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Should You Empty Your Rain Barrel in the Winter?
If your area gets freezing temperatures, you should usually empty your rain barrel before winter and disconnect it from the downspout.
Water expands when it freezes. A barrel that is partly or completely full can crack, split, or damage fittings as the water turns to ice. Hoses, valves, and connecting pipes can also freeze and break.
If you live in a climate where temperatures stay above freezing all winter, you may be able to keep the barrel in service. You will still need to manage overflow, debris, mosquitoes, and regular cleaning.
Why Freezing Water Can Damage a Rain Barrel
A rain barrel may look strong, but it is designed to hold liquid water rather than withstand repeated freeze-and-thaw cycles.
When stored water freezes, it expands. Pressure can develop against:
- The barrel walls
- The bottom of the barrel
- The spigot
- Bulkhead fittings
- Hose connections
- Overflow fittings
- Pipes connecting several barrels
A bulkhead fitting is a fitting that passes through the wall of the barrel and creates a sealed connection for a valve, pipe, or hose.
Even a barrel that is not completely full can be damaged. Ice may form around fittings or trap water in small sections of plumbing.
For this reason, simply draining half the barrel is generally not enough for a freezing climate.
When to Winterize Your Rain Barrel
Winterize the barrel before regular freezing weather arrives.
You do not need to wait until the first hard freeze. Doing the work while temperatures are still mild makes it easier to drain the barrel, clean it, and deal with wet hoses.
Pay particular attention if your barrel is:
- Above ground
- Made from rigid plastic
- Connected to other barrels
- Attached to exposed hoses or pipes
- Equipped with a pump
- Located where water can collect around the base
The colder and longer your winters are, the more important full winterization becomes.
How to Prepare a Rain Barrel for Winter
A simple rain barrel usually does not require complicated winter preparation.
1. Drain the Barrel
Use the stored rainwater before winter if practical. Garden beds, trees, and other suitable outdoor plants may provide a useful place for the remaining water.
Then open the spigot and allow the barrel to drain.
Do not assume an open spigot will remove every bit of water. Some barrels hold water below the outlet. Tilt or drain the barrel according to its design without putting yourself at risk from the weight.
Water is heavy. A barrel should be nearly empty before you attempt to move it.
2. Disconnect the Downspout
Stop additional roof runoff from entering the barrel.
How you do this depends on the collection system. You might:
- Reconnect the original downspout
- Switch a diverter to its winter position
- Remove the barrel's inlet hose
- Redirect the downspout away from the barrel
Make sure roof runoff still has a safe path away from the foundation.
Do not simply cap a downspout unless the drainage system was designed for that arrangement. Blocking the water's normal path can cause backups or unwanted overflow.
3. Drain Hoses and Connecting Pipes
Disconnect garden hoses, linking hoses, and exposed pipes that can hold water.
A small amount of trapped water can freeze inside a valve or connector.
Pay particular attention to low spots where water cannot drain naturally.
4. Open the Spigot
After draining, many simple barrel systems are best stored with the valve open so trapped water has somewhere to escape.
If your barrel manufacturer gives different winter-storage instructions, follow those instructions.
Remove easily detachable fittings when appropriate and store them somewhere they will not be damaged.
5. Clean Out Debris
Winter is a good time to remove leaves, roof grit, sediment, and organic material.
Rinse or wipe accessible surfaces as appropriate for the barrel. Clean screens and inspect the inlet and overflow openings.
Do not enter a large tank or cistern to clean it. Confined-space tanks can present serious hazards and require different procedures.
6. Store or Secure the Empty Barrel
If possible, move a small empty barrel into a shed, garage, or other protected space.
If it must remain outside, secure it so wind cannot knock it over or carry it away.
Some people turn an empty barrel upside down. This can work for suitable barrel designs, but make sure openings cannot collect water and that the barrel is stable.
A cover can help keep debris and precipitation out, but a cover alone does not protect a water-filled barrel from freezing.
What About a Downspout Diverter?
A downspout diverter sends part of the roof runoff into the rain barrel while allowing excess water to continue through the drainage system.
For winter, the goal is to prevent water from entering a barrel that has been taken out of service.
Some diverters have a plug, cap, switch, or removable hose for this purpose. Others require you to restore the downspout configuration.
Check the instructions for your particular diverter because the correct arrangement varies.
After making the change, confirm that rain and melting snow can still move through the gutter and downspout without backing up.
Should You Leave Some Water in the Barrel for Weight?
In a freezing climate, filling a rain barrel with water just to keep it from blowing away is generally a poor approach.
The water that provides extra weight is also the water that may freeze and damage the barrel.
Guidance on freeze-related cracking in rain barrels helps understand protection for exposed components in cold-weather service.
Instead, empty the barrel and secure it using a method appropriate for its location and construction.
Do not create a tie-down arrangement that damages the barrel, gutter, downspout, siding, or nearby plumbing.
Can an Insulated Rain Barrel Stay Full?
