How to Attach an Overflow Pipe for a Rain Barrel

One way to save water and use it for watering your garden is to make your own rain barrel. Rain barrels hook directly to your downspout and use a spigot at the bottom to fill containers. While people often make their own rain barrels and include the spigot and opening for the gutter, it is also necessary to make an overflow opening to prevent the barrel from bursting when full. Attaching an overflow pipe to a rain barrel is a matter of drilling a hole and placing a piece of PVC pipe inside to allow the excess water to escape.

Things You'll Need

• PVC male adapter, 2-inch diameter
• Nut for fastener
• 4-foot long PVC pipe, 2-inch diameter
• 1 PVC 90-degree elbow, 2-inch diameter
• Hole saw, 2 3/8-inch diameter
• Drill
• Slip-joint pliers
• Hacksaw
• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Drill a hole with a 2 3/8-inch hole saw in the side of the rain barrel 2 inches from the top.

2. Insert the threads of a PVC male adapter into the hole from the outside. Thread a lock nut over the threads on the inside of the barrel. Tighten the nut with a pair of slip-joint pliers.

3. Cut 6 inches off the end of the PVC pipe with a hacksaw. Insert the 6-inch piece into the male adapter at the top of the rain barrel. No glue is necessary because friction holds the pipe together.

4. Place one end of a PVC elbow over the end of the 6-inch piece of PVC pipe.

5. Measure from the open end of the elbow down 6 inches above the ground. Transfer the measurement to the PVC pipe. Cut the pipe to size with the hacksaw. Insert the pipe into the open end of the elbow until it is snug.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use more PVC elbows and pipe to create a longer overflow to divert water elsewhere.

References

• Portland Online: Rain Barrels
• Atlanta Rain Barrells: Constructing a Rain Barrell