How to Seal the Faucet on a Rain Barrel
Lowering your water bill and limiting your water use, especially in areas prone to drought, is possible with a rain barrel. Rain barrels hook up to gutters to collect the water run-off from the roof, then store the water until you need it for your lawn or garden. The water can be scooped from the top into a watering can, but it is much easier to hook up a hose to a faucet on the bottom of the barrel. Attaching the faucet correctly ensures it does not leak while still providing easy access to the contents. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Drill a ¾-inch hole in the side of the barrel 3 inches up from the bottom. Twist a ¾-inch pipe tap into the bottom hole, then screw it out. A pipe tap allows you to make threads in the plastic for the faucet to screw into.
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Wrap the threads on a ¾-inch faucet with Teflon or plumber's tape. Wrap the tape around the threads four to five times, ensuring they are completely covered.
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Screw the faucet into the threaded hole near the bottom of the barrel. From the inside, screw a ¾-inch elbow joint onto the other side of the faucet to hold it tight. Screw until the elbow is facing down.
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Fill the rain barrel with enough water to cover the faucet assembly. Check it for any leaks around the joint.
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Dump out the barrel and wipe the area around the faucet dry if there are any leaks. Seal around the faucet with a thin bead of kitchen or bath all-purpose caulk. Let dry before using your rain barrel.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have access to a pipe tap, prepare the faucet as instructed but use a rubber washer between the faucet and the plastic. Seal around it with caulk.
Elevate your rain barrel on a concrete block base. This helps gravity feed the water out the faucet.
Do not drink or cook with the water collected in the rain barrel.
