How to Make a Rain Barrel

Carrie T. Stevenson
Escambia County Extension
 Hardware Needed
• One ½” brass faucet/hose bibb
• One ¾” MH x ½” MIP brass hose adapter
• Two 1” special female adapters, PVC
• Two 1” x ½” threaded bushings, PVC
• One 6’ garden hose connector
• One 4” round grate, plastic
• One 4-6” square piece of screen material
Hardware
 Equipment Needed
• Drill
• 1 ¼” hole bit
• 4” hole bit or jigsaw
• 12” adjustable wrench
• 12” channel lock pliers
• Waterproof glue
 Additional Parts for Drainage
(may vary based on individual gutter system)
• 2” x 3” x 4” S&D downspout adapter
• A-B elbow cover
• Flex elbow
• 4 concrete blocks or equivalent (to raise barrel
so water will flow, and to create a level
surface)
 The Container
• Industrial juice/pickle barrel
• Large heavy duty garbage can
• Wooden whiskey barrel
Brass faucet/hose bibb
¾” MH x ½” MIP brass hose adapter
Two 1” special female adapters, PVC
Two 1” x ½” threaded bushings, PVC
6’ garden hose connector
4” round grate, plastic
4”-6” square piece of screen material
Step 1: Clean barrel and lid
 Step 2: Faucet Assembly
• Drill spigot hole with 1 ¼” hole saw
 Step 2: Faucet Assembly
• Place 1 x ½” PVC bushing into hole from
outside of barrel
• Screw 1” PVC special female adapter onto
bushing inside of barrel
View down into barrel with female
adapter installed
 Step 2: Faucet Assembly
• Install ½” brass assembly into PVC bushing on
outside of barrel
 Step 3: Overflow Valve
• Using 1 ¼” hole saw, drill a hole on side of
barrel close to top for overflow valve
 Step 3: Overflow Valve
• Place 1” x ½” PVC bushing into hole from
outside of barrel
• Screw 1” PVC special female adapter onto
bushing inside of barrel
 Step 3: Overflow Valve
• Install brass hose adapter onto PVC bushing
on outside of barrel
 Step 3: Overflow Valve
• Install 6’ garden hose connector to brass
fitting to direct overflow away from house
 Step 4: Rain Intake
• Cut a 4” circle out of screen material so that it
fits inside the 4” round grate
 Step 4: Rain Intake
• Drill 4” hole in center of lid (can also be cut
with a jigsaw)
 Step 4: Rain Intake
• Turn barrel lid upside down and insert
threaded portion of grate; secure grate with
waterproof glue
 Step 4: Rain Intake
• After drying, raised catch area should be
through the top of the lid, place screen into
grate
Step 5: Gutter Attachment
This barrel was attached
using a flex elbow and
an A-B elbow
Need More Information?

Escambia County Extension

3740 Stefani Road
Cantonment, FL 32533

850-475-5230
ctsteven@ufl.edu