Simple DIY repairs on a plastic water butt: Rainwater barrel repair!

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[@SirPrancelot1]

Excellent tip, thanks. Wish I knew about this a few years ago. Had the same problem and fixed it by heating the butt with a heat gun, heating a strip of plastic milk container and pressing them together. The crack was on the base and it was a slimline butt so I couldn't get in so I did it from the outside and it worked. This method is quicker.

[@bootsowen]

This tape is cheap and magic. A bit of heat can help on a cold day of it won't get tacky.

[@phildunne2632]

Butt you can't beat a good craic!

[@AA-zv2fp]

I loved your KZbin recording, a real DIY job without buying expensive bits to replace. I had the same problem and I tried all kinds of things but it still leaked! now I'm going to try the to hot plastic repair with a heat gun. it's getting inside I'm not too keen on!

[@bootsowen]

Getting in is easy. Getting out….

[@TehJumpingJawa]

How did hot air repair go? I've got a tank that was blown over whilst empty, and as I hadn't removed the (plastic) tap, it formed a crack on the thread & through to the body. Tried silicone, but that didn't last. Flashing tape wouldn't work due to the location, so it's either a melt repair, or junk the existing tap, cut out the thread, patch, and new hole+tap.

[@annsinclair6709]

Thanks for that. Wasn't looking forward to even disconnecting mine and I really don't fancy crawling inside but neither do I want to chuck it out.

[@bootsowen]

No problem 👍

[@rudybreuker]

Super tip thx

[@RiedegDesign]

I did the same earlyer. This Tape you even geht in Germany - ist's great and also good for buckets. So you save a lot of Money 😊

[@bootsowen]

Thanks for sharing!

[@RiedegDesign]

@@bootsowen Could you show us your Water-System? How did you build it und how does it work? Ist It realy connected to the toilet?

[@bootsowen]

Yes, 2000 litres of rainwater and a pressure pump. very simple.

[@RiedegDesign]

@@bootsowen Sounds interresting, 😇👍

[@Whereswally606]

Really enjoyed the moment when you where inside wanting a person holding the tap on the outside. 😅

[@bootsowen]

Real life!

[@ebikescrapper3925]

Scrap visit today Electrical appliance cable - £1.50 per kg Motors - 35p per kg

[@bootsowen]

well done, you must have a good bit saved now!

[@TheInfoworks]

I'm thinking that's a design flaw to the tap mounting boss in the tank. When it goes again a fresh hole in the side with a piece of stainless moulded to the shape of the tank as a tap support. Cheers

[@bootsowen]

That's a good idea Andy. There's a ton of hacks to keep plastic goods on the go. People say it's not worth the hassle, but if you have to drive/cycle to and from a shop and then pay for something then get rid of the old thing, I reckon a bit of time spent is not wasted!

[@TheInfoworks]

@@bootsowen and when finally it's too bad, then the bottom 1/3 makes a brilliant tub for growing tomatoes, cheers

[@richardbutler4488]

Would you not tape over the external crack?

[@bootsowen]

What good would it do? the water and the pressure is coming from inside?

[@richardbutler4488]

@@bootsowenI suppose your right 😅 forgot about the pressure 😊

[@zx8401ztv]

Well that stopped the leak, i imagine silicone sealer and bits of inner tube would work if you ran out of patches.

[@bootsowen]

Silicone is tricky because it doesn't stick to some plastics. I have been using CT1, it seems to, but it is expensive. That tape is magic stuff.

[@ianhelsbyservices]

Going the extra mile, neighbours seeing you wearing a butt again! Is your pressured system automatic? ie: pump turned on with pressure released at a faucet? Are your big tanks operating a top up from mains when nearly empty say 10% full to make sure you use as little city water as possible. Do your washing machines use the same grey water?

[@bootsowen]

Hi Ian, The pressurised rainwater system is almost completely automatic now. A pressure pump kicks in automatically when a demand exists. I have it connected to two toilet cisterns and the outdoor tap. the only maintenance is cleaning the filter. I was going to make some kind of a diy pump demand system but when I saw a unit on sale in Germany for about e100 new I reckoned that was a good deal. So far on two toilets and garden we have never run it dry. I have left the plumbing indoors separate so there are now two feeds to each toilet, just unscrew one and screw in the other. Just in case we run out of rain. so far in over a year and two on and off dry summers it hasn't run out. If I was more rural I would use it for showers but we are in the city on a busy road, plenty of dust, and pigeons. Mot sure I want to wash myself or my clothes in that!

[@JC-jv5xw]

Now waiting for the butt crack jokes........