OK, I’m not totally wishing for rain but we do have a functioning rain barrel and so I’d like to see it in action. Here are the steps we took to assemble it.
After I painted the rain barrel we read the instuctions that came with it. Remember, all the holes were predrilled. First, thread in the end of the overflow connector in the uppermost hole on the side of the barrel.
Second, wrap the spigot threads with teflon tape.
Insert the lower spigot (the one for a hose) first by CAREFULLY screwing it in. Don’t force it!
Then screw in the higher spigot (for a bucket or watering can).
We removed some of the pachysanda which should come back and fill in around the barrel.
- Pachysandra
We discovered a cement water diverter under all that groundcover.
Then we placed the barrel on three cinder blocks, as directed, so we could measure where the downspout needed to be cut to accomodate the height of the barrel. Charlie cut the downspout with a hacksaw.
We set the whole thing back up with the overflow hose directed behind our heating oil tank and into the drainage for the sump pump.
Pachysandra should fill in bald spots and hide the cinder block. Don’t forget this set-up is likely to change in the next few years as part of the house addition will replace the terrace.
The entire out-of-pocket cost for this project was $23.35. I don’t really expect to save that much on water bills this summer, but there should certainly be a reduction. How do you ration water? Is there a secret savings I haven’t figured?
Let's Face the Music 
I will be interested to see how this works for you. I think we should do this as well, but I haven’t approached my DH yet. You gave a great tutorial. Thanks.
Nice rain barrel set up! It’s a bit different than other ones I’ve seen. So cool that the rain barrel itself was free! We have a trash can set up on our driveway for runoff from our back porch. I wanted to set up a real rain barrel on the other side of the house to collect water for the vegetable gardens over there. Of course, now it’s raining before the rain barrel is set up!
I am so jealous!! We got a barrel from my mom last year and we just never constructed it into a rain collector! You have showed me that it is pretty easy to do our selves!! Thanks for helping!!
Come link up your garden posts ever Tuesday at
http://www.justtryingtosavemoney.com/2011/05/frugal-gardening-pick-your-own-farms.html
We’re always trying to be more conscious with our water. I think our biggest cost savings have been our washing machine, dishwasher and drip irrigation. We don’t get enough rain to warrant a rain barrel (which is both good an bad) or I am sure I’d try that too. Looking forward to see how it works out for you!
This project is next on our “to do” list. Thanks for giving us the 411 on how to do it.
AWESOME!! We live in the desert and could certainly use something like this!