RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Rain Water Collection Barrel with Brass Spigot, Wood Grain
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In September, I bought my first of these barrels. 2013 I bought two more in May of 2014 because it looked so good. I can attest to the fact that when these barrels are filled 3/4 or more, they still bow out. I have perfectly leveled paving sand, then concrete blocks on top of that. The large blocks keep the barrel in place and support it. Despite the fact that they bow, mine have been returning to shape after some of the water has been used. Because the bowing will push them forward, you'll need to place them 7 or 8 feet away from your house. Because the barrel may be bowed for part of the time, the screen insert won't fit firmly in the recessed area it's designed for, allowing mosquitos and other insects to get in. In the tank, I scatter some mosquito bits. It irritates me, but - NO - I intend to contact the company about this because they have not corrected the problem by producing a thicker product. More people should because, aside from that, it's a very nice barrel that doesn't fade out in the sun.
The cover cannot be removed. Filling takes place through a 3" by 12" opening with a removable screen. With the right tool, you could remove it.
The barrel isn't made of wood in any way - It's made of plastic in some way. The wood grain finish only gives the impression of being made of wood.
Threading a brass spigot into the plastic barrel threads is nearly impossible. Two of the three had serious leaks and had to be thrown away. It's difficult to tell if the spigot is threaded correctly. 4/2015
Selected User Reviews For RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Rain Water Collection Barrel with Brass Spigot, Wood Grain
But, to prove it, I have two suggestions: Replace the faucet that came with it with a ball valve/lever. You'll notice a significant improvement in the flow of your work. To keep mosquitos and other bugs out, secure some screen over the overflow hole with a zip tie. br>br>Aside from that, this is a fantastic product that does exactly what it says it will!.
This is the second time I've bought one of these rain barrels. When the first one arrived, it was in perfect condition and works perfectly. I ordered a second one because I liked the first one so much. The seams on this rain barrel were completely broken when it arrived. I'm not convinced that this bond will be strong enough to keep the water from rising. Because I needed the rain barrel right away, I sealed the seams as I do with all of my rain barrels to prevent leaks, but I'm not optimistic that it will hold up with such a small connection between the seams. I'm going to try it out to see if there are any leaks, and if there are, I'll return it. But even if I keep it, I'm worried that the mismatched seams won't hold up in the long run.
In the review, there are some important usage comments. I placed two orders for the "woodgrain" variant. They appear to be exactly as they appear in the picture. The barrels appear to be of sufficient strength, and the channel-style design is attractive. Mosquito netting and screens are a thoughtful addition. br>br>The barrel includes a cheap-feeling hose cock (valve) that is difficult to install due to the metal thread's ability to damage the soft plastic-like material. bunghole with a threaded bunghole A good yank will easily rip the valves out once they've been installed - That, however, would be a form of deliberate abuse. It's only mentioned to show how a metal fitting and a plastic bung don't mix well. br>br>During a particularly wet spell, I let the barrel fill completely. There is an overflow drain built-in. It was also unusually hot during this time of rain. For about a week, the temperature was in the 90s. The rain barrels appear to have softened during the day's heat - Perhaps in the middle of the day, when the sun is shining directly on you. They are located on my home's west side. The pressure of the water inside the barrel softened it, causing the once flat-bottomed barrel to be deformed. The barrel's back is now very convex, and it no longer hugs the wall as well as it once did. This is clearly my fault, and I'm pointing it out so that other buyers don't make the same mistake I did. Obviously, the barrel did not collect 50 gallons of water in a single or two rainstorms. When my barrels are about half full, I'll connect them to soaker hoses and let the water drain slowly that way. The issue has been resolved.
So it works as described and holds water; however, the black paint appears to be of poor quality, with runs and missing spots. My only gripe is that when it's full, the barrel expands and moves away from the wall, while when it's empty, it stays put. My wife keeps telling me to push it back, but it always expands, and I'm guessing it'll break or something over time, causing me more work. My neighbor ordered one from a different website, and my wife prefers it, plus it was about $50 cheaper, so I'm not sure if this was a good buy or not, but it's sitting there collecting water for my wife's flowers. I built the table underneath it to provide a place for the bucket, which my wife also enjoys.
The barrels are attractive, but they have one major flaw. When the barrels are full of water, the back of the barrel bows out and extends about 4 inches, distorting the shape. If the barrel is flush against the wall, it will pitch forward as it fills, dragging your drainpipe behind it.
The spigot on the bottom of the barrel where you connect your water hose snapped off, and the thread portion is still screwed into the barrel and cannot be removed, so you can't connect a hose and the water just runs out the bottom. I called the 800 number for help, but it appears that it has been disconnected. I'm at a loss for what to do next.
On the plus side - In general, the unit appears to be in good condition (though not as good as the advertisement photo). The top-of-the-barrel screen is quite good; it's sturdy, fits snugly in the slot, and is easy to remove if necessary (for example, to clean it). The barrel's flat back is a nice feature, and it easily fits against a wall. I would recommend the barrel stand, but we didn't want to spend the extra money (we'll make do with a couple of concrete blocks as a temporary solution). br>br>All right, let's get started. So what's the deal with the two-star rating? Price vs. Quality! At the time of this review, we spent just over $110. I didn't anticipate the spigot being a pain. You only have ONE CHANCE to screw that thing directly into the barrel (brass vs. steel). plastic). Our knowledge: br>br> The spigot hole was not a clean bore because it was drilled into the bottom. Just inside the door, it starts to ramp up. The threads were cut in a haphazard manner. It is undeniable that preventing "cross-contamination" is critical. threading" but when the hole's threads are messed up, there's only one way to get the spigot in - drilling. Isn't that a hammer? Of course not, so we attempted to put the spigot in straight eight times. The threads appear to have been cut twice (and misaligned) during a previous close thread examination of the barrel with a flashlight. As a result, the purchaser is responsible for attaching the spigot, while the manufacturing process does not. You can bet you'll need a powerful arm, a steady hand, a lot of patience, and possibly an after-dinner drink. If the unit leaks, use a sealant to stop it. We'll test after the first rain, but the chances of the unit not leaking around the spigot aren't great. It's simply not straight, and the state of the hole/threads upon unpacking the unit was far from satisfactory in our opinion. This is why I gave it two stars. I wouldn't expect this much trouble with a spigot for $100 or more. br>br>Likewise, the spigot's quality isn't great. It's difficult to open and close, and I don't mean 'tight' in the sense of 'new' or 'broken. ' But, by that, I mean that it isn't always easy to use. It turns for a few millimeters, then stops, requiring some force to turn it further. It then moves freely for a few millimeters before jamming. br>br>We're not sure if we'll buy the second one (as planned) - If that's the case, we'll at least know what we're getting and what we're getting ourselves into, with the only reason to buy again being to have a matching set. However, we are looking into alternative options. br>br>Do you have any photos? If I wasn't concerned about the "spigot" never returning to at least the point where it is now - I'd like a few to back up what I've said. But, in all seriousness, In this regard, we were underwhelmed. br>br>Summary: br>br> Looks good, should work fine, and has a spigot. There is no mention of quality as a feature.
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