Water Butt connections

[Davyburns]

I am thinking of adding a second water butt, but the only place to put it, is behind the first one, and I wont have any access to it, so what the best way to connect it? I know there are several ways to do it, but which is the best?

[Bren In Pots]

Think I'd use this way :-

Connecting Water Butts - Water

[Piggle]

that's what I did but being too tight to shell out the tenner to buy the kit I used a peice of spare hose pipe and some silicone to seal the hole.

So far so good -!

A tenner for a bit of pipe and two washers .. I don't think so!

[Two_Sheds]

I've tried the proper connectors, and they always leak.

My hosepipe Heath Robinson effort works just fine though

(just old bits of hosepipe sunk in each butt, siphoning to the butt next to it)

[snuffer]

If I understand you correctly you need a way of emptying both butts from just one tap. That means the butts need to be connected together somewhere near their bases. It also means it is very important that the connection does not leak. I would use connectors used in plumbing. The same connectors used for toilet cistern overflows should do the job.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The problem you will have if you are to connect two butts at the bottom is to reach down inside the butt to make the connections.

If you have access. I would use Polyplumb push fit plastic fittings. Two 22mm tank connectors £3-99. plus a short end of 22mm Cu tube. I would not use the plastic overflow pipe as it is to brittle with no movement, therefore would be likely to snap if either of the butts moved when they were empty.

If you do not have access. You would normally expect to find a 1/2 or 3/4 female thread for accepting the tap. Use a compression male iron straight connector in the rear butt and a 'bib tap` tee in the front one. This will allow you to make the connections and fit your original tap.

All available from your local plumbers merchant.

Colin

[Davyburns]

The problem you will have if you are to connect two butts at the bottom is to reach down inside the butt to make the connections.

If you have access. I would use Polyplumb push fit plastic fittings. Two 22mm tank connectors £3-99. plus a short end of 22mm Cu tube. I would not use the plastic overflow pipe as it is to brittle with no movement, therefore would be likely to snap if either of the butts moved when they were empty.

If you do not have access. You would normally expect to find a 1/2 or 3/4 female thread for accepting the tap. Use a compression male iron straight connector in the rear butt and a 'bib tap` tee in the front one. This will allow you to make the connections and fit your original tap.

All available from your local plumbers merchant.

Colin

This sounds great, but do they do the instructions in English? i'm not in the top leagues when it comes to DIY
I suppose if i print out this post, my local plumbers merchant will sort me out though!
Thanks for that

[Potstubsdustbins]

Davy, let me know which way you are going to go and I will guide you through it. It really is very simple which ever way you go.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

Potty, I'm trying very, very hard not to make any comments but the thought of walking into a Plumber's merchants and asking for some of those connectors is making it very hard to control. I'm biting the insides of my cheeks (facial) - that usually works!

[lottie dolly]

Think I'd use this way :-

Connecting Water Butts - Water

that what we done only differenceDH drilled holes to suit the size of pipe after his many recycling/scrounging trips,
here are a few of ours,they work well,last year we did not have to use the lotty tap,you cannot see,but their are short bits between the row of barralls

[Davyburns]

Cheers Colin, I havnt got my 2nd Butt yet, but hopefully, it will be by the weekend. I take it I'll need a 22mm drill?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Have you got access to be able to reach right down into the butts?

Colin

[Davyburns]

Well, I'm a big bloke, and dunno if I can get inside the new one yet as I havnt got it, but I'll get the goggles and snorkel out tomorrow, and try the biggest one

But then the OH is quite a bit smaller than me.

I have a cartoon image in my head of me drilling a hole into a curved surface whil my wife, who is inside the Butt, is trying to steady it

[Potstubsdustbins]

Davy you will only need to make a hole if your going with suggestion one. Then if you have a short end of 22mm coppper tube you heat this up to cherry red and just push it through the plastic. Makes a nice neat hole of the correct size without any stress on the plastic. You can usually pick up short ends from a friendly plumber of your local scrap yard.

Colin

[Davyburns]

Is a short end exactly as the name implies?