Products and Services: Rain Barrels > Placement and Maintenance

Site your rain barrel

• Choose a downspout on your house or garage that is closest to the plants you water most. It is a gravity fed system – water has to run down-hill!
• Choose a downspout where your rain barrel’s overflow will soak into your lawn or garden, and not your neighbors’. Simply attach the overflow hose on the side of the barrel that works best for your situation.
• Place your rain barrel on a pervious (e.g. landscaped) surface that allows overflow from your rain barrel to soak into the ground.

• You may want to place the rain barrel on concrete or decorative blocks if you are going to use a hose to direct water to your garden (gravity will help move the water). Remember - water has to run downhill.

 Maintaining your rain barrel

• Keep your rain barrel spigot closed when you are not using the water so that the rain barrel will collect water.
• Regularly check your gutters, downspouts, rain barrel water intake screen, rain barrel mosquito screen and rain barrel spigot for leaks, obstructions or debris.
• Keep your rain barrel lid secured, the screen clear of debris and your over flow tube and hose in place at all times.
• Depending on where you live and the amount of pollen you get it will eventually accumulate in your rain barrel. The water will start to smell like rotten eggs. Don’t worry. Simply drain your barrel, spray it out then put it back into service. In our experience this only happens about every 3-5 years.
• Drain your rain barrel before temperatures drop below freezing. Connect a hose to the lower spigot to direct water away from your home.
• In the winter, keep your rain barrel spigot open so that water does not accumulate in the rain barrel and freeze. They will most likely survive a freeze but are not designed to go through multiple freeze-thaw cycles.

Preventing Mosquitoes

• Your rain barrel is equipped with a mosquito-proof screen on the lid to keep mosquitoes and other insects out.
• Place your barrel on a pervious (landscaped) surface, so that overflow water soaks into the ground instead of pooling on paved surfaces.
• Keep your rain barrel lid secured with the hardware provided.

Use the water you have collected!

• Your plants will love you for it!
• Make sure and use the water collected in your rain barrel!
• Water your flowers, trees, shrubs, and lawn.
• Wash your pets, rinse hands and feet, tools, or muddy boots.
• Keep your rain barrel lid on tight at all times to prevent children and animals from entering or falling in.
• DO NOT DRINK WATER from your rain barrel. EVER!