Rant: My rain barrel system burst after that big freeze last week

I set up a rain barrel to water my garden and cut down on city water use. Last Tuesday we hit 12 degrees overnight and I forgot to drain it completely. The ice expanded and cracked the plastic spigot right off the bottom, now I got water all over my basement wall. Has anyone found a way to winterize these things without disconnecting everything every time it gets cold?

2 comments

2 Comments

wilson.jana15h ago

Tbh a five dollar spigot is cheap, but if the crack travels up the barrel itself you're looking at a whole new setup. I'd look into heat tape wrapped around the spigot and valve for next winter.

gray_smith6714d ago

Oh man, is a cracked spigot really that big of a deal? Just slap a new one on there in the spring for like five bucks.