How to install a water butt

Having your own garden water butt helps you save yourself money on your water bills. It also helps you do your bit for the environment by simply recycling rainfall for your outdoor water needs.

Figuring out how to install a water butt is a relatively simple task if you have basic DIY knowledge. We’re here to give you the correct guidance so you can complete this project with confidence. Whether you’re looking at a large water butt for a busy family garden or a small water butt for a compact patio, the method remains exactly the same.

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To install a water butt, place your water butt stand on level ground up to 50cm from your downpipe and sit the water butt on top.
Drill a hole in the water butt and cut a 2.5cm section from the downpipe to fit the rainwater diverter kit.
Attach the flexible hose between the downpipe filter and the water butt connector to start collecting rain.

What are the benefits of installing a water butt in the garden?

Installing a water butt in your garden offers several great benefits for both your wallet and the planet.

Saving money: harvesting your own rainwater helps you to save yourself money on your water bills.

Helping the environment: it’s an easy way to do your bit for the environment by recycling rainfall for your outdoor water needs.

Versatile outdoor use: the collected water is ideal for watering plants, topping up a garden pond, or even washing your car.

How to choose the right size water butt for your garden

The size of the unit you choose depends entirely on the space you have available and the size of your garden.

A small water butt is a great fit for compact areas like patios or balconies.

If you have a larger garden or a greenhouse to maintain, a large water butt is the best choice, as it will capture more rainfall to keep your plants hydrated.

Where should you put a water butt?

The best location to install your water butt is right next to an already installed downpipe. You will want to make sure the unit is situated no more than 50cm away from the downpipe so the connection hose can easily reach.

If you’re setting it up on top of gravel or stone, remember to use a rake and a spirit level to ensure the ground is completely level before you make a start. And to keep things simple, it helps to clear the area of any garden furniture or other obstacles, so you have a safe workspace while you get the job done.

How to fit a water butt

Now you know the ‘why’, ‘where’, and ‘what’, it’s time to find out the ‘how’! Below we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to walk you through how to install a water butt in your garden.

Once you’ve decided where to put your water butt, you’ll need to create a safe working space around where you’d like to fit your garden water butt. Remove any garden furniture and other obstacles from the area.

If you’ve chosen to install your water butt on top of gravel or stone, you’ll need to prepare the ground first. Use a garden rake and a spirit level to ensure the ground is completely level before you make a start. A sturdy base is essential because water butts become very heavy once they fill up with rain.

First, bring the water butt stand over to your safe working space. Place it exactly where you’d like your setup to sit.

Place your spirit level on top of the stand to check it’s completely level before moving on.

Now, bring your water butt over and place it on top of the stand. Use your tape measure to ensure it’s situated no more than 50cm away from the downpipe.

With the distance checked, it’s time to attach your hole saw drill bit to your combi drill. Drill a hole into the outlined marking on the side of the water butt. For this task, a 27mm hole saw drill bit often works well, but you should use whatever size is appropriate for your specific rainwater filter pipe.

Now the hole has been made, place a spirit level in line with the bottom of the hole and the downpipe.

Use your pencil to make a mark on the downpipe. Then measure 2.5cm up from the marking you have just made and make a second pencil mark.

Using your combi drill, remove any downpipe bracket near your markings to allow for the pipe to be pulled slightly away from the wall.

Now, use a hacksaw to cut the downpipe between these two marks to carefully remove the 2.5cm section.

Insert the rainwater filter in place of the removed section of the downpipe. Slide the filter lid onto the top section of the downpipe and push it up out of the way for now.

Place the filter base on the lower part of the downpipe. Now, slide the top section back down so it can click securely into the base.

If you had to remove a downpipe bracket earlier, you can now re-secure this to your wall and downpipe.

With the rainwater filter fitted, secure the water butt connector through the hole you drilled earlier.

Then, attach the flexible hose from the filter kit to both connections on the downpipe and the water butt. If the hose is too long, you can easily cut it to size using your hacksaw.

Once the flexible hose is in place, secure the lid to the top of the water butt.

And there you have it. You now know exactly how to fit a water butt. All you have to do is wait for the rain to arrive and fill up the unit. When it’s full, simply top up your watering can and away you go.

Having your own garden water butt is a great way to save yourself money on your water bills, and it also helps you do your bit for the environment by simply recycling rainfall. The collected water is ideal for watering plants, topping up your pond, or even washing your car.

Want to use the water your water butt collects for some gardening? Check out our guide to growing fruit and vegetables for some top tips.

FAQs

If you find that your water butts are filling up quickly, you might be wondering how to connect a water butt to a second one. You can easily link two units together using a basic connection kit. Simply drill matching holes in both butts and join them with the flexible hose provided.

Yes, you will need a water butt stand as part of your materials to complete your installation. Before you fit your water butt, you should place the stand in your chosen workspace and use a spirit level to check that it is completely flat. Once your stand is secure and level, you can simply bring your water butt over and place it directly on top of it.

General maintenance for a water butt usually involves keeping the lid securely fastened to prevent leaves and debris from falling in, checking the rainwater filter for blockages, and giving the inside a clean once a year to prevent algae and sludge buildup.