Once you’ve completed the downspout cut, you then need to drill a hole in the water butt. This hole needs to:

A standard water butt is about 1 metre tall and half a metre wide with a tank capacity of 210 litres. You can choose between downspout replacement installation, which means your water butt would sit under a garden shed, garage or house with the downspout flowing directly into the water butt. In this case, you would need to install an overflow pipe to prevent water flooding in the event of heavy rain. Alternatively, you can also choose to install a rainwater diverter. This will divert a portion of the water from the downspout while also preventing the risk of flooding.

Best way to use a water butt

Most water butts come with all the essential parts, instructions and basic accessories to get you up and running - but there are plenty of other handy extras you can buy to really get the best out of your new water harvesting container. As the harvested water doesn’t contain chlorine or other cleaning chemicals that are normally used to sanitise tap water, a rain water diverter also provides an excellent source of hydration for the garden as well as indoor and outdoor plants, lawns, allotments, wildlife and pets. This can be useful across all areas of the UK as a result of the increasing pressure on water resources due to climate change and a growing population, and it’s particularly beneficial in areas where hosepipe bans are often implemented following two consecutively dry seasons. During heavy rainfall, you can take several steps to prevent overflow, such as diverting water away from the water butt, using multiple water butts to distribute the load, or using a rainwater diverter kit that automatically redirects excess water to a suitable drainage area. Hi PP, there's no valve as such. The box section on the downpipe has a sloping internal 'channel' on all four sides which feed the outlet pipe. This channel I guess is 10mm by 10mm or so all the way round. As water runs down from the gutter on the inside edge of the downpipe it falls into this channel which then flows into the water butt. Now, the theory, if I understand it correctly is that when the butt is full the outlet pipe eventual fills up which in turn fills this channel up in the downpipe and therefore any more water that flows down from the gutter is in effect passed over the edge of this channel and down the downpipe to the soak away. That's the theory anyway!

Remember to regularly maintain and clean your water butt, inspecting it along with the gutters and downpipes for any obstructions. By taking these proactive measures, you can ensure optimal functionality, avoid unnecessary water waste, and harness the full potential of rainwater for your gardening needs. ConclusionThere are various accessories which can support your water-harvesting efforts - a submersible electric pump, for example, will allow you to get more pressurised water from your container.

A downspout replacement is where you cut off part of the downpipe and place the water butt directly below it. This will require the installation of an overflow pipe. So, before you fit the rainwater diverter, you will need to make two different cuts. The first cut is made to the downspout. Rainwater Diverter Installed on Drainpipe Step 6 – Clean and Maintain Your Rainwater Collection System If you’re using a downspout installation, you will need to install an overflow pipe. This is a pipe that will allow water to overflow into the drain. You should have an overflow pipe supplied with your water butt. Follow the instructions supplied with your water butt for this installation. In most cases, this will be a simple case of attaching the pipe to the corresponding overflow hole.There are a few reasons that your water butt may be overflowing. 1. Insufficient Overflow Mechanism If you’re installing a downspout, simply slide the downspout through the specially designed water butt hole. You can then move onto the final step below. Take a close look at your water butt and familiarise yourself with its design and structure. Note the position of the inlet where rainwater enters the butt and the outlet from which you access the collected water. Step 2 – Observe the Overflowing Pattern