WHY A RAIN BARREL?
Capturing and reusing rainwater offers a barrelful of benefits, including saving on utility bills, boosting the health of your gardens with chemical-free water, avoiding watering restrictions and helping the environment. Collecting rain in barrels helps slow runoff and encourages rain to soak into the soil more efficiently, which is important to recharging groundwater supplies and protecting sensitive ecosystems.
Using a rain barrel also reduces demand from community water supplies, helps avoid the consequences of overusing local water sources, and helps prolong the life of the homeowner’s well and well pump.
In addition to saving money on your utility bill, conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers. The less water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution.
Rain barrels are especially useful for saving rainwater for a not-so-rainy day. As we experienced locally in 2012, 2013, and throughout many areas of the US they endured droughts with hundreds of cities enforcing water bans to conserve municipal water during these times. By saving rainwater from the wetter seasons, you'll have plenty to use without taxing your well or municipal supply during the summer.
A covered rain barrel is recommended to help prevent insect growth (especially mosquitoes) and to keep the water clean. It also prevents drowning of birds and small animals who try to drink from an open barrel.
I didn't mention the aesthetic charm of having an authentic wooden rain barrel as part of one's landscape, the pride in appearance it gives your home, nor of the nostalgic feeling that comes when harvesting rain like our grandparents did and using it to improve our lawns and gardens. But, that's just a bonus.
Using a rain barrel also reduces demand from community water supplies, helps avoid the consequences of overusing local water sources, and helps prolong the life of the homeowner’s well and well pump.
In addition to saving money on your utility bill, conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers. The less water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution.
Rain barrels are especially useful for saving rainwater for a not-so-rainy day. As we experienced locally in 2012, 2013, and throughout many areas of the US they endured droughts with hundreds of cities enforcing water bans to conserve municipal water during these times. By saving rainwater from the wetter seasons, you'll have plenty to use without taxing your well or municipal supply during the summer.
A covered rain barrel is recommended to help prevent insect growth (especially mosquitoes) and to keep the water clean. It also prevents drowning of birds and small animals who try to drink from an open barrel.
I didn't mention the aesthetic charm of having an authentic wooden rain barrel as part of one's landscape, the pride in appearance it gives your home, nor of the nostalgic feeling that comes when harvesting rain like our grandparents did and using it to improve our lawns and gardens. But, that's just a bonus.
WHAT IS A RAIN BARREL?
A rain barrel can be any container (usually a barrel) used to collect rainwater from your roof. Our rain barrels are made from 100% hand crafted, reclaimed solid American or French Oak wine barrels. They come directly from vineyards in California, primarily the Napa Valley. Each one is unique with its own character and markings and holds 59 gallons of water.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Water from your roof collects in your gutter system and flows into the rain barrel via a custom downspout connector, fitting both 2"x3", and 3"x4" downspouts. A specially installed screen filter keeps debris and bugs out of your barrel and a spigot at the bottom allows you to water your lawn and garden using sprinkler hoses or a watering can.
When properly taken care of, these quality wooden rain barrels can last a lifetime and can be passed down from one generation to the next. To assist you to pass your barrel down, no corners were cut and all fittings installed are solid brass and threaded to fit a standard garden hose.
There are two overflow fittings at the top of the rain barrel to either daisy-chain two or more barrels together to collect more water, or to connect a garden hose to direct excess water away from your home's foundation. If you have unique needs, most hardware stores sell flexible attachments that can help to accommodate your individual needs.
The galvanized steel hoops that hold the oak barrel staves together tight look great when they start to tarnish and develop their patina.
When properly taken care of, these quality wooden rain barrels can last a lifetime and can be passed down from one generation to the next. To assist you to pass your barrel down, no corners were cut and all fittings installed are solid brass and threaded to fit a standard garden hose.
There are two overflow fittings at the top of the rain barrel to either daisy-chain two or more barrels together to collect more water, or to connect a garden hose to direct excess water away from your home's foundation. If you have unique needs, most hardware stores sell flexible attachments that can help to accommodate your individual needs.
The galvanized steel hoops that hold the oak barrel staves together tight look great when they start to tarnish and develop their patina.
SO, IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- Our high quality, solid American or French Oak wine rain barrels make good use of your rainwater and add a rustic, charming touch to your landscape.
- Rain barrels help reduce peak water demands during the summer months and is a free alternative to city water. The bonus is that it pays for itself.
- Mother Nature's rainwater can actually help improve the health of your gardens and trees. It is naturally “soft” and devoid of minerals, chlorine, and other chemicals.
- Collected rainwater is excellent and less harsh for washing your car.
- Use rainwater to bathe your pet. You'll love the softness of his/her coat.
- Using rain barrels helps reduce stress on well pumps and wells for those not having city water, and saves on the electric bill running the pump.
- Harvesting rain helps to reduce storm water runoff into our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams.
- Just a 1/4 inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields 150 gallons of water, and that's only during one rainfall! What are you going to do with all the excess?
- Remember, barrels can be daisy-chained together to collect more water. We have connector kits available for this purpose.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
Just because you don't have gutters doesn't mean you can't use a rain barrel. Some of our customers do not have gutters. All it takes is a little ingenuity, and we are glad to help! Just give us a call.
Did you know that well water is often full of heavy minerals? Rain barrels are just as important for well users as city water customers. Not only is rainwater free (mostly) of those minerals, it also can help keep your well from running dry or your pump from burning out!
Did you know that well water is often full of heavy minerals? Rain barrels are just as important for well users as city water customers. Not only is rainwater free (mostly) of those minerals, it also can help keep your well from running dry or your pump from burning out!