The onset of water scarcity has already reached a threatening point in some places. We must take individual steps to serve our needs rather than counting on official bodies. This includes not being dependent on municipal authorities for water supply. Humans have devised various ways of tackling water scarcity. One of these ways is rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater reduces the demand for water supply from the municipal bodies, and it also serves all our water needs. Now there are multiple ways available for collecting rainwater apart from traditional methods. With such new methods coming up, more and more households have been adopting this method, ergo, making a collective effort. One of these methods is using a rain barrel.
What is Rain Barrel?
Rain Barrel is a system that collects the rainwater to serve day-to-day water needs, which otherwise would run-off and be rendered useless. Water scarcity has pushed some people to utilize the rainwater by smart means. And collecting rainwater is one of those means.
It efficiently collects the rainwater and virtually meets all the water needs of an entire family. However, there have been a few problems with the functioning of an independent rain barrel when the rainwater overflows in it. To prevent these problems, the diverter is being incorporated with a rain barrel.
What is Rain Barrel Diverter?
A rain barrel diverter is a mechanism that diverts the excess of water back to the downspout. This prevents an overflow in your rain barrel. It has emerged as highly important since more and more families are adopting the ways of rainwater harvesting.
You can find innumerable barrels and diverters that can be purchased from the internet or a local store. However, multiple factors need to be taken into account before going ahead and purchasing a rain barrel and diverter, which you think is the best. After thorough testing and considering various factors, I have compiled a list of best rain barrels and diverters that I have come across.
Best Rain Barrel Reviews in 2022
1. RTS Home Accents - Best Rain Barrels
Review
Overall Rating - 4.75/5
Rainwater is pure and has no sign of contamination. Thus, it fulfills all our water needs. Barrels have emerged as highly useful products to collect the rainwater, and using the same in day-to-day activities feels like completely self-dependent. This product by RTS Inc enables you to collect 50 Gallons of rainwater.
The entire barrel is made of oak, and so you do not have to be worried about it getting damaged. Keep it in your lawn or roof and wait for it to collect 50 Gallon of rainwater in a single go. This will not help you in getting water directly from nature, but it will also save you a lot of money.[Read More]
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2. Good Idea RWURN - Best Rain Barrel For Garden
Review
Overall Rating - 4.4/5
This Rain Barrel will blend in completely in your garden setting because of the urn shape and unique color availability. It tops a lot of other barrels in terms of its primary function, which is water collection.
This barrel will help you enormously in dealing with water scarcity and making a contribution to society at the same time. It can be placed in a garden during heavy rain, and it will collect plentiful water, which can later be utilized for a number of reasons, including watering of plants.
The water capacity of this barrel is 65 gallons, which is extraordinarily massive quantity if you compare the capacities with a few other barrels in the same league.
Moreover, it can be linked with other rain barrels, which will increase the Spigot collectible amount of rainwater. The Spigot will allow you to connect a hose of 3/4 inch, which will aid you in a number of things.
Owing to it, with the superior exterior quality, you do not have to worry about the damage to the color or the material for that matter. It also has a diverter channel which directs the debris and excess water to the downspout.
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3. Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System - Best Rain Water Collection System
Review
Overall Rating - 4.4/5
The water directed into this barrel can be further reused for watering the garden or any other purpose as deemed fit by you. Rainwater is actually very healthy for plants, and watering them in such a way will facilitate their growth enormously as the water is in no way contaminated.
The channels of the system collect maximum rainwater while debris is washed down the center. This gives you plenty of fresh rainwater with no unwanted substances such as leaves or insects lying about.
The set-up of the system is very easy, and the manual gives you step by step instructions on how to set it up. The material which is used in making this rain barrel is of superior quality, so durability is assured.
It can withstand harsh weather conditions with sustaining no damage. It can be linked with the downspout easily; this ensures that the water doesn’t overflow. Without this link, the excess water will overflow from the rim and make a lot of mess. The size of the downspout can be 2x3 or 3x4.
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4. Fiskars Rain Barrel DiverterPro Kit - Best Rain Water Diverter Kit
Review
Overall Rating - 4.5/5
The rain barrels diverter, as I have mentioned, it directs the excess water to the downspout and prevents the barrel from overflowing. This Fiskars production is considered to be one of the best diverters. It prevents the rain barrel from overflowing, doing its primary job really well, along with providing easy filtration of water.
During its function of filtration, the debris and unwanted substances are removed, and all you get is clean fresh water. The user-friendly design of this diverter can blend into its surroundings easily.
At the same time, you have a major impact on your daily activities. The mutual efforts of your rain barrel and this diverter will aid you in all your day-to-day water needs. The set-up is extremely easy, and you place it in your garden and lawn.[Read More]
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5. Good Ideas IMP-L50-DAR - Best Rain Barrel Under Budget
Review
Overall Rating - 4/5
The most fascinating feature of this rain barrel is the presence of two Spigots. The dual spigots can work simultaneously to serve all water needs.
You can link hose with the spigot or use a bucket to collect the water. The spigots are made of brass, so you don’t have to worry about them getting rusted or damaged in any way.
Collecting rainwater and utilizing it in many ways has become much easier with the productions of such barrels. It accommodated 50 Gallons of rainwater.[Read More]
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6. EarthMinded DIY Diverter - Best DIY Rain Barrel Diverter Kit
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Overall Rating - 4/5
This DIY water collection system kit offers all the parts that will help you create your own water barrel diverter. Water shortage is a concern for everybody, and it will punish everyone alike. Taking an individual initiative is the first collective step towards dealing with this problem.
