How to make a Rain Barrel
If you want to make your own homemade rain barrel out of a plain 55 gallon plastic drum, then follow these
easy instructions or you can buy one premade.
Step 1 - Inflow - Cut a hole in the top of barrel to allow rainwater to enter the barrel and to access the inside of
the barrel. The hole should be just large enough to snugly fit the 1 gallon plastic bucket, tub or flowerpot. The
bucket will be used to support a screen to keep mosquitoes and debris out. Cut a ¾ inch hole in the bucket.
Step 2 - Spigot - Drill a 3/4 inch hole close to bottom of the 55 gallon barrel. (Don't drill the hole too far down
inside the barrel where you can't reach it from the access hole on top or else you may need the help of a
friend with very long arms!) Put Teflon tape on the 1/2 inch bushing and thread it into the silcock or hose bib.
Now carefully thread the other end of bushing into the 3/4 inch hole in bottom of barrel. It should fit snugly in
the hole and cut threads in the plastic as you screw it in. Now unscrew it from the barrel, apply teflon tape to
the threads of the bushing and apply silicone to the outside of the flange on the silcock. Screw it back into the
hole and into a 1/2 inch socket on the inside of the barrel.
Step 3 - Down Spout Modification - Prepare the area under the down spout where you want to install the rain
barrel. Remove the old down spout and splash block and level the area where the barrel will sit. Place the
concrete blocks so they are sloped slightly downward away from the house. Set the barrel on the blocks. With
a hacksaw cut the down spout so it is just long enough to fit into the bucket on top of the rain barrel.
Step 4 - Overflow - You should provide an overflow for water if the barrel fills to the top. With a jig saw, cut a
hole in the side of the barrel large enough to fit the 2 inch male threaded by 2 inch pipe adapter. Place this
fitting inside the barrel and thread it into the 2 inch female threaded by 2 inch PVC elbow on the outside of the
barrel. Seal with silicone. Cut a length of 2 inch PVC pipe long enough to reach the ground. Attach a 2 inch
PVC elbow to the bottom of this pipe and cut another length of 2 inch pipe to connect to a splash block.
If you want to make your own homemade rain barrel out of a plain 55 gallon plastic drum, then follow these
easy instructions or you can buy one premade.
Step 1 - Inflow - Cut a hole in the top of barrel to allow rainwater to enter the barrel and to access the inside of
the barrel. The hole should be just large enough to snugly fit the 1 gallon plastic bucket, tub or flowerpot. The
bucket will be used to support a screen to keep mosquitoes and debris out. Cut a ¾ inch hole in the bucket.
Step 2 - Spigot - Drill a 3/4 inch hole close to bottom of the 55 gallon barrel. (Don't drill the hole too far down
inside the barrel where you can't reach it from the access hole on top or else you may need the help of a
friend with very long arms!) Put Teflon tape on the 1/2 inch bushing and thread it into the silcock or hose bib.
Now carefully thread the other end of bushing into the 3/4 inch hole in bottom of barrel. It should fit snugly in
the hole and cut threads in the plastic as you screw it in. Now unscrew it from the barrel, apply teflon tape to
the threads of the bushing and apply silicone to the outside of the flange on the silcock. Screw it back into the
hole and into a 1/2 inch socket on the inside of the barrel.
Step 3 - Down Spout Modification - Prepare the area under the down spout where you want to install the rain
barrel. Remove the old down spout and splash block and level the area where the barrel will sit. Place the
concrete blocks so they are sloped slightly downward away from the house. Set the barrel on the blocks. With
a hacksaw cut the down spout so it is just long enough to fit into the bucket on top of the rain barrel.
Step 4 - Overflow - You should provide an overflow for water if the barrel fills to the top. With a jig saw, cut a
hole in the side of the barrel large enough to fit the 2 inch male threaded by 2 inch pipe adapter. Place this
fitting inside the barrel and thread it into the 2 inch female threaded by 2 inch PVC elbow on the outside of the
barrel. Seal with silicone. Cut a length of 2 inch PVC pipe long enough to reach the ground. Attach a 2 inch
PVC elbow to the bottom of this pipe and cut another length of 2 inch pipe to connect to a splash block.
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- Materials
• 1 - 55 gallon polyethylene plastic barrel
• 1 - 10 foot length of 2 inch PVC pipe
• 1 - 2 inch PVC elbow
• 1 - 2 inch female threaded by 2 inch PVC elbow
• 1 - 2 inch male threaded by 2 inch pipe adapter
• 1 - tube silicone sealer/cement
• 1 - 1/2 inch female threaded silcock (outdoor faucet)
• 1 - 1/2 inch threaded bushing
• 1 - 1/2 inch female threaded socket
• 1 - roll teflon tape
• 1 - 1 foot by 2 foot piece of old or new screen fabric
• 1 - 1gallon plastic bucket, tub or flowerpot
• 4 - cinder blocks
- Tools
- • Jig Saw
• Power Drill with 3/4 inch Spade Bit
• Scissors
• Pipe Wrench and Pump Pliers
• Screw Driver
• Hack Saw
• Tape Measure and Level
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Rain Barrel
Rain barrel, 55 gallon water barrels, stainless steel and plastic drums, and accessories.
Rain barrel, 55 gallon water barrels, stainless steel and plastic drums, and accessories.