Water Butt

Hi All

With this new hosepipe ban coming in, it has increasing my willingness to put in a water butt.

I have watched a few videos on it. What concerns me if the butt is full, do the water continue down the down pipe into the main drain?

Also, what would people recommend?

magicbastarder

most water butts use a diverter which sits in the downpipe, just below the brim level of the butt.
that way, when the water level reaches the diverter level, the water will overflow the diverter inside the downpipe rather than continuing to fill the butt.
we just have two bought in woodies; easy enough to fit if you've PVC downpipes. if you've metal downpipes, they're a lot more faff, and also if you have square downpipes mounted flush to the wall you're also out of luck.

afatbollix

I was the same and was worried but still got one a few weeks ago. When you put the water butt in you put the pipe almost even with the hole in the drain pipe. This way the water will fill the pipe and then when more water comes down the pipe it will bypass the pipe to the butt and down the drainpipe.

magicbastarder

magicbastarder wrote: »

most water butts use a diverter which sits in the downpipe, just below the brim level of the butt.
that way, when the water level reaches the diverter level, the water will overflow the diverter inside the downpipe rather than continuing to fill the butt.
we just have two bought in woodies; easy enough to fit if you've PVC downpipes. if you've metal downpipes, they're a lot more faff, and also if you have square downpipes mounted flush to the wall you're also out of luck.

Thanks

Must check my downpipe, i think it is flush to the wall though

quietsailor

magicbastarder wrote: »

most water butts use a diverter which sits in the downpipe, just below the brim level of the butt.
that way, when the water level reaches the diverter level, the water will overflow the diverter inside the downpipe rather than continuing to fill the butt.
we just have two bought in woodies; easy enough to fit if you've PVC downpipes. if you've metal downpipes, they're a lot more faff, and also if you have square downpipes mounted flush to the wall you're also out of luck.

There is a kit out there but it is not available in the Woodies/ B&Q stores as far as I know. I fitted one to my mother's house and it was a Marley kit - here it is on Amazon

I had to go to a few different shops in Limerick as we needed it in white and ended up finding it a specialist roofing & guttering store.

quietsailor

quietsailor wrote: »

There is a kit out there but it is not available in the Woodies/ B&Q stores as far as I know. I fitted one to my mother's house and it was a Marley kit - here it is on Amazon

I had to go to a few different shops in Limerick as we needed it in white and ended up finding it a specialist roofing & guttering store.

Great thanks, think i am going to get 2 butts, i would assume the second pipe going into the overflow butt would need to be lower than the main connection to the downpipe?

crossmolinalad

Don't use a hosepipe never used it myself but just a watering can after sun set
Going here trough the garden in one hour
See loads of people using a hosepipe splashing water around their garden for hours in the middle of the day and that's useless

magicbastarder

Deleted User wrote: »

Great thanks, think i am going to get 2 butts, i would assume the second pipe going into the overflow butt would need to be lower than the main connection to the downpipe?

if you connect the two butts with a pipe, it doesn't matter how high or low the pipe is, as long as (obviously) it's below the level of the diverter.
generally speaking though, they are usually made for the pipes to attach at the same level as the 'feed' pipe.

beggars_bush

I'd just buy some extra downpipe guttering and divert all the rainwater into the barrel/butt.
it has rained so little and you'd be surprised how quickly you use a full barrel of water, even using the watering can

New Home

I just spotted this, in case you were interested.

https://www.lidl.ie/en/p/great-gardens/100l-water-butt-kit/p43334

krissovo

beggars_bush wrote: »

it has rained so little and you'd be surprised how quickly you use a full barrel of water, even using the watering can

I use a 1200ltr oil tank, works like charm and lasts ages. I use it with a Aldi submersible pump so can use a hose if needed or just on a tap.

Tree

I have a nice water butt, mostly empty right now

The downpipe is square and mostly flush with pebble dashed wall, and we have https://www.ecostore.ie/p/downpipe-filter-quattro---grey/503060 connecting it. It'll be a bastard to cut the pipe (if you can take it down that's better). Cut the hole as close to the back as you can, and just accept you will shred the sh*t out of your knuckles.

It's a bit wonky in that the lid doesn't sit down properly, and the pipe isn't as level as when we were measuring it, but it's pretty good given the circumstances (and you can turn it off in the winter).

homer911

Spending money on a Water butt is a waste imo. I have an old wheely bin placed at one corner of my shed and ran a gutter along one side of it to catch the water.

When you really need the water you will get one, one and a half fills of water in a season out of it

New Home

That's only a waste of money if you have an old wheely bin lying around unused.

Meeoow

There's a few clips on you tube how to fit the diverters and butt. They are a great job. Most plants prefer rain water than mains water.

L1011

homer911 wrote: »

Spending money on a Water butt is a waste imo. I have an old wheely bin placed at one corner of my shed and ran a gutter along one side of it to catch the water.

When you really need the water you will get one, one and a half fills of water in a season out of it

Most wheely bins are taken back by the provider at the end of term; and anyway they don't have taps attached.


The OP may be slightly late to get much water this year - our 320l (I think) didn't refill entirely with the rain last week for instance. Still easier to install in decent weather though.

afatbollix

While we are on the topic of waterbutts, Anyone know how to get a hose to connect to one? or should I buy a pump?

New Home

Some of them come with a tap.

FlipperThePriest

I set one up 2 weeks ago with a spare unused barrel... just in time for the hosepipe ban! It's collecting from a flat roof garage and after just a few rains, it's already nearly full. I can divert the overflow into a nearby drain, onto the lawn, or I might eventually find a second barrel.

An IBC container would work well there and youd have 1000L
Can be got for 50e on dungdeal if you have a trailer/van,

afatbollix

afatbollix wrote: »

While we are on the topic of waterbutts, Anyone know how to get a hose to connect to one? or should I buy a pump?

you need a flanged tank connecter

FlipperThePriest

BrownFinger wrote: »

An IBC container would work well there and youd have 1000L
Can be got for 50e on dungdeal if you have a trailer/van,

Freudian slip? :pac:

Must have a look thanks.

zippy84

zippy84 wrote: »

Freudian slip? :pac:

it wasnt :cool:

Tree

My 300L can connect to a hose but there's no pressure in it even when full so I use a watering can. I bought a pump but i ahve yet to go to the hassle of setting it up. No idea how i'll arrange bricks for it to stand on, given the top of the butt is 2m high....

Live at Three

A tap is very slow. Much easier to take off the lid and dunk your watering can in.