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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS The New Englander rain barrel • Bio-Orb® composter • Accessories New Englander rain barrel FAQ What are the benefits of owning a New Englander rain barrel? What makes New Englander rain barrels better than the others? How do I order one of your rain barrels? Exactly how big and how heavy is one of your rain barrels? Can I get my New Englander rain barrel in a color other than blue? What do I do with my rain barrel in the wintertime? Can I leave it outside? Is rain water collected in a rain barrel suitable for drinking? Am I able to connect multiple rain barrels together? What are the benefits of owning a New Englander rain barrel? First and foremost, having a rain barrel underneath your downspout will allow you to collect plenty of natural rain water so that you can keep your gardens watered during a water ban. Rain water is great for plants, being that it's usually soft and free of dissolved materials. Not only will you have water available during a water ban, you'll also free yourself from having to use tap water, saving you a good chunk of change on your water bill. Not to mention, cold tap water can "shock" your plants. Back to top What makes New Englander rain barrels better than the others? Unlike most other rain barrels on the market, our rain barrels are made from recycled barrels. Being that they're recycled, they'll help save the environment. Furthermore, by us using recycled barrels, it enables us to sell them for much less than those other rain barrels on the market today. The midget louvre and screen protects against bugs and critters, and the barrels are childproof -- no one can get inside the barrel. Back to top How do I order one of your rain barrels? To order, call 1.877.977.3135, or if you're participating in one of our special programs, you may order online at our Online Store. You may also e-mail your inquiry to sales@nerainbarrel.com. When e-mailing us, do not e-mail any personal information, such as your credit card number! Leave us your contact information, and one of us will get back with you to complete your order. Back to top Exactly how big and how heavy is one of your rain barrels? Our rain barrels are 36 inches (3 feet) high and 24 inches (2 feet) in diameter. They hold up to 55 gallons of water; and when full, they weigh 440 pounds. So unless you're in training for the next World's Strongest Man competition, be sure your barrel is empty before attempting to lift it. Back to top Can I get my New Englander rain barrel in a color other than blue? No. We tried some different colors, and we had some interesting results. Early on, we used a white barrel that originally had cola syrup in it. The white plastic was actually translucent, and before a week had gone by we had a nice algae garden in our rain barrel. We tried a black barrel, and on the 4th of July we could have boiled lobsters in it the water got so hot. Lots of people inquire about getting a green barrel, but we haven’t seen any on the recycling market. The expensive green ones that you find elsewhere are purpose-built overseas via injection molding and imported by sea to the distribution center (which may partly explain the high cost). Both Krylon and Rustoleum make a spray paint designed specifically for plastic. As you can tell from the photo above, those products really work! Back to top What do I do with my rain barrel in the wintertime? Can I leave it outside? Our prudent advice is to disconnect your rain barrel and put it in the garage or under the porch. As promised, we kept a few outdoors this winter to run a very unscientific but practical R&D process on what happens when rain barrels freeze. The expansion of the water molecule during the freezing process caused full barrels to become disfigured and very unsteady. Back to top Is rain water collected in a rain barrel suitable for drinking? NO! No matter how thirsty you may get toiling away in your garden, don't even think about drinking water from our rain barrels -- or any rain barrel for that matter. If you're concerned about dehydration, bring some bottled water with you to your garden. While we're at it, do not use rain water for cooking or bathing, either. Back to top Am I able to connect multiple rain barrels together? Absolutely. Click here to find out how. Back to top Home • The New Englander • Bio-Orb® • Accessories • Shop Online Instructions • FAQ • About Us • In Memoriam • Contact THE NEW ENGLAND RAIN BARREL COMPANY® Affordable products for a sustainable life • 1.877.977.3135