Numpty water butt setup question

Numpty water butt setup question

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hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

205 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Brain is not in action today.

I have two equal sized water butts, not set up yet. Only one butt has a tap on the bottom, the other is just a barrel. I have one gutter kit. I want to place the butts next to each other rather than around the house at different gutters.

So... in order to use them both together, I would fix the gutter kit to top of barrel 'A' with tap to fill with water from the gutters, and then link the two butts with a small bit of horizontal pipe just above the tap level.

This arrangement will fill both butts equally and drain down to bottom pipe/tap level right?

wobble

Laurel Green

30,778 posts

232 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Sounds good to me.

jmorgan

36,010 posts

284 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
I had two linked via the taps (hose connector). The one on the down spout was a tad lower than the second one that was away from the house so it would drain off excess down the drain and not leave the the one away from the house flooding the area if I left the taps open. When the remote one was full, I would shut that tap.

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,114 posts

165 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
It's a small point, but don't you want the linking pipe to be just *below* tap level (if possible)?

If the linking pipe is just above tap level, then the water will drain down to the level of the linking pipe, then the water in the butt with the tap will drain down to tap level and stop, leaving a little bit more water in the other butt.

If the linking pipe is below tap level (if possible), then both butts will drain down to tap level.

hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

205 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
And that's why I started the thread. Yes, of course. Cheers! smile

Munter

31,319 posts

241 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
If you are going to have to drill holes anyway. Why not fit a tap to the untapped one. Then the connecting pipe can be any height. Parents is connected at the top so it's not under much pressure in case of leaks.

tivver500

369 posts

270 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Just use a piece of 5mm hose to act as a syphon from one container to the other. Weight each end to ensure it stays at the bottom and don't forget to fill the pipe before putting it in.....
Mine's worked like that fro years!!! (And no drilling of holes)

hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

205 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
tivver500 said:
Just use a piece of 5mm hose to act as a syphon from one container to the other. Weight each end to ensure it stays at the bottom and don't forget to fill the pipe before putting it in.....
Mine's worked like that fro years!!! (And no drilling of holes)
By george that is genius. Genius I tell you! And there were those who mocked me for starting such an inane thread!

jmorgan

36,010 posts

284 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Thought that was what I was doing only using the taps.

hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

205 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
jmorgan said:
Thought that was what I was doing only using the taps.
Oh I seeeeeeeeee!

So, a hose connecting the taps and both taps are open to share collected water. Before decanting water into appropriate recepticle close both taps, disconnect one end of hose, open tap, hey presto bob is your mother's brother. That is a very good idea now I actually understand it... hehe

jmorgan

36,010 posts

284 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Aye, had a new patio but so have to raise the remote butt before I can connect them again. I have a slim line butt at the house downspout and a larger one a few yards away.