Sometimes the famous last drop causes a rain barrel to overflow. To avoid this, it is advisable to connect two barrels together so that no precious rainwater is lost. On this page you will find out which material you need to create a connection, which variants are available and how you specifically proceed.

If one rain barrel is not enough, a second one is needed

Possible types of connection

  • hose connection
  • water butt connector

hose connection

This method is definitely cheaper, but also has many disadvantages compared to the water butt connector. You probably still have an old garden hose that serves as a connection. However, this will probably have to be replaced more often and is a very loose connection.

The rain barrel connector

Even if a water butt connector is a bit more expensive to buy, it has a long service life. Most of the time you will get a complete set from the trade

  • a hose
  • two connections
  • two seals
  • two lock nuts

What else is needed

The construction of a connection between two rain barrels (53.99€) sounds complex, but with the right instructions it is very simple. Helpful tools make the job all the more easier.

For the hose connection

  • a (garden) hose
  • a hose cutter
  • some tissue tape

For the rain barrel connector

  • a water butt connector set
  • a crown drill (partially included in the set)
  • a drill
  • sealing rings

manual

The hose connection

  1. Rinse the hose thoroughly.
  2. There must be no foreign objects inside.
  3. Make sure there are no cracks in the material.
  4. Choose the appropriate length depending on the distance between the rain barrels (no longer than two meters).
  5. Cut the hose accordingly.
  6. Make sure you cut cleanly (no frayed edges).
  7. Hang the hose over the edge of a bin.
  8. Secure it with the fabric tape.
  9. Be careful not to squeeze the hose.
  10. Suck water into the other end of the hose.
  11. This creates a vacuum so that the water can run through the hose without any problems.
  12. Fix the end of the hose in the second barrel.

The rain barrel connector

  1. Drill holes in the bins to later install the hose.
  2. Make sure it is clean here too.
  3. Attach the connector by inserting it into the holes.
  4. Fix the connector with the counter nuts.
  5. Seal any with the sealing rings.

Category:

Garden design