Phew, it's quite a hassle to pump the water out of the rain barrel with a watering can. Especially if you have to empty it completely. However, it is much quicker and more effective to pump out the water. A structure can be built by yourself in a short amount of time. On this page you will find instructions and find out what else you need to consider.
How do you pump water out of a rain barrel?
To pump water out of a rain barrel, use a special submersible pump that sinks to the bottom of the barrel and sucks in the water using rotors and impellers. Practical accessories such as telescopic tubes, hanging options, automatic functions, floats and filters make handling easier and protect the pump from dirt.
Advantages of a rain barrel pump
- Cost savings
- Environmental protection
- less time and work
- better water quality in the household
How does the rain barrel pump work?
Water pumps are often used in deep cisterns and wells. But special submersible pumps (€49.00 on Amazon) are also available for the rain barrel. These sink to the bottom of the barrel and suck in the water using rotors and impellers. The water is then transported to the surface.
Useful accessories
To make handling when pumping out water even easier, you can purchase the following utensils from retailers:
- Telescopic tubes
- Hanging option
- Automatic function
- Swimmer
- Filter
The telescopic tube
The telescopic tube can be changed in length as desired. It makes water extraction easier because it extends over the edge of the barrel. It usually has a tap at one end.
The hanging option
You attach one end of this accessory to the top edge of the rain barrel. At the other end, connect the pump and lower it into the water. As a result, the pump does not sink completely to the bottom of the barrel and is therefore less exposed to dirt deposits.
The automatic function
Normally you always have to lift the pump out of the rain barrel to switch it on and off. An automatic function automatically detects when water is needed and switches itself on and off accordingly.
The Swimmer
If your rain barrel contains too little water, the pump will suck in more air than liquid. This leads to damage in the long term. A float is a small metal ball inside the pump. If this comes into contact with the switch, it activates the device. If the water level drops to a worrying level, the pump tips over, causing the metal ball to roll away from the switch. Accordingly, the pump does not switch on by itself and remains functional longer.
The Filter
A filter protects your rain barrel pump from contamination.