Oak Rain Barrels, Made From Actual Napa Wine Casks
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Rain barrels collect rain water from downspouts and store it until you are ready to use it for watering. Watering in this way is free, does not use energy (yours or municipal), and is better water for plants.
55 gallon African Oak wine cask, modified with spigot and top cutout for use as a rain barrel. Height: 36 inches, Diameter: 27 inches, Weight: 90 pounds. $199.00
Local pickup only.
What is a rain barrel?
On most houses, rain falls on the roof, runs down the gutters and into the ground. Often, the water drains nowhere near where it's needed.
A rain barrel is placed directly under a downspout and collects water running off the roof. When you want to use the water for gardens or for houseplants, simply attach a hose and open the tap or fill a watering can.
Why use a rain barrel?
It’s free! Water falls from the sky, instead of flowing from your faucet and your checkbook to pay the utility company.
No energy added: Nature fills the barrel for you and gravity distributes the water to your plants when they need it.
Plants are connoisseurs: Your plants will thrive on naturally soft water, rather than potable water with additives such as chlorine and fluorine.
Reduces the burden on our municipalities: Turning on the tap means your municipal H2O dollars must flow from a water treatment facility, pumping station and pipeline network. Using your rain barrel reservoir saves money and power and is all around eco-friendly.
You don’t double pay: When you use tap water, you are paying for it coming and going. As the meter turns, it clocks and charges for the water the comes out of the tap AND charges a sewer fee based on what comes out as if its going to go down the drain.
How to install and care for your oak rain barrel
Handling the rain barrel: When moving or lifting the barrel, at least two people capable of lifting 50 pounds are required. Never try to move a barrel with water in it. Do not roll the barrel, as it may damage the tap (spigot) and even the wood.
Setting up your rain barrel: Position your barrel under the downspout of your gutter system and center it on a firm base, preferably on a flat and stable platform 14” or more above the ground. This will allow you to place a watering can below the spigot to draw water. Retaining wall bricks work well for this purpose.
Cut and redirect the downspout with a couple of gutter elbows so the outlet is just above the hole in the top of the barrel.
Your Rain Barrel can also be located in an open area, not connected to a gutter system. You will be surprised how much water can be collected this way.
To prevent insects (especially mosquitoes), small animals and debris (leaves etc.) from entering the barrel, cover the top opening with screening material.
Care required of your rain barrel is minimal. Water may leak between the staves when you first get your barrel set up, or after the barrel has been empty from a dry spell. This is normal, as the oak staves may dry out and shrink a bit. Simply fill your barrel to the brim, soak the outside and it will tighten up in a couple of days. During winter, cover or store away from harsh weather.
Putting your rain barrel to good use
The bottom tap (spigot) can be connected to a standard hose for watering plants, or to a soaker hose for slowly draining the barrel during dry spells.
The top hose connector is for water overflow and can be connected to a hose to redirect water to areas farther away, or can be used to link multiple rain barrels for storage of even more rain water.
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