How To Strain Leaves Out Of A Gutter Rain Barrel

The leaf guards are a great way to keep debris out.

How to strain leaves out of a gutter rain barrel.

Walk around your house during the next rain and observe the water. Rain barrels provide an alternative to using municipal water or well water for irrigation. On the bottom of one barrel trace an opening for the downspout flex elbow connector with chalk then cut out with a jigsaw images 2 3. Not only do they effectively keep leaves and needles out of your gutters but the perfect perforations will allow your gutters to handle any amount of rain or snow.

Remove overhanging branches and any debris on roofs or gutters. Next use a hole saw to cut out a hole for overflow at the top of the barrel on the left side image 4. This is where the rain will flow in from the roof. Rainwater may accumulate below a rain barrel and the moisture and bacterial can damage it.

Keep the rain barrel clean. Most homes direct water into the barrel with gutters and downspouts but even homes without gutters can use a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a container that collects runoff from your home s gutter system connecting to the downspout with a rain diverter or fitting under a modified downspout. Use fine wire mesh to keep leaves bugs and other materials from getting into the rain barrel.

A spigot or hose connector lets you drain the water for use around your landscape. Protect your rain barrels from external damage and put them on a platform.