How to Choose and Use a Rainwater Collection Barrel
When used correctly and properly maintained, rainwater barrels can reduce your environmental impact and help you save a fortune on water bills. Rainwater can be used for many different purposes inside your home and in your yard from watering the plants to cleaning. Best of all, harvesting rain is completely free, and it doesn't harm the environment. While you will probably need to install a sophisticated filtration system to use rainwater safely at home, you can get to know how the process works first by using a rainwater collection barrel for outdoor purposes. You can always upgrade your rainwater harvesting system if you decide to do so in the future.
The first thing you should do is pick the right rainwater collection barrel for your home. You can find rainwater barrels online and at home improvement stores. It can be tough picking one out if you are not sure what you are looking for because they are available in dozens of different colors, styles, sizes and designs. If you take good care of your garden and are passionate about landscaping, you can pick up a terra cotta rain barrel that looks more like a classic flower pot. If you are just looking for a high-quality rainwater harvesting barrel at an affordable price, get a plain one with no frills. Remember that most rainwater barrels can be easily painted down the road with special paint, so you can always change the way yours look if you decide that you want it to match the exterior of your home.
Make sure that the rainwater collection barrel you buy is made out of food-qrade plastic. Even if you don't plan to use it for household purposes, food-grade plastic is more durable than other types of plastic. Another thing to consider is that high-quality plastic shouldn't leak into the harvested rainwater, which is important if you plan to use it to water your garden. When it comes to choosing the right size, you need to pick one that will fulfill your needs. For example, if you have a big garden and use a lot of water to maintain it you should get a large barrel. If you only plan to use water outdoors occasionally, you can get a small or a medium-sized barrel.
After bringing your barrel home, clean it thoroughly with a mild, non-toxic cleaner. Rainwater barrels are designed differently, so make sure that you set yours up correctly. Keep your rainwater collection barrel [http://www.rainingrainbarrels.com/] clean and covered at all times to avoid contamination, accidents and mosquito infestations. Water use increases significantly in the warmer months, so it's a good idea to get your barrel installed in the spring to get maximum savings on your water bill this year. Keep in mind that you'll need to winterize your barrel and store it inside during the colder months to avoid damage from harsh winter conditions.
The first thing you should do is pick the right rainwater collection barrel for your home. You can find rainwater barrels online and at home improvement stores. It can be tough picking one out if you are not sure what you are looking for because they are available in dozens of different colors, styles, sizes and designs. If you take good care of your garden and are passionate about landscaping, you can pick up a terra cotta rain barrel that looks more like a classic flower pot. If you are just looking for a high-quality rainwater harvesting barrel at an affordable price, get a plain one with no frills. Remember that most rainwater barrels can be easily painted down the road with special paint, so you can always change the way yours look if you decide that you want it to match the exterior of your home.
Make sure that the rainwater collection barrel you buy is made out of food-qrade plastic. Even if you don't plan to use it for household purposes, food-grade plastic is more durable than other types of plastic. Another thing to consider is that high-quality plastic shouldn't leak into the harvested rainwater, which is important if you plan to use it to water your garden. When it comes to choosing the right size, you need to pick one that will fulfill your needs. For example, if you have a big garden and use a lot of water to maintain it you should get a large barrel. If you only plan to use water outdoors occasionally, you can get a small or a medium-sized barrel.
After bringing your barrel home, clean it thoroughly with a mild, non-toxic cleaner. Rainwater barrels are designed differently, so make sure that you set yours up correctly. Keep your rainwater collection barrel [http://www.rainingrainbarrels.com/] clean and covered at all times to avoid contamination, accidents and mosquito infestations. Water use increases significantly in the warmer months, so it's a good idea to get your barrel installed in the spring to get maximum savings on your water bill this year. Keep in mind that you'll need to winterize your barrel and store it inside during the colder months to avoid damage from harsh winter conditions.
Source...