Another Rain Barrel Question

[Farmer Dave]

I was using two 55 gallon steel drums to catch rain water from my gutters for watering plants in the summer. (I have no running water on the farm) This past winter one of them froze solid and burst open at the seams and the other is buldged out on the bottom but still holds water. My question is ... I bought two blue plastic barrels and wonder if they too would split open when frozen solid or if they would give a little and not be damaged by the freezing. I freeze gallons of milk that come in plastic bottles and they simply expand when frozen and do not bust open. What are your thoughts or experiences?

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by Farmer Dave

I was using two 55 gallon steel drums to catch rain water from my gutters for watering plants in the summer. (I have no running water on the farm) This past winter one of them froze solid and burst open at the seams and the other is buldged out on the bottom but still holds water. My question is ... I bought two blue plastic barrels and wonder if they too would split open when frozen solid or if they would give a little and not be damaged by the freezing. I freeze gallons of milk that come in plastic bottles and they simply expand when frozen and do not bust open. What are your thoughts or experiences?

I Vote----Will Bust in time!! Randy

[wy_white_wolf]

May handle a couple of freezes but will eventually burst.

[hunter63]

I drain mine down for the winter, they will bust also (plastic).

[Forerunner]

Drain everything of a water retaining nature in the fall.
This is just another of those things the diligent homesteader must keep in mind.

Also, keep all of your crucial plastic "tools/resources" out of direct sunlight,
year 'round. The sun renders plastics brittle and will deteriorate them to powder over time.

[Burbsteader]

Simple remedy is to drain them down. That is what we do with our barrels.

Perhaps something like a cistern might be better? Definitely not as cheap as a couple of barrels, but it would likely be a lot more practical long term.