winterise rain barrels by rights prevents damage and helps barrels last longer .
Marty Baldwin
During the warmer month , rain barrels fascinate rain water , reduce runoff , and make ourgardens and lacrimation practice more sustainable . But when winter get , freeze temperatures can foreclose rainfall drum from working , and even destroy rainwater barrel systems . Depending on where you be , you may ask to winterise your pelting drum before the weather turns cold . utilize this guide to find out what to do in your climate .
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Should You Winterize Your Rain Barrel?
Although ceramic , charge card , and wooden rainwater barrel are quite stalwart , these barrels can rupture when urine freeze and boom inside of them . pelting barrelful accessories , like tube , lids , and spigot , can also be damaged by inhuman conditions , while metal rainfall barrels wo n’t serve once temperature drop below freeze .
Whether or not you ’ll need to winterizeyour rain drum depends a set on your get fix . If you know in a mild clime where it does n’t freeze , you commonly wo n’t need to winterize barrel at all , and you may even be able to use your rain barrel through wintertime . But if you live in an arena where wintertime temperature stay below freezing for extended periods of time , winterise is a must .
When to Winterize Rain Barrels
later diminish to early winter is the best time to winterise rain barrels , but you may ask to winterize earlier if you ’re expecting a period of extreme cold . rainwater gun barrel can normally handle short menstruum of stale weather as long as the chill does n’t stick around long enough for water to immobilize whole . But you ’ll definitely want to make certain your rain bbl is protectedbefore the first hard freeze of the season .
How to Winterize Rain Barrels
Properly winterizing rain cask prevents price and helps rain barrels last longer . But winterization method will vary depend onhow insensate your domain gets in wintertime .
Mild Climates
If you survive in area where winters are mild , you may be able-bodied to use your rain bbl all wintertime long without winterization . However , if you live in a spot where temperature from time to time dip below freezing , you will postulate to winterise your rain barrel . The following tips can be used to keep rainwater gun barrel from freezing in balmy climates where periods of freezing temperatures are rare and do n’t last long .
Cold Climates
Frequently Asked Questions
When they ’re properly maintained and winterized , rain barrels can last about 20 yr .
It take between a few hours to a few days for water in a rain cask to freeze solid in cold weather . This depends on how full the barrel is , the temperature , and other factors .
