The overflow pipe looks to be 1/2" -- that's far less than may flow into the barrel during a rainstorm -- got a fix for that?
881853
The overflow line is a 1-1/4 inch ID. The same as an above groung pool discharge/suction line
881854
There's also a drain plug almost at the bottom. You can unscrew the cap to drain it or screw a hose onto it.
881855
The overflow valve is actually 1 1/4 inches and drains plenty fast to full up the second Barrel
881856
I have mine positioned under an eave and I've never noticed water coming over the top.
881857
It fills up so fast during a rainstorm the water only flows out of that pipe when it reached the top. You can use that overflow pipe to connect it to another rain barrel or other water storage device.
881858
the overflow pipe is 1 inch. I used the white PVC pipe connected to my 3 others rain barrel. It worked fine
881859
The overflow at the top of the barrel is an odd size and is not threaded. I have not found any hose to fit it. I have rigged some things that didn't work very well.
881860
Not to worry...any excess will come out the top causing no harm. The barrel will be filled. You could connect to a second barrel.
881861
In a real downpour your right the 1/2" does not always divert enough water to prevent some overflow out of the top of the barrel. In my area we don't get that many hard rains. I do really like the barrel, the best thing I like is the material is substantial and with the feet on the bottom rest on my raised cement base so in the fall I am able to just move it onto storage for the winter.
881862
Here in Michigan we have had a number of heavy downpours, and the overflow valve is not enough, water poured over the top which would not have been a problem BUT since the bottom of the barrel had collapsed over the footings, it was "leaning" toward my house and the water pouring off the top drained right into my foundation and flooded the basement. Pretty product, too bad the company has "forgotten" to reply to my email and phone calls despite the photos I sent and their promises to get right back to me....
2027253
If there is no water in the incoming pipe the unit still turns off and on per the timer. I doubt there is any pressure sensitivity, and expect it will work on a rain barrel as the time simply turns a valve off and on.
1064255
My rain barrel is about 3 ft from the downspout. I have a length of gutter running at a small downward angle from the end of the downspout to the barrel and this slows the water down and minimizes splatter.
429394
Very easy. If the down spout goes all the way down you cut or disconnect the downspout to the height of the rain barrel
873584
Actually it should not matter if the barrel is sealed or not. The barrels are not air tight and the barrel will only fill to the height that the diverter is placed in the downspout. That is why it is important to place the diverter in the downspout at the height listed in the directions. When the water in the barrel is raised to the height of the diverter any water coming down the downspout will simply overflow the diverter and run down the downspout.
968268
No, it has a grate at the top of the front of the barrel that operates as an overflow. Works well, actually.
647011
Not really - My barrel is about 8" above the ground and when the barrel is partially full, or even full, the pressure is adequate to fill watering cans or water nearby plants but not to actually "spray" very far as you would with an outdoor faucet. This unit works great for its intended purpose - to water our plants with "free" untreated water.
1330130
The black piece on the left near the end of the hose in the photo is rubber like. You insert it into the gutter, it is funnel shaped and will catch most of the water...the extra flows off it and down the spout. When the barrel is full you don't have to do anything...the water just can't go in the barrel anymore. I highly recommend getting a better spigot. .it comes with plastic. I do however think this is an excellent system. Very easy to install and works great.
1191428
Charlotte, if you're speaking of down spouts that run down the side of the house, then it will not fit into the 4 1/2 opening of the rain barrel. However, I have seen on a house that the rain barrel is pushed up against the house and the down spout just let's the water run into the opening of the lid without even touching it. Seems to work for them. I connected a plastic accordion type pipe (from Lowes) that is bendable and fit between my down spout and barrel opening. Equally importantly though, make sure you have an overflow tube and a place for the water to run. You wouldn't believe how fast this fills up. It works great! I would buy another one if I needed it. Good luck!
462854
The barrel does not stick out. It sits just less than flush with the bottom, which by the way is open.
1906756
Most water will go into the barrel , some will go down the spout but very little. Works very well.
873583
Yes, when the barrel is full further rain goes down the original downspout. It is necessary that the barrel be water/air tight so it can't overflow. During normal, not yet full conditions, water goes into the barrel through the connecting tube as air comes out.
2154752
Some rain water will still go to the downspout but most will go to your rain barrel. I have my system set up so that when the rain barrel is full there is an overflow coming from the rain barrel with flexible plastic tubing that diverts the water where I want it to go so the amount of water from the downspout is minimized (one downspout is close to my house and I can not extend it very easily).
833340
Without actually getting my pipe taps and bursting the bbl pack my guess is 1/4" too large for 1/8"
1916432
Dear Ellis, Thank you for writing about our Algreen 81003 Castilla Rain Barrel with Brass Spigot, Terra Cotta, 50-Gallon (#38-684). The top of this rain barrel style is divided. It has an opening for rain water, and a planter. The simple answer is yes: if you positioned the rain chain over the opening, you could certainly use it to divert water into the barrel. However, a plant next to the opening might be over hydrated if a lot of water splashed onto it. I hope this makes sense! We appreciate your interest. Thanks for making Gardener's Supply your source for gardening products and information. Please let us know if we can help you with anything else. Sincerely, Darcy Customer Service
56524
The vertical downspout must be cut completely in half about 1/2" minimum above the height of the rain barrel or where the filler hose from the downspout to the rain barrel will enter the rain barrel. Some rain barrels fill from the top, and others from somewhere on the side of the barrel. I cut my downspout about 4 1/2" above the barrel to make room for the downspout diverter to fit above the height of the barrel since my barrel fills both ways and I wasn't sure if I wanted to fill from the top or side. Then you cut an equal amount ( or what is needed to refit the lower part of the downspout) off the lower downspout you had cut off to attach to the bottom of the diverter, so the excess water can run past the diverter when the barrel is full so the water will drain out into the yard as before the diverter was installed. Without the second cut the lower downspout will drag the ground when you try to reinstall the lower downspout unless the opening was way off the ground originally. If the upper cut is too low, the water won't run uphill to fill the rain barrel and the water will all run down the downspout as if the diverter wasn't there. I guess you can't make it too high unless it's so high the hose won't reach the opening in the barrel. In all, I cut a section of about 8 1/2" out of the original downspout to make room for the diverter and it's about four inches above my rain barrel. I didn't need to use the adapters that come with the diverter kit, but that could add as much as 3 inches to the length of the diverter once completed so assemble the diverter the way it's going to be installed in the downspout and measure. That will be the minimum amount you need to cut out of the existing downspout to make it fit. As long as it's about the filler in the rain barrel but will still reach, it will work just fine. Hope this helps.
1075881
I just measured 33.5" but wasn't too careful. Its been working great. It barely rains and the barrel fills up.