Winter Water Butt Care

Even though a water butt would have to endure several days at sub-zero temperatures for it to crack, it’s best to take measures now than be sorry later. For you to achieve the best results and care, read on to find out our tips.

Prevention Is Key

The first thing you should do is empty the water butt partially or completely so the remaining water doesn’t freeze or swell. Also, you can give it an annual clean to reduce the risks of it smelling and being full of algae. After you have cleaned the tank, you should put the lid back on and check if there are any gaps because mosquitos and other larvae might consider the butt as a lovely home to settle in and lay their eggs.

If you would like to leave it outside during the winter months, you need to make sure the tap is left open so any water that gathers can be easily drained. For over-cautious people, the downpipe, diverter and connector can be removed, however, this isn’t an obligatory task. If you decide to do this, you should also clean the parts before putting them away.

Some owners of water butts would recommend covering the top of the container with a thick layer of bubble wrap or blanket. If by any chance you are an owner of a rainwater butt, you needn’t worry as much since it is quite easy to maintain, nevertheless, it can still sometimes be at risk of cracking or splitting.

Ease the Maintenance

It is worth mentioning that you can come across a certain type of water butts, which will expand once the water inside freezes and then return to its original state when the weather warms up. However, many plastic water butts don’t have this handy feature.

If you’re not wanting to drain your butt and keep the water as it is, a few tricks that can save you that trouble are insulating the water butt with gardening protection fleece and putting it on a stand, which will protect it from freezing.

Need a helping hand? Give our Aftercare Team at call on 0116 210 0760 today.