About Your Water Butt

How does a Water Butt work?

A Rainwater Butt collects rainwater from your gutters and is connected to a downpipe. If you are using a downpipe, you will also need an overflow pipe or a rain diverter to redirect water into the waterbutt. Once the Water Butt is full, water flows down the drainpipe. A gutter filter will also keep out unwanted debris.

What size Water Butt would be best for me?

The size of Water Butt will depend on your plant varieties and the size of your garden. Sizes start from 100l and there are also Space Saving Waterbutts. A number of Water Butts can also be connected together to increase your reservoir. Save Water Save Money offer a range of different sizes of Water Butt from small slimline versions to a 6,500 litre complete Rainwater Harvesting System.

What about cleaning a Water Butt?

If you get a Waterbutt with a removable lid then you can easily clean it. Make sure the lid is well fitting to keep out unwanted debris and insects.

Do I need any special equipment to fit my Water Butt?

To install your Water Butt you will need a power drill fitted with a hole saw, a hacksaw and a tape measure.

How do I install my Water Butt?

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Always refer to the manufacturers instructions but basically you will need to find a convenient downpipe for the Water Butt and place the Waterbutt stand beneath it. The butt needs to be raised high enough off the ground for a watering can to fit under the tap.

Place the Water Butt on the stand and mark its height on the downpipe. Cut the downpipe 3cm below this point with a hacksaw.

Attach the rain diverter fitting to the downpipe; the cut section of downpipe fits onto the bottom of the diverter.

Measure 8cm down from the top of the water butt and drill a hole through which the water butt connector is fitted.

Attach the water butt connector to the water butt by pushing through the drilled hole and screwing fittings into place

Attach the water butt connector to the rainwater diverter with the supplied fittings. Place the lid on the butt and lock it into place.

Will the water butt down pipe connector fit a square downpipe?

The downpipe connector which comes as standard with the water butts fits both a round and square downpipe - it will fit a 'standard' square downpipe which is 65mm. The connectors are available in black.

How does the Downpipe connection kit work?

The Downpipe connection kit simply intercepts the water as it comes down the downpipe and feeds it into your Waterbutt. Once the Waterbutt is full it then stops accepting further rainwater and the rainwater continues down your downpipe into the drain. It is very simple to fit - you just need to drill a small hole on the side of the Waterbutt (to connect the inlet hose) and cut a small slice from your downpipe (to fit the diverter part). Instructions are provided.

Is it OK to put bathwater into a Water Butt?

No! Only Rainwater should go into Water Butts. Greywater is dirty water and is any water from your home apart from the toilet. Never put greywater into a Water Butt. This can pose a human health risk and greywater should never be stored.

Do I need to add anything to the water in the Water Butt?

Rainwater can generally be stored for long periods without problems. There are products such as the FreshaTank Microbial Disc which can be added to Water Butts to ensure no odour and bacterial build-up. A close fitting lid should help you avoid unwanted debris and insects.

What should I do with my Water Butt during the winter months?

If there is a risk of freezing weather, it is advisable to empty your Water Butt.

My delivery is late. What should I do?

Due to the popularity of our water butts especially in the spring, we advise that it may take up to 28 days for you to receive your water butt. Generally all water butts are received within our 10 day delivery promise however if your order is taking longer than this, then please email customerservice@savewatersavemoney.co.uk with your order number and we'll be happy to let you know a delivery date.

What if I am out when the delivery takes place?

Our couriers have permission to leave goods in a safe place if there is one. There is a 'Delivery Instructions' box on the checkout screen when you make your order, here you can give us specific details of where to leave the delivery if you are out.