Water Barrel Question

[judy]

Gayle,
I know you use barrels to collect your rainwater from your gutters. I don't have gutters, but I got a 15 gallon water barrel, with a spigot at the bottom. Am I ever going to be able to get enough water pressure to attach the hose to the spigot and spray my plants, or wash the deck off?

I have it raised on a small table.

[gja1000]

No i dont think it will ever have enough pressure to spray. Maybe if it's pretty high, with a full 15 gallons it might have enough pressure to wash off the deck. Water from rain barrels is best used to water plants, it's much better for them than city water. It won't even come out a soaker hose, there just isn't enough pressure. I made my own soaker hoses by drilling holes in a regular water hose so it was easier for the water to leak out the hose. It works well in the garden.

[judy]

Thanks Gayle! I guess I can't use the hose attached to the spigot then. It will still be okay because I can put the water into a watering can from the barrel, which is a lot easier than carrying out full watering cans out to the deck, amnd dripping water all over the floor.

I have been attaching a garden hose to the kitchen faucet, and it really works well for washing down the deck and the deck furniture.

[gja1000]

You can attach a hose to the spigot, it's just that the water won't shoot out with much pressure, it will just run out.

[DianaB]

No, it won't work.....as Gayle explained there's not enough pressure. Watering your plants with it would be really good for your plants!!