Questions and Answers for Suncast 50 Gal. Rain Barrel

A:  The unit has a screen to keep bugs out.

A:  We have 4 of these barrels, and have been very pleased with them. The screening blocks mosquitoes.

A:  NO... there is a fine mesh screen that provides great protection below the square grid as shown on the top of the rain barrell!!

A:  No I haven't seen that. There is a screen underneath the slots on the lid to keep about debris and hopefully mosquitos.

A:  I would say no, mosquitoes do not get in there. The manufacture has a window screen material attached on the under side of the cover. I have not noticed mosquitoe activity around any of the three which I have owned. This a good product design, it is durable and when elevated you can drain all the water out.

A:  i have not had a problem with mosquitoes breeding. there are products you can put in the water to keep mosquitoes from breeding.

A:  If your winters are cold enough to freeze water, I would drain and remove it or it may split when the water freezes.

A:  i take the hose off in the winter and let the water run out. i also wash it out to prepare for winter.

A:  Depends on the weather in your area. I live outside Atlanta, Georgia and we have mild winters. I drain and clean my barrels in the fall and leave them outside in the winter months. If the water freezes it is only for a few days. If your winters are really cold, I would drain and clean, then leave them upside down during the cold months.

A:  It should be drained if the water could freeze during your winter.

A:  I left mine out over winter for many years without problems - but I live in an area where hard freezes are relatively rare. If you live in an area where you have hard freezes, you should drain it and keep it drained.

A:  The lid on mine measures 28-1/2" and is square.

A:  yes it's that big and it takes up a lot of space

A:  I saw a picture of a demolished $300,000 McLaren sports car the other day. I said the car in the picture is too small to be worth that kind of money. Check the measurements again, the top is 29.2".

A:  Yes, the top lid is 28" the bottom base is 19". There are smaller barrels available out there if you need something more compact.

A:  We have the biggest window air conditioner in a 36" wide window and the barrel sits directly under the unit and catches all of the water drippings.

A:  The top is 28" X 28". We are very happy with the size and performance of this item. Well worth the money.

A:  Yes, it is 28 inches across the top. I have 2 of them setting on my patio.

A:  It is pretty big - the measurements given are correct.

A:  looks that big to me have not taken a tape measure to it

A:  Yes, it is at least 28 inches along the edges. It bulges out more in the centers. We are pleased with ours, we have four of them.

A:  We have them (5) arranged around house in front of basement windows and at corners of bulkhead house to catch the tremendous amount of rain that comes off roof. We cant afford gutters at this time. All level on lawn but for one which is leveling on slate with med size rocks under. Lengthy, sorry.

A:  not necessarily, but I would, you may get condensation on the exterior and it could remain in contact with the deck boards for an extended amount of time leading to mold. I would also be concerned about the weight of it full, 400 lbs plus. I would check to see what the max deck pressure per square foot is, does it have joist hangers, etc.

A:  You should, the hose comes off the bottom so you can't gravity feed water all the way out to empty into a bucket or container. By blocking up the base you can drain out most of the water as needed into a container. We used cinder blocks and cut plywood to go over the blocks to make a flat base.

A:  It’s not necessary as it sits flat on the patio. I have two of these now that are linked by the overflow line. They work well.

A:  You don't have to put any sort of base under it, but keep in mind that the elevation of the barrel determines whether water will flow. So lifting up the barrel a foot or more will let you use a hose to distribute the water to parts of your yard and will also make getting the last of the water out into a bucket easier as well. I have my two barrels on cinder blocks with a thin piece of plywood over them. These barrels used to crack for no apparent reason but the manufacturer seems to have corrected that and is very good / fast at replacing anything defective. The last remaining issue with the barrel is that the connection between the bottom of the barrel and the hose needs to be tightened often or it will leak. Because this barrel is short it's a good choice for the last barrel in a line of taller barrels, so that all the overflow is captured. Good luck!

A:  ?

A:  Thank you for your interest in the Suncast Rain Barrel. The barrel is made of polypropylene plastic and therefore is BPA free. If you have any further questions you can visit our website or can call the Suncast Contact Center at 800-444-3310 between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm CST M-F. Thank you, Suncast Corporation.

A:  No, it is not food grade.

A:  I think so, but I use quick connects from HD, it is much faster.

A:  Yes

A:  If you mean the lower drain hose, then yes, easily. It has an on-off valve and a male hose end with a cap. If you mean the overflow hose, then you would have to attach a hose end to it first.

A:  Yes. The hose supplied with the barrel has threads for a standard garden hose. Keep in mind whatever you want to water has to be downhill from the barrel unless you attach a pump.

A:  Yes

A:  Thank you for your recent inquiry with The Home Depot, Beanald. This rain barrel is not designed to be used with a pump. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in the future. Thank you for shopping Home Depot.

A:  Yes. HD has a variety of water pumps. Some are submersible (they go inside the rain barrel), some are external. Some are AC powered, some run on 12V DC (car battery), some are even solar powered. All use standard garden hose connections or can be adapted. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Algreen-500-GPH-Rain-Barrel-Pump-Kit-81062/301402281 (AC Pump) https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wayne-12-Volt-Transfer-Pump-PC1/203663854 (Battery Pump) https://www.homedepot.com/c/choosing_pumps_HT_BG_PL (Educational article)