Is there a long crack in the plastic of your water butt after the winter? That's annoying but not too bad. Because with little effort, a rain barrel can be repaired even with little manual knowledge. Provided you know what tools and techniques to use to do this. With the instructions on this page you are well advised.

Minor damage can often be repaired with a little skill

Silicone, the all-rounder?

Whether in the bathroom, in the kitchen or with movable objects, if a crack has formed in the material, the amateur do-it-yourselfer reaches for the silicone bottle. As a rule, he is right with this choice, even gold. However, if the rain barrel is broken, the silicone will only last to a limited extent. Rain barrels (€53.99) are usually exposed to more severe weather. Seals that consist solely of silicone therefore only last for a short time. Therefore, you need to combine the sealant with other substances.

seal holes

  1. You will need a soldering iron, a welder and another piece of polypropylene (if your water butt is plastic).
  2. This should completely cover the hole in your water butt.
  3. It is best to use a cut piece of a comparable water butt.
  4. Place the piece on the inside of the hole in your water butt.
  5. Weld the replacement part with a soldering iron.
  6. As soon as the material liquefies under the influence of heat, gently push the pieces together.

Caution: Sparks may fly when welding. Therefore, never do the work in closed rooms. You should also remove all combustible objects from a wide area outdoors. Dry grass also harbors a

Quick help from the hardware store

Unfortunately, using a welder is only an option if the barrel walls are thick enough. Otherwise you will destroy the material more than repair it. In this case, the hardware store has the solution ready. On the one hand you will find bitumen tape here. The tool is similar to tape, but much more robust. Alternatively, you can get tar-like material here, which is actually used to seal gutters. Certain fibers ensure increased resilience.

Discard the rain barrel

Unfortunately, sometimes the damage to the rain barrel is so extensive that repairing it would not be worthwhile. Here you can find out how to dispose of your old model in this case. Maybe you use your broken rain barrel for other purposes and be inspired by the following ideas:

  • Raised bed in the rain barrel
  • Plant rain barrel

Category:

Garden design