Rain Barrels
In the never-ending quest to reduce our carbon footprint, we are always looking for ways to “green” up our lives, rain barrels are low cost way to do that. Adding rain barrels to your home gutter system is a simple way to add a little green to your lifestyle. The water you collect from the rainfall can be used for multiple things such as watering your garden, hydrating your pets, or you can even go as far as to purify it and use it as drinking water. Through your use of rain barrels, you are helping to conserve water by reusing the runoff water; you’ll cut down on your monthly water bill as well.
Rain barrels conserve water
The water collected by your rain barrels would normally run into a storm drain along the sidewalk picking up all sorts of contaminants off the street (grease, oil, bacteria, etc). By using a rain barrels you are reducing storm water runoff and conserving water for the dry months to water your garden, further reducing your overall water consumption and lowering your water bill. It has been recorded that the average rain barrels are known to save about 1,300 gallons of water during the summer months
Rain Barrels shapes and costs
Rain barrels come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and technology. Cost wise, the average complete rain barrel water conservation system runs around $120. As opposed to purchasing a ready made set, some people build their own systems. This “do it yourself” approach will cost you a bit less money wise, but you need the time and patience to devote to the project.
In the long run, the amount of money you will save on your water bill by using rain barrels will offset the price of adding the rain barrel to your gutter system. Depending on where you live and the type of rain barrels you by, you may not be financially rewarded right away, it may take a while, but it will happen. However, it is important to remember that the benefits go far beyond monetary perks.
Rain Barrels and maintenance
In wetter climates, such as the Pacific Northwest, your rain barrels will come in handy almost year round, if not all year round. Maintenance for rain barrel systems is fairly simple if you stay on top of your gutter maintenance as well. The cleaner your gutters are, the easier it will be to maintain your rain barrels and ensure the last as long as possible. On top of having cleaning gutters, it is important to empty the barrel(s) on a monthly basis to prevent algae from developing. If you live in an area that has freezing temperatures be sure to take care of them before the freezing temperatures come to avoid damage from water expansion as it freezes.
