How to Make a Rain Barrel Carrie T. Stevenson Escambia County Extension

Hardware Needed One ½” brass faucet/hose bibb One ¾” MH x ½” MIP brass hose adapter Two 1” special female adapters, PVC Two 1” x ½” threaded bushings, PVC One 6’ garden hose connector One 4” round grate, plastic One 4-6” square piece of screen material

Hardware

Equipment Needed Drill 1 ¼” hole bit 4” hole bit or jigsaw 12” adjustable wrench 12” channel lock pliers Waterproof glue

Additional Parts for Drainage ( may vary based on individual gutter system) 2” x 3” x 4” S&D downspout adapter A-B elbow cover Flex elbow 4 concrete blocks or equivalent (to raise barrel so water will flow, and to create a level surface)

The Container Industrial juice/pickle barrel Large heavy duty garbage can Wooden whiskey barrel

Brass faucet/hose bibb

¾” MH x ½” MIP brass hose adapter

Two 1” special female adapters, PVC

Two 1” x ½” threaded bushings, PVC

6’ garden hose connector

4” round grate, plastic

4”-6” square piece of screen material

Step 1: Clean barrel and lid

Step 2: Faucet Assembly Drill spigot hole with 1 ¼” hole saw

Step 2: Faucet Assembly Place 1 x ½” PVC bushing into hole from outside of barrel Screw 1” PVC special female adapter onto bushing inside of barrel View down into barrel with female adapter installed

Step 2: Faucet Assembly Install ½” brass assembly into PVC bushing on outside of barrel

Step 3: Overflow Valve Using 1 ¼” hole saw, drill a hole on side of barrel close to top for overflow valve

Step 3: Overflow Valve Place 1” x ½” PVC bushing into hole from outside of barrel Screw 1” PVC special female adapter onto bushing inside of barrel

Step 3: Overflow Valve Install brass hose adapter onto PVC bushing on outside of barrel

Step 3: Overflow Valve Install 6’ garden hose connector to brass fitting to direct overflow away from house

Step 4: Rain Intake Cut a 4” circle out of screen material so that it fits inside the 4” round grate

Step 4: Rain Intake Drill 4” hole in center of lid (can also be cut with a jigsaw)

Step 4: Rain Intake Turn barrel lid upside down and insert threaded portion of grate; secure grate with waterproof glue

Step 4: Rain Intake After drying, raised catch area should be through the top of the lid, place screen into grate

Step 5: Gutter Attachment This barrel was attached using a flex elbow and an A-B elbow

Need More Information? Escambia County Extension 3740 Stefani Road Cantonment, FL