Question for creative DIY-ers

[birdographer]

Last edited Sat Oct 5, 2024, 08:15 PM - Edit history (1)

So, we lose our water when we lose our power, which happened during Helene. I finally got a 50-gallon cistern (was due to be delivered today), which will collect water via the downspout on the gutter. However, in this house those are all poorly placed for that. The cistern barrel has a screened slit in the top--the idea is that the downspout (is that the word I want? The pipe the water drains out of from the gutter) water will run into the barrel and can be used for flushing toilets.

We have a shed that has a metal roof--ribbed, not flat. The roof is not straight along the bottom edge, it is warped. But rain water runs down it. Can anyone think of something to fashion to direct the water to one place to flow off the roof (since it's ribbed, can't just attach something to direct the flow)? I assume we can take the lid off the barrel so we have a larger opening for water to fall into, but I don't know how to direct it to above the barrel. If this makes sense and you have any ideas, let me know!

Edited to add: Why does this have to come from a roof? The cistern barrel is maybe 4' high, can I not construct something 5' high to run rainwater into it? I am thinking we could replace the lid with window screening to keep a lot out. Again, just used for flushing, so does not need to be clean. In our old house, we had two roofs come together, which created the most perfect run of water, I used to "shower" under there during power outages. Can I not create something like that?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. You don't want to take the lid off, you'll have to clean your toilets more

Are you morally opposed to installing a gutter on the shed? Probably not; perhaps it is a question of saving money. Then the downspout can collect from the gutter and into the barrel as designed.

If it just for a shed, you might find serviceable gutters left at the side of the road as destroyed houses get fixed or demolished.

[biophile]

2. A water barrel will serve you in the summer

If you live in the north, it can freeze in the winter and you are out of luck unless you bring buckets in the warm house before the freeze. Also the barrel itself might not be frost hardy- a freeze with water in it could split the seam. Certainly a tap at the bottom of the barrel would freeze.
But to answer your question about directing the water, I once used plastic sheeting to create a water flow out a window from my leaking enclosed porch roof. Something like a plastic shower curtain might also work

[birdographer]

12. We are in NC

We do have freezes but they don't last--we can use regular buckets at those times.

The plastic shower curtain idea is a gem--we don't need a big system so buying a tarp would be overkill. Thanks for that!

[biophile]

13. Great! Hope it helps

I used a shower curtain too and the ring openings are handy to hook over nails or whatever. You might have to secure it in a windy situation though! Best of luck!

[slightlv]

4. The first thing I thought of (and so is probably a goofy suggestion)

is to build up a trough along the side of the shed. Build it up over the size of the barrel, and then have it funneled down into the barrel. Like I said, probably goofy... but I feel ya. Good luck!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. In other words, a gutter. . . nt

[HighFired49]

5. What are the measurements?

How long is the drip side of your shed, and how far from the shed wall does the drip edge overhang? If the drip edge is about 2-3 inches from the shed wall, you could just screw a regular piece of rain gutter to the wall of the shed just under the drip edge with a cap on one end and a down spout on the other. If you attach it to the wall, it won't matter if the roof profile is flat.

Good luck!

[birdographer]

7. Drip side is at least 12"

Almost the whole side of the shed is protected by the roof from rain.

[HighFired49]

8. Don't know if this is helpful, but

]

You might be able to make something like this work. Looks like you could bolt it directly under the roof using nuts, bolts, and plastic washers right near the bend of the flat edge of the gutter so it wouldn't bend with the weight of the water. It's called a "half round highback gutter." Sorry, I don't have any other ideas. Good luck!

[birdographer]

10. That might work!

We don't need a gutter to run all the way across the bottom of the roof, just enough to collect some water over time. Thanks!

[usonian]

9. Some ideas.

Put up a tarp?
https://harvestingaqua.com/collect-rainwater-without-gutters/


Some states ban it.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/collecting-rain-water-in-these-states-could-be-illegal/

[birdographer]

11. We are looking into a tarp

The gutter someone else suggested turns out to be way more expensive than we need. This tarp idea, made on a much smaller scale than at the website, seems like the best bet yet. Thanks for the idea, I appreciate it!