Do You Need Gutters To Use A Rain Barrel

Rain gutters are the most controversial type of gutter.

Do you need gutters to use a rain barrel.

Rain barrels collect rainwater from your roof by rerouting a section of your gutter s downpipe into a nearby reservoir. Create new downspout can t fit a rain barrel underneath the downspout. If rain flows off your roof because you have no gutters the water causes massive erosion washing away more and more soil each time it rains. They are fairly simple to install and once you have one set up the environmental protection agency estimates a single 55 gallon rain barrel can save you up to 1 300 gallons of water during the hot summer months.

I find i don t need much more than 30gal at a time and we have relatively frequent rains in our area. Most homes direct water into the barrel with gutters and downspouts but even homes without gutters can use a rain barrel. Most sloping roofs can accommodate a rain chain even without a gutter. You may not need any additional parts or accessories and your project is done.

When it gets near the top the water will drain out of the tube and go where you direct it. Since roof slopes will vary from home to home so will the trajectory of the water that streams from a roof through a crevice or crease during a storm. Study your roof and how it expels rain water before you install your gutterless rain chain. 1 walk around your house during the next rain and observe the water.

Erosion also causes the foundation to settle. If you are setting up a rainwater collection system you will need a way for the water from your gutter to get into your rain barrel. You can even feed it into another trashcan or rain barrel and double triple quadruple whatever your storage. Many times you can simply direct your gutter downspout into a top opening in the rain barrel.

They are generally not required by law on a sloping roof and many modern homes omit them even in instances where they are beneficial. Rain barrels provide an alternative to using municipal water or well water for irrigation. In order to decide for yourself whether rain gutters are necessary for your home it is best to first weigh the facts. Choose a location for the rain barrel ideally beneath your gutters downspout that s closest to your garden or where you ll need the water.

This causes your carefully sloped landscape to wear down allowing runoff to flow toward your home instead of away from it. A spigot or hose connector lets you drain the water for use around your landscape.