Are you looking for a way to make your home more environmentally-friendly without spending big bucks on solar panels or geothermal heating? One of the easiest ways to do this is to set up a storm water catcher, or a rain barrel. Harvesting rain on your own property has several advantages. First, it can save you money by providing you a free source of potable water that you can use in your garden. Second, rain water is full of oxygen and free of chlorine, and warmer than regular tap water – which means that the water is actually better for your plants. And finally, rain barrels decrease the amount of sewage that the city needs to process and prevent the roof runoffs from polluting nearby streams, rivers, and lakes.



How a rain barrel works & where to get them

Rain barrels come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although, you can use a regular plastic barrel by placing it underneath your downspout (sometimes also called eaves trough) to collect rain water gathered through your roof water tracking system, when you want to use the water, you will have to scoop it out of the barrel, which will be heavy when it is full. And having a pool of standing water in your yard during summer is not the best idea if you want to avoid mosquitoes.

A better option would be to check with your local city or environmental group to see if they sell rain barrels; these ones are often made with tougher plastic that won't crack or break in more extreme temperatures because they are designed to be placed outdoors year-round. They also often have extra features such as netting, which will help keep debris from falling into your barrel, and lids, which will help keep the barrel safe from running children and pets, as well as prevent mosquito swarms. The sizes of the rain barrels vary, with the larger ones being able to hold 500 litres (132 gallons). Be warned, however, as they will take up a lot of space if you have a small yard. You will also probably have to scoop out the water with a bucket or pitcher, as with most rain barrels.

Setting them up safely and securely

To set up the rain barrel, you have to first identify the downspout in your home. The most important thing is to ensure that the downspout is not too long for your barrel. If it is, it can be shortened easily by using a saw and other tools. The next thing you have to ensure is that the rain barrel is situated on a stable surface. If you need additional support, it might be worth investing in a small concrete pad. You must also ensure that the rain barrel is not placed in a location where it will be easily knocked over by high winds, people, or animals – remember there may be tens or hundreds of litres of water in the barrel at a time, so spilling it may cause your own home to flood.

Once you have found an appropriate rain barrel and set it up properly so that it is standing solidly in your yard, remember to check that you are able to obtain the water from the barrel easily. Other than that, happy rain catching, and enjoy some free water!