How to Make a Rain Barrel
Don't let that rainwater go to waste. This easy, recycled rain barrel project puts money back in your pocket.
Choosing a Barrel
Plastic barrels suitable for use as a rain barrel can be purchased new, but many can be found secondhand for a fraction of the cost. We're using a recycled food-grade barrel originally used for shipping pickles found on Craigslist. Wherever you get it, make sure it's a food-grade barrel to avoid passing on any residual contaminants into your garden.
You Will Need
55-gallon plastic barrel with screw-top lid / two 3/4" male iron pipe x 3/4" male hose thread garden hose adapters / one 3/4" threaded boiler drain / three 3/4" female iron pipe adapters / six 1 3/4" reducing washers / one tube silicone sealant / 2 feet of window screen / 2 cinder blocks / twenty 1/2” x 4” x 6’ fence pickets / 40 feet 5/8” manila rope / 1 quart outdoor-rated wood stain or paint / four 3/4" screws / adjustable drain spout diverter / drill with 1-inch bit, 3-inch hole saw bit and Phillips head screwdriver bit / adjustable wrench / utility knife / miter saw or handsaw / bungee cord / stain rag or paintbrush / level
Add a Faucet
Coat the boiler drain thread with silicone and turn firmly into the hole until the base of spigot meets the barrel. No washer was necessary here, but if your barrel is not rigid (gives when pressed), coat one side of a washer and place it over the hole—silicone side to the barrel—before threading.
Adding a Drain
Adding a bottom drain with a garden hose adapter allows you to cap it, then completely drain the barrel (and any built-up sediment) as needed or it can be used as a permanent hose attachment. Measure 2 inches from the base of the barrel and drill a 1-inch hole directly beneath the boiler drain. Coat the threads of a 3/4-inch garden hose adapter with silicone and thread it into the hole using an adjustable wrench. As with the boiler drain, weaker barrels should use a silicone-coated washer between the adapter and barrel exterior.
Create an Overflow Port
Select a spot along the back edge of the barrel where the overflow will be most convenient, measure down two inches from the bottom of lid and drill a 1-inch hole. Coat hose adapter thread with silicone and use wrench to thread into hole. A hose may be attached to this port to divert water overflow to desired location.
Attach the Iron Pipe Adapters
This step will require an assistant, preferably someone slender or with long arms who can reach inside the barrel. Coat three washers with silicone and place around the threads of the boiler drain and both hose adapters, inside the barrel. Using an adjustable wrench, Thread female iron pipe adapters onto the boiler and hose adapter threads as a partner tightens the assemblies from the outside. Turn until firmly set, but take care not to over tighten to avoid cracking.
Gather Materials for the Cover
Your rain barrel is functional at this point, but a wine barrel-style cover will make it an addition to backyard settings that need not be hidden. Start by placing your barrel on cinder blocks. The number of pickets and length of rope we used are based on a barrel with a 75-inch circumference and may need to be adjusted for other barrel sizes.
Place and Level Rain Barrel
Clear debris and rocks from the ground and level cinder blocks side by side at the installation site. Place rain barrel on top of blocks and confirm it rests level and steady. The cinder blocks are used to stabilize the barrel, provide easy access to water with a watering can and allow gravity to push water with greater force through an attached hose.
Attach Binding Rope
Measure 1 foot from the top of the cover and use drill with Phillips head bit to attach the end of the rope to a picket on the back of the rain barrel with a 3/4-inch screw. Screw length is based on a firm, 5/8-inch rope. If a different rope is used, take care that the screw will be long enough to securely hold rope to picket without piercing the barrel.
Caring for Your Rain Barrel
The screen should prevent accumulation of debris in your barrel and will protect against mosquito larvae. If mosquitoes become an issue, add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil to the water to prevent larvae from forming. Keep screens free of leaves and debris and leave the drainage hose adapter open in winter months to avoid ice damage.