collecting water off a green house

[Jimmy]

My 6x8 greenhouse has two small gutters on each side.
The water by default just pours off the ends of the gutters.
For some while I have considered collecting it.
I looked at the commercial end caps systems, far too expensive for me.

Here is what I did.
In the DIY stores you can buy 2cm white plastic water pipe.
You can also buy elbows and tee connectors.
It's all quite cheap.

I took a soft drinks can an cut out two small squares with some scissors.
Then block one end off the gutters with them using some bathroom sealant, the ends at the greenhouse door end.

I took a short length of the white pipe, about 4 cm and inserted into an elbow so about 2 cm stuck out.
The stuck out bit just nestles nicely in the gutter so I fixed it with some more bathroom sealant.
You could cut a small slit in the tube with a hacksaw and it would then slide onto the gutter for a better fit. Bathroom sealant of course.
Now I had an elbow on each gutter at the end opposite the greenhouse door.

So with a long length of pipe and a tee piece in the middle I connected the two elbows together.
A bit of pipe from the tee piece into a water butt and bingo it works.

Any help to anyone ?
Jimmy

[burnie]

I've cheated, my greenhouse was fully equipped with all I needed.

[Jimmy]

I once read if you block the gutter ends and at the other end run a piece of string into the butt then the water follows it in.
Not sure if that's true ?
Jimmy

[Bren In Pots]

Jimmy my GH guttering sound similar to yours, Bigmallly helped with the planning and it works fine. Not heard of the string idea though.

[Jimmy]

Very similar I will try and get a photo today.
Your elbows etc look more complicated than mine. Mine are simple push fittings.
Jimmy

[Bren In Pots]

Jimmy mine was made from a dismantled pond filter system out of it all I only had to buy one long piece of pipe. If I'd spent more money it probably would have worked out different.

[Jimmy]

Yes pond stuff does seem applicable.
I saw Wilkco sell a 1.5m length of flexible hose for £2, it's for joining two butts together. Could be useful !
The flexible hose is often used for ponds.
Re: ponds, waste of space in my mind.
Jimmy

[Bren In Pots]

Jimmy I loved my pond but I needed/wanted more space for veg so the pond had to go it did take some filling in though.

[Jimmy]

A picture of the gutter showing my bodge job using bathroom sealant (plus example elbow).
And a picture a bit over exposed showing end of GH. No down pipe or butt as yet.
I was thinking of locating the butt at the front of the green house as much more convenient.
So I need some more plumbing to get water back round !