Rain Barrel Installation
Harvested, Not Hacked
A quarter-inch of rain sends dozens of gallons down one downspout — free garden water, if the barrel is plumbed right. Diverters, overflow, and winterizing separate a system from a mosquito farm.
Diverters Beat Open Tops Every Time
Sawing a downspout to dump into an open barrel creates an overflow hazard and a mosquito hatchery. Proper installs use inline diverters that feed the barrel until full then return flow to the downspout automatically, sealed lids and screened inlets that deny mosquitoes, level gravel or paver bases (water is heavy — a full barrel leans hard), and spigot height that actually clears a watering can. The EPA’s Soak Up the Rain program covers the why; we handle the plumbed-right.
Full Barrels Still Have To Protect The House
Every barrel fills in one good storm — then overflow becomes the downspout again, and it needs the same foundation-safe routing as any drop: extension, rock bed, or connection into buried drainage. We route overflow as part of every install, and walk you through the two-minute fall winterizing that keeps barrels from splitting in January.
Asked From The Bottom Of The Ladder
How much water can I actually collect?
A typical roof section sheds hundreds of gallons per inch of rain — one barrel fills fast, which is why serious gardeners chain multiples and why overflow routing is not optional.
Is roof runoff safe for vegetable gardens?
Widely used for ornamentals unquestionably; for edibles, common guidance favors watering soil rather than leaves. Not for drinking without treatment, ever.
What happens to the barrel in winter?
Drained, diverter switched to bypass, left open to breathe — a two-minute fall ritual we demonstrate at install so the barrel sees spring.
Do rain barrels attract mosquitoes?
Open-top setups absolutely do — sealed lids, screened inlets and diverter plumbing are precisely what separates a harvesting system from a hatchery.
How fast does a rain barrel fill up?
One decent storm — a typical roof section sheds hundreds of gallons per inch of rain, which is why overflow routing is part of every proper install.
Do rain barrels need to be elevated?
A raised, level, load-rated base gives you spigot clearance and gravity pressure — a full barrel is heavy, so the base is a structural decision, not a garden aesthetic.
Can I connect multiple rain barrels together?
Yes — linked barrels share overflow in series, and serious gardeners chain several because one fills in a single storm.
Do rain barrels save money on water bills?
Modestly in dollars, meaningfully in garden habits — the bigger wins are runoff reduction and chlorine-free water plants prefer.
Water, Working For You
Harvest and the paths around it.
Want The Free Water?
Installed plumbed-right in one visit — diverter, base, overflow and all.