Top Picks for Rain Barrels: Our 2024 Recommendations
Choosing the Perfect Rain Barrel for Your Home: A Comprehensive Guide
Rain barrels are an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for homeowners seeking to conserve water and reduce their utility bills. Here's a guide to help you make an informed decision when purchasing a rain barrel.
Considerations for Your Rain Barrel Purchase
- Capacity and Size: The size of the rain barrel should match your water needs and the available space. Common sizes range from 30 gallons to over 100 gallons, with a 50-65 gallon capacity being a popular choice. For a 1,000-square-foot roof, you can expect to collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater.
- Material and Durability: Opt for barrels made from durable, food-grade plastic (usually HDPE) for safety and longevity. Some barrels are even made from recycled materials, making them eco-friendly.
- Design Features: Essential features include a flatback design for space-saving and enhanced stability, built-in screens to block debris and insects, and an overflow valve or outlet to prevent water buildup and direct excess away from the foundation.
- Modularity and Plumbing Options: Consider systems that allow for modularity, enabling connection of multiple barrels for higher capacity and better water equalization. The plumbing design should facilitate full drainage and easy irrigation setup.
- Ease of Installation and Maintenance: Look for systems that come with complete kits, including fittings, screens, and spigots, to avoid common DIY mistakes. Ease of use and low maintenance features are essential for a hassle-free experience.
- Compliance and Safety: Verify if the system meets local regulations regarding non-potable use and permit requirements.
- Use Case: Determine your intended usage—gardening, lawn irrigation, or emergency water storage—to decide on size, features, and installation method.
- Space and Weight Considerations: Full barrels can weigh around 500 lbs, so stacking requires careful planning with proper structural support and ventilation if stacking multiple barrels vertically.
Popular Rain Barrel Models
- The Good Ideas Rain Wizard 40 Gallon Rain Barrel is a popular choice, featuring a screen mesh, a flat back for wall fitting, a high-quality brass spigot, and an overflow spout. It's made from 100% recycled resin and comes in five colors.
- The Good Ideas 65-gallon model is made out of FDA-approved resin and is BPA-free. It has a closed-lid design with a self-draining planter on top and a fine mesh screen to keep unwanted debris or bugs out.
- The Mirainbarrel 58-gallon rain barrel is made from food-grade recycled plastic barrels. However, it does not come with a pre-installed overflow valve and downspout adapter.
- The Koolscapes Stone-Look Rain Barrel holds 55 gallons of water and features a stone-like finish, made of corrosion-resistant recycled plastic. It has three outflows for water, allowing connection of another barrel, soaker hose, or sprayer.
- The RTS Companies Eco Rain Barrel is 50 gallons and has a faux-wood finish. It's made from 100% recycled plastic and is UV-resistant.
- The IOCOCEE Folding Rain Barrel has a collapsible design and is made from PVC. It features a PVC zippered mesh cloth cover to keep unwanted debris and bugs.
By considering these factors, you can make a well-informed decision when purchasing a rain barrel for your home, ensuring efficient, practical water catchment and irrigation.
- For those looking to incorporate fashion-and-beauty products into their sustainable lifestyle, they may find eco-friendly rain barrels an interesting addition, as some models come in various colors and can serve as decorative garden accents.
- When traveling to locations with water scarcity issues, having a portable, collapsible rain barrel like the IOCOCEE Folding Rain Barrel can be a handy solution for collecting water for personal use or Emergency situations.
