Rainwater butts are simple devices which don't really need too much care - but the risk of splitting from expanding ice is real enough to consider taking precautions. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.

To keep your barrel safe during the cold winter months you should leave the tap or spigot open. This will allow the water can drain out so it won’t freeze and potentially damage your butt. If the tap is open and the barrel is empty, you can safely leave it outside all through the winter. It's likely to require a period of several days at sub-zero temperatures for a water butt to completely freeze up and potentially split - but it's better to be safe than sorry when the big winter chill arrives. There are a wide variety of water butts. These range from slimline water butts that are designed to fit even the smallest gardens, to recycled water butts made from standard garden bins, to even stylish designer water butts made by the big fashion houses (ok, maybe not fashion houses, but they still look pretty).Elevating your water butt from the ground will also avoid freezing. This can be done by placing your water butt on a stand, but do make sure it is empty when you move it as tanks can be heavy when filled with water. A downspout replacement is where you cut off part of the downpipe and place the water butt directly below it. This will require the installation of an overflow pipe.

If you would prefer to avoid draining your water butt, you can insulate it to stop ice forming. Anything from bubble wrap (reuse any wrap you have collected from deliveries or house moves) can insulate a water butt and guard it from harsh weather. However, the best option is to invest in a water butt made from UV- resistant materials. Water butts such as the 380L Garden Planter Water Butt Blue with Tap Kit & Diverter can be used throughout the year without the need for careful maintenance. Some owners of water butts even recommend removing the downpipe, diverter, and connector but most people believe this is being over-cautious and not worth the effort involved when weighed up against the risks of significant freezing. Whether you go for a slimline or designer butt, all water butts should be sold with a lid. Water butts without lids can pose a drowning hazard to children, pets and wildlife, while open butts can breed bacteria due to debris entering the butt. If you have children, you should also invest in a water butt with a child-safe lid. How to Install a Water Butt Pump Step 1: Downspout Replacement or Rainwater Diverter

Garantia Rocky Wall Tank, 400 litres, in Redstone

The first thing you need to do is decide between fitting your water butt as a downspout replacement or using a rainwater diverter.

If draining your tank or water butt is not easy, you could add a sponge or rubber ball to keep water moving and cause the water to push against the ball, not the tank wall. It you leave a full butt outside during a severe cold spell during the winter there's a real risk the water inside will freeze, swell, and actually fracture the barrel.So, if you’re tired of watching the April showers drain away before being hit with hosepipe bans in May and June, then this guide will help you save money and harness the water that falls on your land. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. Once that is in place, you can then attach the diverter to the water butt. Always start with the downspout. You can always move the water butt to the appropriate place, however, you will find it rather difficult to move the house. Once you’ve completed the downspout cut, you then need to drill a hole in the water butt. This hole needs to:

A rainwater diverter is a pipe connected to both the downspout and the water butt, allowing you to syphon off water without overflowing the butt. This is the more popular option, although it will require more effort and tools to install. Step 2: Measure the Cut (Downspout Replacement) If you’re installing a downspout, simply slide the downspout through the specially designed water butt hole. You can then move onto the final step below. Before you read about how to install a water butt, it’s important to have an idea of what water butt you intend to install. Different water butts will require a different installation technique depending on their design. If you’re using a downspout installation, you will need to install an overflow pipe. This is a pipe that will allow water to overflow into the drain. You should have an overflow pipe supplied with your water butt. Follow the instructions supplied with your water butt for this installation. In most cases, this will be a simple case of attaching the pipe to the corresponding overflow hole.So, before you fit the rainwater diverter, you will need to make two different cuts. The first cut is made to the downspout. If you have a plastic barrel which doesn't have a proper tap attached - maybe one you've made yourself from a plastic dustbin, wheelie bin or other plastic tank - you should consider emptying it and leaving it on its side for the winter. Slimline water butts are designed for installation in gardens with a small footprint. They generally have a capacity under 100 litres, so will need to collect water via a rainwater diverter. A great option if you’re looking to save on space. A rainwater harvesting system is invaluable during drier months and when we tend to garden more but when the weather changes, we garden less and our once often used water butt can become neglected. This season is as important as any when it comes to maintaining and caring for your water butt so that you can use it all year round. For it to survive the temperatures and lowered usage just follow our handy hints and your system will still be at its best come summer time. Drainage In Winter Months If you have not cleaned your water butt during the autumn, it is a good idea to do it now as algae can form when water remains stagnant. This can cause water to stink and not be good enough for use on plants. If you wish to maintain rainwater collection in your water butt throughout winter, adding a Freshatank Microbial Silver Disc will help alleviate fungus and bacteria build-up. Make sure you remove any debris at the bottom of the tank when cleaning and consider installing something like a Hedgehog Gutter Brush to avoid collecting leaves and junk in your gutter. Fitting a filter to your downpipe will also cut down on your need to dismantle and clean your tank. You can also set a diverter and filter to keep water running, which means you may not need to drain your tank and waste water but you can use the rest of the water in the tank and collect no more during winter. This is a great idea especially for those with busy lives or have tanks that are not easy to access.