Just in time for winter, we're here with tips on how to protect your rainwater catchment system (and drip irrigation gear!) from the frosty weather. Read on for three ways to winterize rain barrels, depending on your climate zone!
Snow-capped barrels! Photo courtesy of our customer, Tom, in Glastonbury, CT.
How to Winterize Rain Barrels:
We serve customers all over the USA and Canada, so winterization techniques will vary depending on your climate zone. (Click here for our nationwide network of barrel pickup locations.)
In general, you'll want to follow local protocols for outdoor plumbing in your region. Here are a few specifics:
IF IT'S COLD...
In areas with light, intermittent freezes, there may be no need to winterize at all. Water tanks, barrels, and even PVC plumbing lines will tolerate temperatures below freezing if the water doesn’t have time to freeze solid.
A slow-drip can keep water from freezing short-term.
EXPERT TIP: If your pipes are unprotected and you fear they'll freeze and break on especially cold nights, you can leave a slow-drip in the faucet or drain valve. Moving water freezes at much colder temperatures than still water, so a slow-drip will offer some protection. Just don't forget to shut off the tap when the sun comes out in the morning!
IF IT'S C-C-COLDER...
In colder climates, plumbing lines can be insulated with standard pipe insulation, available in hardware stores and home improvement outlets.
If you are insulating other outdoor pipes, you should insulate the underplumbing on your BlueBarrel System®, too, and use insulated faucet covers, available in our online store, to protect your valves.
If you have power-supply nearby, you can use a pipe heating cable under your insulation for extra protection. Our pipe heat cables have a built-in thermostat that turns on at 37 degrees F, and off at 50 degrees F.
Check our online store for pipe heating cables and insulated faucet covers.
Standard pipe insulation can keep pipes from freezing. Pair with pipe heating cable, available in our online store, for extra protection.
David insulated his pipe and faucet expecting a cold snap in Austin, TX.
IF IT'S C-C-C-C-COLDEST...
In areas that experience deep freezes (e.g. where you can ice skate on the local lake!), drain and detach rain barrels and tanks from downspouts during the coldest months of the year. To protect all parts from freezing temperatures, make sure ball valves are fully drained as well.
We have winter covers available under Tools & Accessories in our online store.* These will restore your downspout to normal function when you disconnect your rain barrels. Order winter covers along with a 1-1/2" twist plug (also available from our Tools & Accessories menu) to cap the exposed inlet hole in your barrel.
Just don't forget to reattach in time to catch the spring rains after the danger of deep freeze has passed!
See BlueBarrel's Maintenance & Operations Manual for more details about weatherizing and maintaining your BlueBarrel Rainwater Catchment SystemTM.
*The winter cover is compatible with our current downspout diverters. If you ordered your RainKit® after August 15, 2015, then it will be compatible. If you ordered before then, to disconnect your diverter, simply remove the inlet hose and plug the hole—both in the diverter and in your barrel—with the 1" Expandable Twist-Plugs, also available in our online store.
1.5" Expandable Twist Plug caps the barrel inlet.
Winter cover restores downspout when disconnected.
Annette disconnected her barrels from the downspout for the snowy winter in Vancouver, WA.
Winterizing Drip Irrigation Lines:
Many of our customers pair their rain barrels with a gravity-fed drip irrigation system to distribute rainwater to their gardens. In the colder climate zones, we need to winterize drip irrigation systems as well. Drip irrigation line is more flexible than PVC and not quite as vulnerable to freeze damage. That said, all materials suffer over time with extreme weather exposure.
Rolling up and storing irrigation lines during your off-season will prolong it's life, but it may not be absolutely necessary.
At the very least, make sure your irrigation lines are fully drained if you're expecting hard-freezes. If your system has an obvious low-point (or points), you can drain the line from there. On a flat site, lift the line a few feet at a time until all water discharges from the line's end.
Whether or not you decide to roll up your line, if you are draining your rain barrels to prevent freeze damage (see above), you should also remove any ball valves, filters, and timers that connect to your irrigation line. Shake out remaining water, and store those for the season—the moving parts can get damaged if they contain water that freezes.
Gravity-fed irrigation systems are remarkably simple and don't usually include pumps, pressure regulators, or vacuum breakers, so you have less to worry about than with a pressurized drip irrigation system. But if you have a pressurized system with more bells and whistles, here's a resource from Penn State Extension with full winterization guidelines for drip irrigation systems.
Want to build your own BlueBarrel System?
Visit bluebarrelsystems.com to size and site your BlueBarrel SystemTM. Then enter our Online Store to customize your RainKitTM and find recycled barrels for local pickup.
Check out our photo gallery for inspiration, and contact us if we can help you with your order as you get ready to collect winter's rains!
