One thing to keep in mind is that all of the connections for this water butt fit pretty tightly together – in many ways, this is a good thing, but it does also mean that you’ll need to use a fair bit of strength to connect it all. Pre-drilled holes – these make it a lot easier to set up the water butt. If holes are not pre-drilled, you will need to make a hole of around 25-30 mm to connect the water diverter. Given that most people don’t have a drill bit of this size, this can be quite a difficult process. If you want a water butt with pre-cut holes, try to find a model with several pre-cut, plugged holes on different sides of the water butt. This will give flexibility on where the diverter can be connected, and where the water butt can be positioned. We can also supply a water butt link kit here at a small cost, allowing you a physically join your two water butts.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that this water butt costs a little more than the more traditional designs available. After all, its one-of-a-kind design enables it to act as both a water butt as well as a piece of garden décor. But does it offer value for money? That depends on what you’re looking for. If you're a homeowner in the UK looking for an easy and sustainable way to reduce your water usage, consider purchasing a rainwater collection system. These systems are commonly referred to as "water butts" and come in a range of sizes and styles to suit your needs. If space isn’t too much of an issue, water butts of between 250 – 300 litres are standard size. They’re the best water butts for most domestic small/medium gardens.The best water butts have a good capacity without being overbearing in the garden. Certain things can be useful to look out for: Tap water is filtered, refined and treated before it is available for domestic use. The addition of chemicals such as chlorine, salts, and minerals can have an impact on your carbon footprint. Using a recycled plastic water butt is a fantastic way to use fresh water to treat your plants. Setting up this plastic water butt takes about 15 minutes , and that includes digging to level out the ground so that the legs are standing on a flat surface. After fitting the legs together, I cut a hole in my drain pipe, then fit the rain diverter, before drilling a hole in the water butt to fit the pipe. It’s a fairly simple process that’s pretty standard across all of the water butts that I tested. However, for more heavy-duty use, go for a larger 200-300 litre design. Don’t forget that you also have the option of connecting multiple water butts together , so long as the design of each water butt allows for this (most of the traditionally-styled ones do).

For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned. Make sure that the guttering is clear of any debris as some guttering materials can encourage the growth of bacteria in the collected water.Where possible, position the rainwater butt in a darker place, away from the sun. Doing this will ensure the water remains cool, preventing bacteria from growing. Always utilise a watering can. Do not use a fine water spray as this can generate small aerosol particles which can be carried in the wind and inhaled into one’s lungs, resulting in infection. If you’ve set the water butt up in a very windy location, you could potentially tie a strap around it to keep it sturdy – the indents in the design should make this easy. While the space-saving nature of slimline water butts is great, those of you who are looking to collect larger quantities of rainwater will need a water butt with a larger capacity, which is where the Harcostar 227 Litre Water Butt Kit comes in. It was designed to channel rainwater from the roof of a house, so this is exactly what I did with it. Here’s how it performed:

Also, unlike the other water butts that I reviewed, where the downfill pipe attached into the side of the water butt, this one connects via its lid . This is unusual, but neither good nor bad. Great for the environment – not only are most rainwater butts made from recycled plastic, they also save approximately 30,000 million litres of fresh water each summer! Another important consideration when it comes to size is: can a watering can fit underneath the tap? Do these features make this Strata model worth buying? Well, I put this water butt to the test and identified it as one of the best water butts if you’re after a great value model – read on to find out why!

One design feature that I particularly appreciated was the child-safe, spring-loaded fastening clip on the lid . Some of the other water butts that I tested required a screwdriver to open the lid, so the fact that you can peek inside this one without any tools required is a bonus. Thanks to its beehive design, it certainly looks impressive, but how does it compare to the more traditional designs out there? I put this water butt to the test to find out. One of the primary benefits of installing a water butt is that it allows you to collect and store rainwater for later use. This means that you can reduce your reliance on the mains water supply, which is particularly important in areas of the UK that experience frequent droughts or water shortages (think hot Cornwall). By using rainwater for activities such as watering your plants or washing your car, you can save money on your water bill and do your part to conserve water resources. Fit the rubberised splash seal to the top section of pipe, then connect the diverter between the two sections. Make sure that the outlet hole is at the bottom. Then pull the splash seal down over the join.

If you don’t mind splurging on a water butt because you want to add to the visual appeal of your garden, and are happy to spend a little more purchasing all of the extras (the filler kit and the stand), then I would say it’s worth it. However, if you’re on a tighter budget and prioritise function over form, then there are other water butts out there that provide better value for money. It’s easy to see why slimline water butts are so popular, and the Charles Bentley 100l Slimline Water Butt Setis one of the bestselling models out there. I put it to the test, and unsurprisingly it come out as one of the best water butts if you’re after a slimline model. Water butts which are ‘below ground’ are fully protected by the earth that surrounds them and will not require additional care in the winter months. With a capacity of 227 litres , this was the largest of the water butts that I tested. It’s pretty chunky in design, but the fact that it’s green means that it would blend well into a garden. The recycled plastic construction feels strong and sturdy . In fact, all of the connections that come with this water butt are noticeably tougher, more robust, and higher quality than those supplied with the other water butts I reviewed.Water butts come in a range of sizes. Naturally, having a small water butt is better than none, so even a 100 L model can be useful, especially in small gardens. Water butts are a completely free way of harvesting rainwater, thus helping to keep your water bills down. This is especially beenficial if you are on a water meter, and need to be conservative eith the amount of water you are using. On average, spraying plants with water uses 4-6 litres per day. That adds up over time! Some water butts do not come with a base, which can make it difficult to fit a watering can under the tap if the water butt is small. Take note of how high the tap is when buying a water butt.