I totally get the mosquito concern, but honestly, a screen isn't overkill—it's pretty much essential. Mosquitoes breed fast in standing water, even tiny amounts. Have you considered adding mosquito dunks as an extra precaution...? They're safe and pretty effective.
When I first set up my rain barrel, I underestimated mosquitoes big time. Thought a tight lid would be enough, but nope... those little guys found their way in somehow. Ended up adding a fine mesh screen after the fact, and it made a huge difference. Haven't tried mosquito dunks yet, but I've heard good things—might give them a shot this summer as an extra layer of protection.
One thing I'd suggest from experience: keep an eye on overflow. My first heavy rainstorm, water spilled everywhere because I didn't plan for proper overflow drainage. Had to rig something up quickly, which wasn't ideal. Better to plan ahead than scramble later.
Did you find the mesh screen alone was enough to keep mosquitoes completely out, or did you still notice a few sneaking in? I've been thinking about setting up a rain barrel myself, but mosquitoes are a huge issue around here. Also, curious about your overflow setup—did you end up using a hose or pipe to redirect the excess water somewhere specific? Trying to avoid a muddy mess in my yard...
Mesh screens alone usually aren't enough to completely stop mosquitoes, especially if they're really bad in your area. A few always seem to sneak through tiny gaps or when you're opening the lid. I'd suggest adding mosquito dunks or bits into the barrel periodically—safe for plants and pets, but keeps larvae from developing.
For overflow, I'd be cautious about just using a hose or pipe without proper drainage planning. Redirecting excess water randomly can create erosion issues or soggy patches elsewhere. Consider digging a small gravel-filled trench (French drain style) to help disperse overflow evenly and prevent muddy spots. Learned this the hard way after heavy rains turned my side yard into a swampy mess...
"Redirecting excess water randomly can create erosion issues or soggy patches elsewhere."
Couldn't agree more with this point. I made a similar mistake a few years back, thinking I'd just let the overflow run into my garden beds. Thought I was being clever, you know, watering plants automatically... but ended up with one seriously muddy corner and drowned plants. Took ages to dry out properly.
One thing I'd add about mosquito dunks—definitely effective, but I've also had luck using a thin layer of vegetable oil on the water's surface. It creates a barrier that suffocates larvae. Obviously, you'd want to be careful if you're using the water directly on delicate plants, but for general garden use it's been fine for me.
Curious if anyone here has experimented with connecting multiple barrels together for overflow management rather than relying solely on drainage trenches or pipes? Seems like it could help store more water overall without creating runoff issues.
