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Water Butts: |
| Rainwater
is better for your garden than tap water! |
Water Butts are simple to fit -
assuming you have pvc downpipes as cast iron presents a few problems!
The simple steps are as follows:-
| 1 |
Purchase an
appropriate rainwater downpipe diverter kit (approximately £15
from DIT stores and specialist mail order Companies)
Purchase a preferred Water Butt. The alternatives are plastic
(from DIY shops & Garden Centres) or traditional Oak Barrels
- available from Garden Centres and specialist companies such as
Oak-Barrel.com.
Costs for oak are c £80 for a 40 gallon butt to c £140
for a 100 gallon butt. The tap is usually an extra cost with Oak
butts. If the Water Butt is not provided with a stand, one will
be needed. |
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| 2 |
Select a
downpipe that is in a convenient (but not prominent) position
with plenty of room to stand a butt nearby |
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| 3 |
Cut the
downpipe at the desired height (allowing for stand) and fit a
diverter. With PVC downpipes, this simple requires a junior
hacksaw. |
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| 4 |
Ensure the butt
is on a water butt stand or firm base adjacent to the diverter,
high enough above the ground so you can get a watering can under
the tap. A firm base is very important otherwise it could affect
the angle of the diverter, causing it to overflow when the butt
is full. |
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| 5 |
Ensure the
water butt has a lid, which should be child-proof if young
children are likely to be in the garden. In addition, it will
also prevent debris and mosquitoes from entering. |
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| 6 |
Relax in the
sunshine and wait for the inevitable rain to start filling it. |
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| ? |
 How
Does a Rainwater Converter Work?
As rainwater drops runs down a drainpipe, it clings to the
inside of the pipe. A converter collects this water, which the
runs through the connector pipe.
When the Butt is full, no more water enters the butt and it
therefore runs away in the downpipe, rather than overfilling the
butt If an oak barrel has been chosen, check that the fittings
will cope with the barrel's thick walls. |
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Plastic or Oak Butt?
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Plastic Water Butt |
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Oak Water Butt |
|
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Easy
to Install & maintain |
|
 |
A
stand needs to be built |
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Can
look unsightly if in a prominent position |
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Enhances
the look of the garden |
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Plastic
tends to fade in prolonged sunlight |
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Looks
further improve with aging |
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Relatively
light to move |
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Oak
panels can separate if empty in prolonged heat |
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Plants
love rainwater - the older, the better! |
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Plants
love rainwater - the older, the better! |
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90,000 litres of rain fall onto a typical roof in any one year
- enough to fill 470 water butts!
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