A downspout replacement is where you cut off part of the downpipe and place the water butt directly below it. This will require the installation of an overflow pipe. It you leave a full butt outside during a severe cold spell during the winter there's a real risk the water inside will freeze, swell, and actually fracture the barrel. A rainwater harvesting system is invaluable during drier months and when we tend to garden more but when the weather changes, we garden less and our once often used water butt can become neglected. This season is as important as any when it comes to maintaining and caring for your water butt so that you can use it all year round. For it to survive the temperatures and lowered usage just follow our handy hints and your system will still be at its best come summer time. Drainage In Winter Months If you have not cleaned your water butt during the autumn, it is a good idea to do it now as algae can form when water remains stagnant. This can cause water to stink and not be good enough for use on plants. If you wish to maintain rainwater collection in your water butt throughout winter, adding a Freshatank Microbial Silver Disc will help alleviate fungus and bacteria build-up. Make sure you remove any debris at the bottom of the tank when cleaning and consider installing something like a Hedgehog Gutter Brush to avoid collecting leaves and junk in your gutter. Fitting a filter to your downpipe will also cut down on your need to dismantle and clean your tank. You can also set a diverter and filter to keep water running, which means you may not need to drain your tank and waste water but you can use the rest of the water in the tank and collect no more during winter. This is a great idea especially for those with busy lives or have tanks that are not easy to access. So, if you’re tired of watching the April showers drain away before being hit with hosepipe bans in May and June, then this guide will help you save money and harness the water that falls on your land.

Here we list the main types of water butts available and the variety of challenges each style may pose. Before you read about how to install a water butt, it’s important to have an idea of what water butt you intend to install. Different water butts will require a different installation technique depending on their design.A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. There are a wide variety of water butts. These range from slimline water butts that are designed to fit even the smallest gardens, to recycled water butts made from standard garden bins, to even stylish designer water butts made by the big fashion houses (ok, maybe not fashion houses, but they still look pretty). Slimline water butts are designed for installation in gardens with a small footprint. They generally have a capacity under 100 litres, so will need to collect water via a rainwater diverter. A great option if you’re looking to save on space. If you have a plastic barrel which doesn't have a proper tap attached - maybe one you've made yourself from a plastic dustbin, wheelie bin or other plastic tank - you should consider emptying it and leaving it on its side for the winter. If you’re using a downspout installation, you will need to install an overflow pipe. This is a pipe that will allow water to overflow into the drain. You should have an overflow pipe supplied with your water butt. Follow the instructions supplied with your water butt for this installation. In most cases, this will be a simple case of attaching the pipe to the corresponding overflow hole.

Looking after water butts in the winter can be a simple task and when you’re into the swing of this routine every year, it gets easier. Installing filtration systems for use all year round will make cleaning and care much easier come winter as debris has been prevented from entering your tank in the first instance. Insulating your water butt can stop water from freezing and getting frost on it, which can prevent your tank from expanding and splitting. Winter can be a harsh season for some areas of the UK but your rainwater harvesting system needn’t suffer! A rainwater diverter is a pipe connected to both the downspout and the water butt, allowing you to syphon off water without overflowing the butt. This is the more popular option, although it will require more effort and tools to install. Step 2: Measure the Cut (Downspout Replacement)

Garantia Color 2In1 Water Tank, 350 litres, in Cassis

If you’re installing a downspout, simply slide the downspout through the specially designed water butt hole. You can then move onto the final step below. It's likely to require a period of several days at sub-zero temperatures for a water butt to completely freeze up and potentially split - but it's better to be safe than sorry when the big winter chill arrives. Rainwater butts are simple devices which don't really need too much care - but the risk of splitting from expanding ice is real enough to consider taking precautions. If draining your tank or water butt is not easy, you could add a sponge or rubber ball to keep water moving and cause the water to push against the ball, not the tank wall. A standard water butt is about 1 metre tall and half a metre wide with a tank capacity of 210 litres. You can choose between downspout replacement installation, which means your water butt would sit under a garden shed, garage or house with the downspout flowing directly into the water butt. In this case, you would need to install an overflow pipe to prevent water flooding in the event of heavy rain. Alternatively, you can also choose to install a rainwater diverter. This will divert a portion of the water from the downspout while also preventing the risk of flooding.

To install your water butt, simply measure the height of your water butt, ensuring you mark the height on the downspout. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. Elevating your water butt from the ground will also avoid freezing. This can be done by placing your water butt on a stand, but do make sure it is empty when you move it as tanks can be heavy when filled with water.To keep your barrel safe during the cold winter months you should leave the tap or spigot open. This will allow the water can drain out so it won’t freeze and potentially damage your butt. If the tap is open and the barrel is empty, you can safely leave it outside all through the winter. So, before you fit the rainwater diverter, you will need to make two different cuts. The first cut is made to the downspout. Whether you go for a slimline or designer butt, all water butts should be sold with a lid. Water butts without lids can pose a drowning hazard to children, pets and wildlife, while open butts can breed bacteria due to debris entering the butt. If you have children, you should also invest in a water butt with a child-safe lid. How to Install a Water Butt Pump Step 1: Downspout Replacement or Rainwater Diverter