TIL my rain barrel setup broke during a dry spell and I lost all my stored water

Last month I noticed my rain barrel wasn't filling up after a storm. Turned out the spigot had a small crack that let the water drain out over a few weeks. By the time I found it, I had lost about 50 gallons of water I was saving for my garden. I had to patch it with a cheap epoxy kit from the hardware store. Now I'm checking it once a week for any new cracks or leaks. Has anyone else dealt with a rain barrel failing like this? What do you use to keep yours from leaking?

3 comments

3 Comments

abbyhall2d ago

Flip it around and think about why it cracked in the first place. I had the same problem with mine but it turned out my barrel was sitting directly on concrete in full sun. The heat cycling made the plastic brittle over time. I threw down some old patio pavers and a layer of mulch underneath to insulate it. Now the water stays cooler and the plastic doesn't stress out as much. Havent had a crack since.

scott.alex2d ago

Flip it around" is solid advice, @abbyhall, did you caulk the paver seams to stop ants from moving in under the barrel?

bell.jessica2d ago

Wait, did your barrel crack too, @abbyhall? I had the exact same thing happen to mine last summer and I was SO frustrated. I felt like I wasted money on something that was supposed to last. Your idea about the patio pavers and mulch is smart though, I never thought about insulating the bottom like that. I just pulled my cracked barrel off to the side of the garage and left it there for months feeling dumb. Now I'm wondering if I should try fixing mine or just get a new one and set it up the way you did.