Blasted water butt

I know, I know. It's hardly the season to be worrying about a water butt (see here for earlier post). Typically, all summer I've been waiting for parts to get it up and running and now, just when I thought it was doing its job, I notice a hitch. When it’s full, there is a leak at the point where the diverter enters into the butt, so on the side of the barrel. A drip drip drip that makes my patio soggy. Sorry to talk boring technicalities – I’m imagining I’ve already lost all non water butt owners - but I was hoping someone might have some advice. I bought my butt from Wiggly Wigglers, it’s the one in the picture here, and I don’t think I did anything wrong when I set it up (I says “I” but obviously I stood back and watched The Eco Sceptic Boyfriend do it).

Comments

[Neil]

I haven't done one with a diverter, but I can see those joints may be difficult to be water tight.

But I'm not sure why it is such an issue for you - if the butt fills up it will eventually spill onto the patio. So whether it is at the diverter or an inch or so later when it reaches the top, does it matter? Or is there something I'm missing like an overflow that doesn't cause a spill?

[Eco Worrier]

Well, Neil, it is not supposed to spill out to the top when it is full. It is supposed to be cunningly designed so that when it's full, the rainwater continues down the pipe instead of being diverted. I agree, however, this is not a matter of life or death.

[hedgewizard]

If the diverter joint is off-tolerance then it'll need to be replaced, sorry. If you don't fancy that then chewing gum round the joint, I should think. If that works you could consider something more permanent.

[Andrew Harmsworth]

I have the same butt at our house and have experienced the same problem: it basically stems from the fact that you have to cut your own hole and I bodged mine with a blunt knife! You can tighten the interior 'nut' though (try a large pair of pliers) and if that doesn't give you a water-tight seal (because the hole is too big!) I would think you could add a home-made, recycled "washer" by cutting out several pieces of plastic from, say, a plastic tub or a plastic milk bottle. The flexible nature will help it.

Take the lid off and photograph the pipe fitting for me if you need more advice! These butts are great (apart from cutting the hole). Andrew.

[Andrew Harmsworth]

I have the same butt at our house and have experienced the same problem: it basically stems from the fact that you have to cut your own hole and I bodged mine with a blunt knife! You can tighten the interior 'nut' though (try a large pair of pliers) and if that doesn't give you a water-tight seal (because the hole is too big!) I would think you could add a home-made, recycled "washer" by cutting out several pieces of plastic from, say, a plastic tub or a plastic milk bottle. The flexible nature will help it.

Take the lid off and photograph the pipe fitting for me if you need more advice! These butts are great (apart from cutting the hole). Andrew.

[Eco Worrier]

Hedgewizard - chewing gum round the joint, now there's an idea. I went for the more boring silicone sealant, but then it rained, which it wasn't supposed to (silicone is supposed to be kept dry for 48 hours) and anyway, it hasn't worked.
Andrew - it is very reassuring to hear that you have experienced the same thing. we thought we were just particularly crap. thanks for the tip about tightening the nut from the inside - i'll try that. i have only tightened it from the outside and that makes the leak worse.
I will post photo later today...
I also wondered, since it is winter and is unlikely to be dry, whether we should disconnect the diverter anyway and block it with a cork (this works well) and postpone worrying about the leak until next year.

[Heather Gorringe]

Hello All
I'm thinking that this should not leak and that if it is faulty contact Rachel at Wiggly Wigglers
rach@wigglywigglers.co.uk and she will sort you out with a replacement if need be or advice if we have any appropriate gossip on the topic...
I would normally but am not in the UK. I assume my dears therefore that it is raining?

[Heather Gorringe]

Hello All
I'm thinking that this should not leak and that if it is faulty contact Rachel at Wiggly Wigglers
rach@wigglywigglers.co.uk and she will sort you out with a replacement if need be or advice if we have any appropriate gossip on the topic...
I would normally but am not in the UK. I assume my dears therefore that it is raining?

[Rachel Jones]

Hi Everyone,
I have not had any emails regarding the above so I thought I would add some extra info to help out.
The Instructions say:-
'Drill a 25mm hole on the side of the water butt closest to the downpipe centering the drill bit in the marked circular area', this will make a CLEAN CUT, this is the important bit because a blunt knife will not! The other issue is the washer, the divertor kit is supplied with a soft sponge washer that fits on the dirveror part, which then slots from inside the but, through your drilled hole, to the outside, you then screw on the pipe and outside nut, the inside diverter part (which holds the washer) should be held in place while tightening from the nut on the outside of the but, by doing it this way the inside washer will not get turned around by tighten and all screwed up(because it's a soft washer)thus not being a inefficient washer!

The above is probably as clear as mud!
Email me if more info is required and I'll do my best.
Bye, Rach