After winter there is a long crack in the plastic of your rain barrel? That's annoying but not a big deal. Because a rain barrel can be repaired with little effort, even with little technical knowledge. Provided you know which tools and techniques you need to use for this. The instructions on this page will give you the best advice.
How can you repair a rain barrel yourself?
To repair a rain barrel with cracks or holes, use a soldering iron and an additional piece of polypropylene to cover the hole. Weld the replacement part from the inside. For thinner walls, bitumen tape or tar-like materials from the hardware store can help.
Silicone, the all-rounder?
Whether in the bathroom, in the kitchen or even on moving objects, if a crack has formed in the material, the amateur do-it-yourselfer reaches for the silicone bottle. As a rule, he is also right with this choice. However, if the rain barrel is broken, the silicone only lasts so long. Rain barrels are usually exposed to increased weather. Seals made solely from silicone therefore only last for a short time. Therefore, you need to combine the sealant with other substances.
Close holes
- You will need a soldering iron, a welder and another piece of polypropylene (if your rain barrel is made of plastic).
- This should completely cover the hole in your rain barrel.
- It is best to use a cut-out piece of a comparable rain barrel.
- Place the piece on the hole in your rain barrel from the inside.
- Weld the replacement part with a soldering iron.
- As soon as the material liquefies under the influence of heat, carefully spread the pieces together.
Attention: Flying sparks can occur during welding. Therefore, never carry out work in closed rooms. You should also remove all flammable objects from a large area outside. Dry lawns also pose a problem
Quick help from the hardware store
Unfortunately, using a welding machine is only an option if the walls of the barrel are sufficiently thick. Otherwise, you will destroy the material more than repair it. In this case, the hardware store has the solution. Here you will find bitumen tape (€17.00 on Amazon). The tool is similar to tape, but is much more robust. Alternatively, you can get tar-like material that is actually used to seal gutters. Certain fibers ensure increased resilience.
Dispose of rain barrel
Sometimes the damage to the rain barrel is unfortunately so severe that repairing it is not worth it. Here you can find out how to dispose of your old model in this case. Maybe you can use your broken rain barrel for something else and be inspired by the following ideas:
- Raised bed in the rain barrel
- Plant rain barrel