With this DIY kit, you can easily build and install your own water collection spigot. All the parts which are needed, including spigot, screws, cover, are included in the package.[Read More]
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7. Enviro World EWC-10 - Best Rain Barrel for Large Storage
Review
Overall Rating - 3.9/5
EWC-10 does not need you to splash big bucks. At the same time, it gives extraordinary performance when it comes to collecting rainwater. For one use, it can store up to 55 Gallons of water.
The color and design are made in such a way that it doesn’t stand out no matter where you put it. The durable exterior enhances its overall life and does not break down quite easily, this being said after factoring in the weather determinants.[Read More]
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8. Good Ideas RW50-OAK - Best Rain Barrel for Build Quality
Review
Overall Rating - 4/5
This Rain wizard rain barrel has a capacity of 50 gallons and is made out of strong UV-resistant polyethylene resin. It can collect a barrel full of rainwater when there is heavy rain, and it can further be used for several purposes.
This will have a noticeable cut in your water bills and also be of service for the betterment of the planet. The exterior of this barrel won't rust, so it gives you a clean and uncontaminated rainwater.
The plastic screen mesh keeps out debris like leaves and insects, so they don’t contaminate the water that is collected by the barrel.
The builtin overflow management helps Spigot in preventing overflow due to excess water. The spigot is made of brass, so it does not rust or gets damaged.
The design of the barrel is a treat for aesthetes and not to mention how it can synthesize well with its background.
When rain barrels are concerned, we do not like them standing out too much, especially when they are placed in a noticeable place such as a garden.
However, the colors and design offered by Good Ideas have the tendency to not only blend in with the surroundings but also look extraordinarily good, a perfect addition in the garden setting.
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9. FCMP Outdoor RC4000-BRN - Best Rain Barrel for Easy Install
Review
Overall Rating - 3.7/5
The installation of this barrel is extremely easy, and it can be placed anywhere against the wall. The channel system of the barrels diverts the excess of water with utmost ease, so you will most certainly never face the problem of flooding.
The water capacity is large enough to serve in multiple day-to-day water needs. All you need is a few hours of heavy rain, and you will get a barrelful of fresh rainwater to use. The hose can be linked with the spigot, which makes tasks like watering easy.
The spigots which are located on the sides allows the barrel to be linked with multiple other rain barrels. The mesh screen is made of aluminum keeps the debris and insects out, so all you get is clean and fresh rainwater.
It also keeps away the mosquitoes from breeding around the barrel, subsequently eliminates the chances of contamination entirely. The linking kit allows you to connect it to several other rain barrels that will increase the aggregate quantity of rainwater collected each time.
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10. Rainreserve 2012309 - Best Rain Barrel Diverter for Home Use
Review
Overall Rating - 3.65/5
This contributes to making the rainwater free of any sort of contamination. It filters out the contaminant's way before the water arrives at its intended destination. It filters out debris like leaves and insects away from the water to make it usable for daily water needs.
Connect it with a fine rain barrel and watch the combined magnificent functioning of the two. The mutual effort of the barrel and the diverter enables you to use water from the most natural source and helps you cut your water bills in half.[Read More]
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Best Rain Barrel Diverter System Buying Guide
More About Rain Barrel
Water scarcity has pushed the human race to take extreme measures for water conservation. It is time for each individual to take responsibility for the battle against Climate Change and the large-scale implications of it.
Preserving water and using it well is one such step that the public can take, which will eventually benefit the masses.
The innovative minds of the human race have devised multiple ways to combat water scarcity. Rainwater harvesting has emerged as the most popular option of them all.
The rainwater can be collected in massive quantities in rain barrels. Many families across the United States have made efficient use of rain barrels and experienced huge water expenditure cuts.
This is apart from the favor they have done to society and the planet. Thus, using rain barrels for water harvesting is expected from all individuals. You can find all kinds of rain barrels on the internet or in local stores.
However, multiple factors need to be considered before bringing out the big bucks for a rain barrel. Each individual has some personal preferences which cannot be fulfilled by a barrel generally perceived as the ideal one.
The following are the determinants which need to be kept in mind while surfing to buy a rain barrel.
Conclusion
Rainwater barrels provide an opportunity for us to make a change in the world by a little contribution. These are easy to use, cheap to get, and also subsequently saves a lot of our own money while relieving the burden of municipal authorities.
With the advent of much technological enhancement with the incorporation of brilliant craftsmanship, you can get rain barrels that serve not only its primary purpose of collecting rainwater but also crucial functions such as diverting the excess water away through a link of channels.
Since there has been a considerable increase in the demand for rain barrels, picking the personal ideal one becomes a tricky job, especially for one with limited intel and next to no assistance. Choosing the best rain barrel is very important when you decided to buy one. This article intends to help you precisely in that sphere. I hope it helped!
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About the Author
Tim
I am Tim, a weather enthusiast who loves to watch hurricanes and all other harsh weather conditions. I studied B.Sc(Meteorology) at the University of Miami. With excellent knowledge of Weather Forecasting, Meteorology, and Environmental Science, I am currently working in San Francisco as a Meteorologist. Also, I am a member of The Weather Channel and AccuWeather. In this blog, I will write a detailed review of Weather instruments that you need for survival and other activities.
