Collect and use water effectively - This is only possible if the downpipe is connected directly to the water butt. With our guide, you will succeed in the project without any problems.
In a nutshell
- Connect downpipe and rain barrel: effectively via rain collector
- for the project, an appropriately sized hole is drilled directly into the eaves tube
- the rain collector is inserted and then connected to the barrel
- thus there is a secure connection between the pipe and the barrel
- the connection can be extended over several tons
tools and utensils
Rain barrels cannot simply be placed under a downspout if you want to collect water permanently. You need to connect it, for which it is necessary to prepare the pipe in advance. It is particularly important to have the right tool to adjust the pipe. You need:
- rain collector
- drilling machine
- Step drill with a diameter of 5 to 35 mm or a crown drill with the diameter of the rain collector
- felt pen
- safety goggles
- working gloves
- 120 grit sandpaper
preparation
Preparing to connect your water butt to the pipe is not that difficult. This is mainly about setting the right mark for drilling. You don't even need measuring tools for this, just the ton. Place this right next to the eaves pipe and make a mark on the bin just below the edge. Now use the spirit level to mark the same spot on the pipe. This allows you to firmly connect the rain collector without losing water.
Tip: Be sure to choose a day with dry weather conditions for the implementation of the project. The chips produced during drilling are difficult to remove when they are wet.
Connecting the downpipe and water butt: instructions
As soon as the markings are in place, you can start connecting the rain barrel to the downpipe. Don't worry, it's much easier and faster than you think. To do so, simply follow these steps:
- Put on safety goggles and gloves
- Equip a drill with a drill
- Place the drill on the pipe marking
- Drill a hole in the pipe (keep the machine straight!)
- then drill hole in barrel
- then sand down the cut edges of both holes
- Cut edges should no longer be sharp
- Put the rain collector in the hole
- Check the fit on the tube
- Place bin correctly
- Connect the other end of the rain collector hose to the barrel
- Check fit and repair if necessary
- now the connection to the water collection is established
Notice: The chips created during drilling can be easily removed with a vacuum cleaner. This significantly reduces the cleaning effort.
How can I prevent the rain barrel from overflowing?If you live in a region with heavy rainfall, a rain barrel is not always enough. In this case, you should connect several together to direct the collected rainwater from one barrel to the next. This is achieved either by using a pump, so-called water butt connectors or hoses (or pipes) that are attached at different heights.
Is a screen necessary for the connection?Yes, you should always install a strainer where the downspout drains into the bin. It protects the bin from leaves, dirt and other coarse debris that could clog the port. In addition, you certainly do not want to collect dirty water in the bin. So don't forget the sieve. Alternatively, you can use a downpipe filter.
Does the connection have to be used permanently?No. If you don't need to collect water at the moment, you can turn off the rain collector you are using. However, this is not possible with every model. If you want to regularly limit the water supply in the bin, you should rely on such a model.
How can the water yield be maximized?If you want to collect as much water as possible, you have to use a rain collector, where you first cut the pipe completely. The rain collector is then inserted directly between the two pieces of pipe and acts as a connector that also drains water directly into the barrel. Such a variant is particularly recommended in regions with little rainfall, once you are in the process of connecting the downpipe and rain barrel.