Rain barrels are an environmentally friendly way to conserve water by collecting the rain runoff from your roof and gutters and storing it for use in your home and garden.
安装此DIY雨桶到你家现有的排水沟系统可以帮助减少一些维持生产和美丽的花园的资金紧张。
This eco-friendly addition to your garden allows you to use less water to keep your plants healthy, saving you a hefty chunk of change on your utility bills and making your home a little more sustainable, one thunderstorm at a time.
To begin this inexpensive and simple DIY project, you will need to find a heavy-duty 55-gallon plastic drum to recycle.
These types of barrels are commonly used to store and transport food-grade liquids and commercial soaps, so you can usually come across these used barrels outside local restaurants and carwashes. Call around or check the craigslist postings in your area. You can usually find a nice one with a screw-on lid for around $25. (Eartha有限公司，这为食品服务行业的可持续发展服务，就位于此处。在俄亥俄州哥伦布市，捐出我的桶 - 所以，谢谢你，Eartha的迈克Minnix）！
To complete this easy-to-install DIY project you will also need to make a quick visit to the plumbing section of your local hardware store.
清洁和油漆的桶。
要确保你正确清洁和开始建设，消除其前半生的任何残留物之前冲洗你的桶。
轻轻打磨我的筒的表面上后，余施加的低VOC室外喷漆以覆盖所述塑料的亮蓝色。
Cut a hole for the downspout.
使用拼图削减6” 孔在桶的盖子 - 这将使径流从排水沟中的雨桶收集。
附加的网筛。
Cut a square of the mesh screen that will fit over the hole in the lid of your barrel, and use metal snips to cut a small hole in each corner of the mesh.
在将符合您的网格正方形的角盖预钻四个孔。
将您的网方在孔并用垫圈，螺栓，螺母在每个角落将其固定在适当位置拿稳。
该网筛将保持了蚊子，防止树叶和树枝从引流到您的桶。
创建一个插口。
使用带有桨位钻，钻孔到您的每桶约三分之一的从底部，在那里你会安装软管围兜道路的一侧。
重要的是，这种联合不漏，所以一定要使用基于有机硅防水填缝密封所有硬件。
Apply caulk to the 1/2” plumbing flange and mount it around the hole in your barrel.
Once the flange is in place, apply a bit of caulk to the threads of your hose bib, thread it through the flange and into your barrel.
Apply a bit more caulk to the 1/2” faucet nut and tighten it to the back of the hose bib from inside the barrel.
Create an overflow valve.
用你的电钻和桨位钻孔另一个洞到您的桶，从上几英寸的一面。
应用有点堵缝到3/4” 软管接头和将其穿过你创建的孔，从内桶用水龙头螺母紧紧地将其固定。
The overflow valve allows excess water to drain from your barrel when it is full. If you live in a particularly dry area, you can create a green rainwater collection system by attaching a short length of hose to the overflow valve and feeding it into another rain barrel. Double or triple the amount of natural rainwater that you can collect for your garden!
修建了基地
通过在你的排水沟的落水管之一的碱基堆积打捞美化摊铺机，砖，或水泥块构建您的雨桶基地。您将要选择一个区域，将提供给你的花园里最容易获取和你浇灌大部分地区。
A 55-gallon barrel will weigh more than 480 pounds when it is filled with rainwater so be sure that the base is secure before installing your rain barrel.
Adding a few inches of elevation to your installation site will not only improve water pressure in your barrel but will allow enough room for you to fit a watering can under the spigot as well.
Install your rain barrel.
In order to install your rain barrel, you will need to change out a short segment of your existing gutter’s downspout. Using your flexible downspout converter as a guide, determine where you will need to cut, and use metal snips to trim any excess length.
Although the converter should fit snugly over the existing downspout, use rust-proof screws to secure it in place.
一旦柔性落水管转换器连接到您家的排水沟系统，使用电钻通过转换器的底部，并进入你的桶来驱动防锈螺钉，取代了盖中的筛选孔确保它。
使用您的雨桶循环水你的花园营养充满雨水将让你的植物健康和快乐，即使是在一年中的干燥剂个月。这家环保型，节约用水DIY雨桶将让您的家人生活一点点绿色的，可以是一个美丽的除了你的家和花园。
