long, but there are several points I want to make, so please bear with me.
I recently installed a metal roof on my house and have noticed a significant increase in the amount of water running off the roof since then.During heavier rains, the water from one of the downspouts has a tendency to flood back onto the carport, so I thought having a rain barrel at that corner would help catch some of that extra water, in addition to providing me with natural water to use for my flowers.
I researched several different barrels and the first thing I learned was that almost all rain barrels are fairly expensive.But once I got over the initial sticker shock of these glorified trash cans, I saw that the Fiskars brand barrels had pretty good reviews.I found this 58 gallon barrel on Amazon and ordered it; despite its large size, it still qualified for free shipping, which I though was fantastic (thank you, Amazon!).
It is important for these barrels to be installed correctly, and it may take some time to make sure everything is level.I built a small platform out of four 12-inch stepping stones on a brick and sand base.Once I had that level, I placed the barrel on it and went to work installing the downspout catch.That was probably the trickiest part because that tube HAS TO BE level with the intake hole on the barrel in order for the system to work correctly.You will need a 1" drill bit to make the intake hole for the tube to connect.The directions are sufficient, but they are pretty minimal and rely heavily on pictures with few words.From start to finish, it was probably less than two hours to install the "rain harvesting system."
A couple of days later, we got our first set of rain showers.I noticed that the tube from the downspout to the barrel was sagging, preventing the water from entering the barrel.This was because when we had cut the tube and installed it, we had left a little extra on it because we didn't want to cut it too short.But when it started to rain and the water started flowing into the tube, that little extra allowed the tube to sag, preventing the system from working like it needed to since the tube must be level to work correctly.I adjusted the tube to a shorter length, and then also tied a string around the middle of the tube and attached it to the side of the house to provide a support for the tube in case it got too heavy again.This is not an ideal thing to have to do, but I was able to do it in such a way that you can't really notice it.
The roof on my house is not very large (approx. 1500 sq ft Ranch-style with a 4/12 pitch), so I was surprised how quickly the rain barrel filled up after only a few light showers.Then, when a heavy rain occurred, I was very surprised to see that not only was the rain flowing out the bottom of the downspout like it normally would, but it was actually squirting out of the middle of the downspout where I had installed the catch; that was not good because it was squirting right onto the carport.I quickly attached a water hose to the rain barrel and started draining it so the water could drain into it again also.
I learned two things from that experience:
1) Use the water in the barrel as much as possible, and even if you can't use it, regularly drain it.
2) When everything is dry, carefully apply caulk around the catch in the downspout to keep the water from squirting out of it.
Now that I have done both of those things, in addition to adding the support string to the hose, I have nothing but positive things to say about the barrel.You can hook a water hose to the barrel or drain water directly into a bucket or watering can.I have hooked up a small hose like you would connect to a washing machine and use that to fill my watering can.I probably use about 10-12 gallons every day to water all my flowers when it is not raining.
If you are considering installing a "rain harvesting system," I highly encourage you to do so, but be aware of the things I have mentioned so you don't have similar problems.
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Fiskars 5998 Salsa 58-Gallon Rain Harvesting System, Spice GraniteProduct Description: The spice granite color and interplay between rough and highly polished surfaces create an intriguing yet understated accent for your home. The flat back minimizes dead space between the barrel and your home's exterior. The system includes a 58 Gallon Rain Barrel with a built-in base, cover, worry-free water diverter kit and threaded spigot for easy garden hose attachment, and a detailed installation guide.
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The item would not fit on our standard Schulte grid system because the adapters were too wide.I thought about shipping it back but the hassle wasn't worth it.Installed it directly on to the wall studs but it doesn't look as good and defeats the purpose of the grid panels.I know it is too wide because we have another one of these exact Schulte basket/bike holders and when I measured it against the old one it was about 1/4" too wide on both ends.
