How to Make a Rain Barrel

Carrie T. StevensonEscambia County Extension

Hardware Needed

• One ½” brass faucet/hose bibb• One ¾” MH x ½” MIP brass hose adapter• Two 1” special female adapters, PVC• Two 1” x ½” threaded bushings, PVC• One 6’ garden hose connector• One 4” round grate, plastic• One 4-6” square piece of screen material

Hardware

Equipment Needed

• Drill• 1 ¼” hole bit• 4” hole bit or jigsaw• 12” adjustable wrench• 12” channel lock pliers• Waterproof glue

Additional Parts for Drainage(may vary based on individual gutter system)

• 2” x 3” x 4” S&D downspout adapter• A-B elbow cover• Flex elbow• 4 concrete blocks or equivalent (to raise barrel

so water will flow, and to create a level surface)

The Container

• Industrial juice/pickle barrel• Large heavy duty garbage can• Wooden whiskey barrel

Brass faucet/hose bibb

¾” MH x ½” MIP brass hose adapter

Two 1” special female adapters, PVC

Two 1” x ½” threaded bushings, PVC

6’ garden hose connector

4” round grate, plastic

4”-6” square piece of screen material

Step 1: Clean barrel and lid

Step 2: Faucet Assembly

• Drill spigot hole with 1 ¼” hole saw

Step 2: Faucet Assembly

• Place 1 x ½” PVC bushing into hole from outside of barrel

• Screw 1” PVC special female adapter onto bushing inside of barrel

View down into barrel with female adapter installed

Step 2: Faucet Assembly

• Install ½” brass assembly into PVC bushing on outside of barrel

Step 3: Overflow Valve

• Using 1 ¼” hole saw, drill a hole on side of barrel close to top for overflow valve

Step 3: Overflow Valve

• Place 1” x ½” PVC bushing into hole from outside of barrel

• Screw 1” PVC special female adapter onto bushing inside of barrel

Step 3: Overflow Valve

• Install brass hose adapter onto PVC bushing on outside of barrel

Step 3: Overflow Valve

• Install 6’ garden hose connector to brass fitting to direct overflow away from house

Step 4: Rain Intake

• Cut a 4” circle out of screen material so that it fits inside the 4” round grate

Step 4: Rain Intake

• Drill 4” hole in center of lid (can also be cut with a jigsaw)

Step 4: Rain Intake• Turn barrel lid upside down and insert

threaded portion of grate; secure grate with waterproof glue

Step 4: Rain Intake

• After drying, raised catch area should be through the top of the lid, place screen into grate

Step 5: Gutter Attachment

This barrel was attached using a flex elbow and

an A-B elbow

Need More Information?

Escambia County Extension3740 Stefani Road

Cantonment, FL 32533

850-475-5230ctsteven@ufl.edu