Insulation can slow temperature changes, but it does not guarantee that an above-ground barrel will remain unfrozen during prolonged cold weather.
A small amount of insulation cannot create heat. Eventually, extended freezing conditions can bring the stored water below freezing.
Active heating introduces additional concerns, including electricity near water, outdoor electrical protection, operating costs, and equipment compatibility. It is usually unnecessary for a basic seasonal garden barrel.
For most homeowners in freezing climates, draining and bypassing a seasonal barrel is simpler and safer.
What If You Have Several Connected Rain Barrels?
Winterizing connected barrels requires more attention because water can remain trapped between them.
Drain each barrel and inspect:
- Lower connecting hoses
- Upper overflow connections
- Valves
- Tees and elbows
- Pumps
- Filters
- Exposed pipe sections
Do not assume that draining one barrel completely drains the others.
Any low section of pipe can hold water after the barrels appear empty.
If the system cannot drain by gravity, follow the equipment manufacturer's winterization instructions or have a qualified installer evaluate it.
What About Pumps?
A pump connected to a rain barrel can also be damaged by freezing water.
The barrel may be empty while water remains inside the pump housing, filter housing, pressure line, or fittings.
Pump winterization varies by design. Follow the pump manufacturer's instructions for draining, storage, and restart.
Disconnect electrical equipment safely before servicing it. Pumps that are permanently wired or part of a more complex pressure system may require a qualified professional.
Do Underground Cisterns Need to Be Emptied?
Not necessarily.
An underground cistern is very different from a small above-ground rain barrel. Depending on the tank depth, climate, piping arrangement, soil conditions, and system design, the stored water may remain protected from freezing.
The exposed parts of the system can still be vulnerable, including:
- Pipes near the surface
- Pumps
- Filters
- Valves
- Outdoor faucets
- Above-ground treatment equipment
Do not automatically empty a buried cistern for winter. Some tanks may also depend on surrounding conditions or stored water for structural stability. Follow the tank manufacturer's instructions and the system design.
What If Your Winters Are Mild?
If temperatures in your area do not reach freezing, you may be able to use the rain barrel throughout winter.
Check it periodically for:
- Overflow problems
- Leaves and sediment
- Clogged inlet screens
- Mosquito access
- Algae
- Leaks
- Loose fittings
- An unstable base
Winter rainfall can fill a small barrel quickly. The overflow should carry excess water to a suitable drainage location rather than allowing it to collect next to the house.
Remember the Barrel's Base
Winterization is also a good time to inspect the support under the barrel.
Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per U.S. gallon, or about 1 kilogram per liter. That means even a modest rain barrel can weigh hundreds of pounds when full.
Look for settlement, cracking, leaning, or erosion around the base.
Do not put a full rain barrel on an improvised stand that is not designed for the load.
Getting the Barrel Ready Again in Spring
Before reconnecting the system, inspect everything for winter damage.
Check the:
- Barrel walls and bottom
- Spigot
- Seals and fittings
- Screens
- Overflow
- Connecting hoses
- Base or stand
- Downspout diverter
Clean out accumulated debris before collecting new runoff.
After reconnecting the system, watch it during the first rainfall if practical. Confirm that water enters correctly, overflow goes where intended, and no fittings leak.
If the collected water will be used for anything beyond ordinary non-potable outdoor purposes, consider the entire collection and treatment system rather than assuming winter storage or spring cleaning makes the water safe to drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to completely empty my rain barrel before winter?
If your area experiences freezing temperatures, completely draining a typical above-ground rain barrel is the safer approach. Water left in the barrel, valves, hoses, or fittings can freeze and cause damage.
Can I leave my rain barrel outside all winter if it is empty?
Often, yes. An empty barrel can usually remain outside if its material is suitable for outdoor exposure and it is secured against wind. Prevent rain, snow, or meltwater from refilling it, and follow the manufacturer's storage instructions.
Should I leave the rain barrel spigot open during winter?
For many basic barrels, leaving the valve open after draining helps prevent water from remaining trapped inside. Follow the barrel manufacturer's instructions if they specify another storage position.
At what temperature should I empty my rain barrel?
Do not base winterization on one exact temperature. Prepare the system before your area begins experiencing repeated freezing conditions. This gives you time to drain hoses and redirect the downspout before ice becomes a problem.
Will a rain barrel crack if the water freezes?
It can. Freezing water expands and can place pressure on the barrel walls, bottom, valves, and fittings. Whether damage occurs depends on the barrel and how much water is trapped, so intentionally allowing the water to freeze is not a reliable strategy.
Can I just cover my rain barrel instead of draining it?
No. A cover can keep debris or precipitation out, but it does not prevent stored water from freezing during sustained cold weather.
Should I empty an underground rainwater tank for winter?
Not automatically. Underground cisterns have different freeze and structural considerations from small above-ground barrels. Follow the tank manufacturer's guidance and the system design, and winterize vulnerable pumps and piping as required.
