I recently rigged up a simple rain barrel system in my backyard. Basically, I grabbed a big plastic barrel, attached a mesh screen on top to keep leaves and bugs out, and hooked it up under my gutter downspout. Seems to work okay, but I'm wondering if anyone's got smarter or easier ways of doing this?
Sounds like a solid setup already. A couple quick thoughts from my own trial and error:
- Maybe add an overflow hose or valve to direct excess water away from your foundation?
- Double-check the barrel's stability—mine tipped over once during a storm...lesson learned.
Good points about overflow and stability—I learned the hard way too. A few years back, I underestimated how heavy a full barrel can get after a storm. Ended up with a cracked barrel and a muddy mess near my foundation. Since then, I've secured mine with metal straps anchored into concrete blocks, and it's held up well through some pretty nasty weather.
One thing I'm still cautious about is mosquito breeding. I've tried mesh screens and even mosquito dunks, but I'm always worried I'm missing something. Have you found any particular method or product that works best to keep mosquitoes out without compromising water flow or quality? I'm always looking for safer, eco-friendly ways to handle that issue without chemicals...
"I've tried mesh screens and even mosquito dunks, but I'm always worried I'm missing something."
Honestly, I've found that keeping the water moving slightly works better than screens or dunks. A cheap solar-powered fountain pump did wonders for me—no chemicals needed, and mosquitoes hate moving water.
Honestly, I've found that keeping the water moving slightly works better than screens or dunks. A cheap solar-powered fountain pump did wonders for me—no chemicals needed, and mosquitoes hate m...
That's a pretty clever idea with the solar pump—I hadn't thought of that. I've been relying on the mesh screen, and so far it's been decent, but I do have to clean it out more often than I'd like. Last week, I found a frog just chilling on top of the screen, probably wondering why he couldn't get to the water below. Felt kinda bad for him, honestly.
I did try mosquito dunks once, but I wasn't a fan of the weird residue they left behind. Plus, I'm always paranoid about my dog drinking from the barrel, even though he has fresh water literally ten feet away. Dogs, right?
Anyway, I might give the solar pump a shot. Seems like a low-maintenance solution, and if it annoys mosquitoes, that's a bonus.
