How to Install a Rain Barrel | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada first takes us on a trip to learn more about watersheds and how to control runoff before meeting carpenter Nathan Gilbert to tackle a rain barrel installation.

Landscape designer Jenn Nawada and carpenter Nathan Gilbert travel to Tulsa, OK to help a homeowner make a rain barrel using an aged whiskey barrel and learn about the ecological impact of stormwater runoff.

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Install a Rain Barrel | Ask This Old House

[kalijasin]

Jenn Nawada did an excellent job. Very good idea to use the blocking. That keeps it off the ground and more level. The plants and the mulch really dress it up and make it look nice.

[jordanbabcock]

I'm the homeowner, that's my wife, we use the barrel all the time to water our plants over a year later (the vegetable garden idea was a flop LOL). It works great and there have been no issues! It was so fun having ATOH over!

[ponderanceofagravedigger]

Shouldn't the hose from the downspout to rain barrel be slightly higher at downspout and not straight across. Water flows downhill correct?

[tedbellWRV]

We had two galvanized metal cisterns made in Texas by "Texas Metal Tanks". We thought they offered a nice look compared to the less expensive plastic tanks commonly available. We'd fill our 1, 400 gallons of storage twice a year in the Sonoran Desert in Tucson Arizona. By placing the tanks at the high side of our property, we could water all over the property with only garden hoses and no pumps needed.

[claytonsadventures]

I have this exact same kit. It really does work well.

[garthbutton]

Good easy DIY project that most could do🤗😎🤗😎

[joelheaton]

Needs to be on a platform 3' - 4' high for some water pressure!

[tonynish]

Great job! I've picked up a similar barrel, from a vineyard here on Long Island, and no where is listed here where I can purchase the kit with the diverter and the spout for the barrel. I've looked online but the one you used here looks by far the easiest to install! Can you let me know where you got it please?

[Farmer-bhcg]

I've set mine on old red bricks, with two overflow holes near the top and a drain hole 3 inches from the bottom plugged with a 1/2 inch dowel. It works and don't need a big project and a zillion man crew. Wintertime? Simple, pull the plug and turn the barrel over -- done for the winter

[brandonhouse]

Rain barrel restrictions usually have to do with water rights. For instance if here in CO someone captures water in a rain barrel, irrigates with it instead of letting it run off into a stream, then it won't be in the stream for use by others downstream (like in Tulsa). It's a bit pedantic and fortunately states like CO have rolled back those restrictions.

[jmason]

Wish they would talk more about the H2O itself when it's in the barrel...if it gets super hot in the summer does it get moldy? Also after a dry spell seems like all the first wash off the roof would be seriously dusty/bird crap/dead bugs etc

[MorrMedia]

How is water pressure created when a hose is attached? Or would she just be using this to fill a watering can?

[AB-nuwe]

I had to get rid of my whiskey cask rain barrel. My grass was hammered all day and got absolutely nothing done. (No, really, the barrel is a nice looking and functional yard device)

[drregmonster]

My dad got a 100 gallon food grade plastic barrel that a food producer was going to trash.

[allanwind]

Why do need the spigot when there is a drain?

[BradThePitts]

It seems odd, but in some places rain barrels are *illegal* because it takes away from the underground aquifers.

[jeffreybaker]

What effect do the asphalt shingles have on the water quality?

[nifethrubutter]

Dumping water directly in the walkway is a recipe for dead grass and a muddy path.

[sssungail]

Not mentioned, you can not use water coming off asphalt for edible plants. Only use is for shrubs.

[durangodave]

i was in tulsa years ago for a bike convention. Camped at the lake. Tulsa is by far the most humid and most uncomfortable places to live other than maybe houston, and i deal with E. Texas humidity every year. I found it very hard to even breathe in tulsa.