The compost heap is at a safe distance, you don't have a sandpit that is sometimes misused as a litter box, and yet unpleasant odors penetrate the terrace? The stench can come from your rain barrel. Unfortunately, this is often the case, especially in summer. Here you can find out everything about the causes and how to counteract them.
Stale water can start to smell
causes
The stench from the rain barrel is the result of putrefaction. The bacteria develop particularly well under the following conditions:
- Low oxygen levels
- dirt
- Direct sunlight
- Wrong cleaning agents
Low oxygen levels
Putrefaction bacteria love an anaerobic, i.e. low-oxygen, environment. The longer the water in your rain barrel stands unused, the more the oxygen content escapes. The same happens if no fresh water flows in for a longer period of time during dry periods.
dirt
If your rain barrel is in an unfavorable location, leaves often fall into the tub. Algae also form when temperatures are too high and lighting conditions are good. Also consider the bird droppings that get out of the rain gutter via the downpipe into the collection container.
Direct sunlight
Heat increases the effect of stagnant water and also promotes the formation of algae.
Wrong cleaning agents
Vegetable oil is a proven remedy against mosquito larvae in the rain barrel. Nevertheless, the home remedy reduces the water quality and spreads unpleasant odors.
Avoid stench
- Use wooden bins instead of plastic bins
- Change water during dry periods
- Clean the rain barrel regularly
- cover the rain barrel
- Install aerators
- aquatic plants
Use wooden bin
While plastic is not breathable, wood promotes air exchange.
Change water during dry periods
Standing water should be replaced before it topples over. Sometimes it is enough to pour in new water.
Clean the rain barrel regularly
Regularly remove algae, leaves and animal droppings from the water butt. The best way to do this is to empty it before winter and prepare the bin again in spring. But be careful, as mentioned above, not every cleaning agent is suitable.
cover the rain barrel
A lid on the water butt protects both from falling leaves and from escaping the stench. A fine-meshed grid also fulfills the first purpose.
tips
Read here how to equip your water butt with a filter.
aquatic plants
Some aquatic plants and fish species deprive algae of nutrients and thus prevent their growth.