The #1 Quality Rain Barrel - Spruce Creek Rain Saver for Water Conservation

The Spruce Creek
Company is the
manufacturer of
The Spruce Creek Rainsaver.

Rainbarrel.net
is the online store
for rain barrels
and other
conservation
and gardening
products
presented by
The Spruce Creek
Company.

Installation Instructions -Setting Up Your Spruce Creek Rainsaver

Your Spruce Creek Rainsaver comes to you fully assembled and ready to install. Examine your roof drainage to select downspouts that will provide the most runoff, or ones that will enable the best convenience for your needs.

See diagram at right for visual description of setup. Next position the rainsaver on a level platform and cut the existing downspout (A) 45 inches from the ground or a few inches above the barrel's top surface. Measure high enough to allow an elbow connector (B) to be attached to the end of the downward downspout. The optimum clearance between the barrel top surface and the downspout dispensing area is about 1 to 3 inches. This will help direct falling water to the barrel's top surface (C) where it will be channeled to the screened intake opening (D). The entire recessed top surface of the rain barrel will collect water, so you can position the downspout exit anywhere over this area. If you wish to maintain the original downspout setup and ADD a connection for the rainbarrel, you can obtain the downspout diverter from our diverter web page. This diverter has a lever that will enable you to manually switch water flow between the downspout exit or the rain barrel whenever the alternative is desired.

After aligning the barrel for water intake, position the 6 foot overflow hose (F) located at the back of the rain barrel to a desired area for watering, rain garden or soak filtering area. If you desire to direct water to a further location, you can replace the supplied overflow hose with 1 1/4 inch diameter sump pump hose of greater lengths. To utilize overflow water once your rain barrel is filled, you may wish to extend and divert the overflow to a garden, beds, trees or shrubs where thorough soaking is desired.

It is important to make sure that the rainsaver is set up on a level surface rather than the sloping side of a hill (J). If the area you intend to set up your Rainsaver is not level, you should flatten the area by shoveling away or building up the area with landscape materials. It is also important to remember that rain barrels use simple gravity (rather than pressure of home water systems) to dispense the water inside. To optimize your pressure and flow of water (if using a hose) your barrel should be placed above the area where water will be dispensed. Rain barrels can be raised higher by creating a platform or stand using landscape materials such as cement blocks, pavers, railroad ties or stone beds.

The Spruce Creek Rainsaver has been assembled for your convenience in a manner of which most users will prefer. You can change some component configurations to better suit your own use. Enclosed with the rainsaver is an extra garden hose adapter (threaded two ends). Should you desire to remove the threaded plug from the lower spigot location (H), you can insert the adapter and connect a hose directly to that access for hose dispensing or trickle watering. You may want to purchase a simple ball valve connection or spray nozzle to enable shut off when not using this outlet. The threaded brass spigot has been installed at the upper dispensing level to provide access for a watering can or pail (or hose). If you install your rain barrel on a platform you may want to change the brass spigot from the upper position (G) to the lower position (H) to have greater spigot access to rain barrel volume.

The spigot, plug, and hose adapter are all interchangeable components. When changing components be careful not to over-tighten into barrel which could damage threads. If any component installed into the barrel should leak, simply remove the item and wrap with Teflon plumbers tape and reinsert. Because water is not stored under high pressure, this should solve any leak situation.

Rainsavers will collect fine debris such as pollen and organic material that can clog the insect screens. To maintain the water flow of your intake and overflow areas, you should clean these fine mesh screens 2 or 3 times a year. Simply lift the rigid metal intake screen and rinse the fine screen beneath, then return both to their original place. The small black screw installed in the intake screen area is intended to secure this screen during shipping and is not necessary to hold the intake screens in place after setup. The overflow screen can be accessed and cleaned by slipping the overflow hose off the "L" fitting at the back of the barrel.

Please note that untreated rain water provides your plants with numerous natural and organic benefits. However, these organic qualities should not be considered beneficial for humans or animals and users should not consider water fit for drinking, even though it appears to be fresh and clean.

The Spruce Creek Rainsaver is not intended for storing any material or liquid other than water. For safety reasons, never mix garden chemicals or fertilizers within the rain barrel. All mixing should be done after water has been dispensed.

It is important that each rainsaver be installed on a completely level surface (J) to prevent any likelihood for tipping. A level resting area can either be dug or built up with landscaping materials for this purpose.