Create a Rain Barrel from a Trash Can

Helping to Save the Chesapeake Bay...
One Rain Barrel at a Time

Rain Barrel FAQ's | Rain Barrels- Recycle The Rain

Create A Rain Barrel
From A Trash Can

Here's a guide to making a rain barrel at
home by using a heavy duty plastic trash can.
It only takes a few minutes and the cost savings are substantial.

Parts you'll need

1 - Heavy duty trash can
1 - ½” Hose bib
1 – 6” Chimney pipe trim collar
2 – ½” Faucet tailpipe nuts
2 - #15 O-rings
1 – ½” Threaded nipple
1 – ½” Threaded PVC extender
4 – Small screws
1 - piece 7”x 7” nylon screen

Tools

Drill w/ screw tip
¾” paddle drill bit
Tin Snips or Jig Saw

Directions

Drill ¾” hole approximately 3” to 4” from bottom of barrel.
Drill ¾” hole near top of barrel
Screw ½” treaded nipple into hose bib and insert into bottom hole.
Slide O-ring over treaded nipple from inside of barrel and screw on Faucet tailpipe nut until secure.
Insert ½” Treaded PVC extender into upper hole.
Slide O-ring onto treaded end from inside and secure with faucet tailpipe nut.
Cut 5” hole in trash can lid using tin snips or jigsaw.
Trim nylon screening to fit Chimney pipe trim collar.
Place screen, then trim cover over hole in lid and attach with screws.
It is recommended to sit rain barrel on two concrete block to provide for level surface.

Total construction time averages 10 to 15 minutes and the cost is approximately
$45. depending on the size of the trash can purchased.

If you decide to paint your barrel, we recommend Krylon Fusion paints or any similar paint made for painting plastic.
Two cans will cover a barrel. Make sure barrel is clean and dry.
Do not sand barrel prior to painting.

We recommend you clean and flush barrel yearly. More often if required.
Simply drain the barrel. Remove Flex-A-Spout from barrel.
Place barrel on its side and flush debris out 4" barrel hole with garden hose.

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Rain barrels – a new concept for water conservation? No way!
The idea of capturing rainwater in cisterns is generations old.
Landowners have used cisterns as a way to collect water for water gardens, plants,
washing clothes and even drinking.

A rain barrel is a rainwater harvesting system that is connected to a downspout
from a house or building.

The average U.S. household uses 146,000 gallons of water per year with up to 50% of
that water going towards landscaping during the summer months.
By collecting rainwater, one can save energy, water, and money –as much as $600 a year.

Rain barrels also help reduce erosion and storm water runoff and increase water quality.

Rain Barrel FAQ's | Rain Barrels- Recycle The Rain

Did You Know....
A typical house has a roof area of 1,200 square feet and four downspouts that will each drain about 300 square feet of roof.
That means a rainfall of just 0.3 inches is enough to fill 4 of 54-gallon Rain Barrels, one placed under each downspout.
A good formula to remember: 1 inch of rain on a 1000 square foot roof yields 623 gallons of water.
Calculate the yield of your roof by multiplying the square footage of your roof by 623 and divide by 1000.