If you’re one of the millions of homeowners in the UK who have installed a water butt on their property as a simple form of rainwater harvesting, you may be looking for some tips to get through the winter. As a provider and installer of various different high-quality water butts, both decorative and simple, Owls Hall Environmental is in a great position to provide expert advice to water butt owners. Winter can be a daunting time to get anything sorted in and around the house, let alone important upkeep of your water butt, so follow our five key tips below to make sure you’re always able to collect, store and use rainwater at home.
Protecting your water butts during the winter months is crucial to ensure they remain functional and last for years to come. Here are some tips:
Firstly, we recommend fully emptying your water butt for the winter if possible, which will unfortunately put it out of practice during the cold months. Completely draining water from the butt will prevent that water freezing when the temperature drops below zero and then expanding, causing potential damage to the structure of the water butt and the surrounding pipes. Once you have taken all the water from the butt, this is also a good time to give it a proper clean using a mild detergent. This will clear away any algae and debris that has built up during the year.
If you’re unable to empty your water butt for the winter, we would recommend considering some form of insulation. You could use pipe insulation or any other form of warmth you have to hand in order to wrap the water butt and relevant pipes to keep them insulated. This will help to reduce freezing of the water held in the butt, but won’t prevent it entirely, especially in extremely cold regions. For those living in such areas, you could add a small amount of non-toxic antifreeze to the water. This will reduce freezing and make the water available to you through the winter for non-potable uses.
Whether you have decided to empty your water butt fully or take steps to insulate the butt and lower the freezing point of the captured water, securing the lid properly is essential. Your water butt lid must fit perfectly to prevent extra rainwater seeping in and freezing. For extra protection, you could consider adding a specialist water butt cover, or simply covering your butt using tarpaulin. This will protect everything from the elements and make sure it’s ready for use when the temperature warms up a bit.
For maximum water butt protection during the winter, consider relocation. This may mean bringing your water butt inside to a garage, shed or greenhouse, or even finding other spare space within your property where the butt can rest for the winter. Moving your water butt to an inside space like this will ensure optimal protection during freezing temperatures and ensure repairs won’t ever be necessary. If such a move isn’t possible, you could still consider moving it to an area of your outdoor property more protected from weather conditions, such as under trees or overhanging structures.
As with all rainwater harvesting equipment and systems, regular inspection and maintenance is the best way to prevent any issues arising with your water butts, not least in the winter. A simple visual inspection performed periodically will be able to highlight any signs of damage like cracks and leaks, which are more prevalent during the colder months due to water freezing and expanding. If such issues do arise, repair them promptly either yourself or with the help of a wastewater professional. This will prevent issues getting worse and your water butt being out of service for any period of time.
By following these tips, you can help protect your water butts from winter damage and ensure they’re ready to use again when warmer weather returns. For further advice on water butts and other rainwater harvesting systems, feel free to contact the friendly and knowledgeable Owls Hall team. We will be able to recommend the best form of rainwater harvesting for your property and give you maintenance and care information to ensure it always runs smoothly.
Be sure to also check out our selection of decorative water butts that will fit seamlessly into any garden.
