How to Install a Rainwater Diverter and a Rain Barrel (page 1 of 2)
More in Outdoors
Here's How You Do It:
- Position Base current page
- Position Barrel current page
- Cut the Downspout current page
- Insert Diverter current page
- Cut Hole in Water Barrel current page
- Fit Coupling in Hole page 2
- Measure and Cut Linking Pipe page 2
- Fit Linking Pipe in Place page 2
- Test the Unit page 2
Although rainwater cannot normally be used for drinking water, it can be collected and used for watering the yard or, at a more sophisticated level, to supply household fittings and appliances such as toilets and washing machines.
The simplest way to harvest rainwater is to install a water barrel. Rain from the gutters runs through a downspout where a diverter channels water into the barrel.
Position Base
Position the water barrel adjacent to a gutter downspout. Our barrel has a specially designed base that needs to be leveled when in position.
Position Barrel
Place the barrel on the base and determine where to cut into the downspout. Most rain barrel manufacturers will supply a marking template.
Cut the Downspout
Use a fine-toothed saw to cut through the downspout, following the guidelines as closely as possible.
Insert Diverter
Remove the cut section of the pipe and insert the main body of the diverter, using any adaptors that are required.
Cut Hole in Water Barrel
Use a hole-cutter bit on a standard drill to make a hole in the water barrel. Again, use a template to measure the correct position.
Excerpted from Do It Yourself Home Improvement
© Dorling Kindersley Limited 2009
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