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I thought a rain barrel was just a greenwashing gimmick until last month
My neighbor in Austin put one in and I rolled my eyes, thinking it would be a mosquito farm. Then we had a dry spell and my water bill jumped $45. I hooked up a 55-gallon barrel to a downspout, and it filled after two good storms. Now I've watered my new flower beds for three weeks straight without touching the hose. Has anyone else made the switch and seen real savings, or did you run into problems I haven't hit yet?
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elliot_gibson276mo ago
Same thing happened to me last summer. My barrel kept the vegetable garden alive for weeks and the water bill was noticeably lower. Just make sure you have a good screen on top to stop the bugs.
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nancyn694mo ago
My 55 gallon barrel from the local hardware store got me through a dry July two years ago (cost me about 40 bucks, totally worth it). I put a fine mesh screen on top like you said, but I also added a tight lid to keep out leaves and those gross mosquito larvae. The spigot placement is key too - I had to stack mine on cinder blocks to get enough height for my watering can, which wasn't part of the original plan. Honestly, that rain barrel saved my tomatoes and peppers when our town had that watering ban for three weeks.
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the_wendy6mo ago
Screens don't stop everything, ask @dakotab93 about the mosquito mess.
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dakotab936mo ago
Mine saved my tomatoes during a drought last year. The real trick is getting a solid lid and a spigot you can actually fit a watering can under. It's a simple setup but it makes a huge difference.
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