If you neglect to protect your water butt from freezing when the temperature drops, it will be useless next spring. Because without the necessary measures, the material will burst open in the cold. With the helpful tips in this guide, however, you need not fear anything. How to make your water butt frost-proof:
Not every rain barrel needs antifreeze
Why does the rain barrel burst open?
Ice has a higher volume than water. As a result, the contents of your water butt expand in sub-freezing temperatures. Since most rain barrels (€53.99) are made of plastic, the material cannot withstand the pressure. Small cracks quickly appear that make the rain barrel unusable.
Is my rain barrel frost-proof?
Meanwhile, there are also models that do not require any preparation for the winter. These are expressly marked as frost-proof. If you are still unsure about this, it is best to call the manufacturer to inquire. Asking has never cost anything.
However, caution is advised with models that are lined with foil. If the contents are frozen, small stones from below threaten to damage the material. Therefore, either pay attention to a level surface when setting up or take the following measures:
Important measures
- empty the rain barrel
- Close the rain collector connection
- cover the rain barrel
empty the rain barrel
You don't have to completely empty your water butt. It is sufficient if you pour out three quarters of the water. However, regular checks are essential.
Close the waterlock connection
It is important to disconnect the rain collector so that no water flows in. If you have emptied your water butt by three quarters as recommended above, it can still happen that new water flows in and freezes in the container. Accordingly, you should not only cut off the downpipe, but also regularly check whether a new layer of ice has formed. You then have to hack them open.
cover the rain barrel
A new layer of ice can form not only from the water flowing out of the gutter but also from precipitation. Therefore, a lid for the rain barrel is recommended. Furthermore, this protects against breeding mosquitoes in the water reservoir.