If you're new to rainwater harvesting — or you've had a rain barrel sitting in the garage for a season and still have questions — you're not alone. Here are the questions we hear most often from Epoch Rain Barrels customers, answered in one place.
How much rainwater can I actually collect?
More than you'd think. As a rule of thumb, a 1,000 square foot roof can generate approximately 600 gallons of runoff during a 1-inch rainfall, 300 gallons during a half-inch rainfall, or 150 gallons during a quarter-inch rainfall. Even a modest roof section feeding a single downspout can fill a standard 50- to 55-gallon barrel surprisingly fast — often within an hour during a moderate storm if you have a diverter installed.
Do I need a diverter kit, and how does it work?
A downspout diverter is what makes a rain barrel low-maintenance. Instead of cutting your downspout or hauling a bucket around every time it rains, the diverter redirects a portion of the water flow into your barrel through a hose, while still letting the rest of the water continue down the downspout as usual. Once the barrel is full, the diverter allows overflow to keep draining through the downspout the way it always has. Most diverter kits are designed for standard rectangular 2x3 downspouts, so it's worth confirming your downspout size before installing one.
Why is rainwater better for my garden?
Rainwater has a few natural advantages over what comes out of your tap. It's soft and untreated, meaning it's free of the chlorine, chloramine, and dissolved salts that municipal water systems add for safety and mineral treatment — compounds that can build up in soil over time and aren't especially welcome around plant roots. Rainwater's pH also tends to run slightly acidic, which many garden plants prefer over the more neutral-to-alkaline pH of treated tap water.
Because rainwater hasn't been through a treatment plant, it also comes at whatever temperature the air is, rather than the sometimes-too-cold temperature of water straight from an outdoor spigot, which can shock tender roots. Collecting it in a barrel also means it's sitting ready to go the moment you need it, rather than drawing on treated water during exactly the hot, dry stretches when municipal systems are under the most demand.
One caveat worth knowing: because roof runoff can pick up dust, pollen, and occasional bird or squirrel droppings along the way, it's best used on the soil around lawns, shrubs, trees, and ornamentals, or watered in at the base of vegetable plants rather than sprayed directly on produce that will be eaten raw.
Will a rain barrel actually save me money?
Yes, and it adds up over a season. A single rain barrel can save the average household somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,300 gallons of tap water during peak summer irrigation months. That's water you're not paying to treat and pump, and it's one less thing pulling on municipal water demand during the driest, highest-usage part of the year.
Does it help with anything beyond my water bill?
It does double duty for the environment. Every gallon captured in a barrel is a gallon that isn't rushing off your roof, picking up pollutants, and overloading storm drains, streams, and rivers. Since lawn and garden watering can account for close to 40% of household water use in summer, even a couple of barrels can meaningfully reduce both your water footprint and your contribution to stormwater runoff.
What kind of water pressure should I expect?
Gravity-fed rain barrels won't deliver enough pressure to run a sprinkler, but they work well with a soaker hose or a watering can filled straight from the spigot. If you need more pressure, elevating the barrel on a stand adds height, and therefore gravity-driven pressure, at the spigot.
How do I clean and maintain my barrel?
Routine cleaning is simple — a mild soap along with a garden hose or pressure washer is typically enough to keep the interior clear of sediment and algae buildup. It's worth doing this at least once a season, and checking the screen or mesh inlet (which keeps out debris and mosquitoes) at the same time.
What about winter?
When temperatures start dropping below freezing regularly, it's time to winterize. That generally means disconnecting the barrel and diverter from the downspout, draining it completely, and placing a winterizing cap over the diverter opening so the downspout continues to function normally through the winter. Leaving a barrel full and connected through repeated hard freezes risks weathering the barrel.
Have a question we didn't cover? Reach out — we're always happy to help you get the most out of your rain barrel system.