Buying Rain Barrels

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Rain barrels might seem like a quaint, old fashioned type of thing, but the fact is that more and more people are using one these days to water their flowers and vegetables. It's saving them a pile of money on their water bills, and it's also so much healthier for the plants. You won't be giving them all that salt and chlorine that's so frequently found in large quantities in the water that comes out of your tap. Plus it will be just the right temperature for them so there won't be any shock.

Did you realize that almost 40 percent of your water consumption is going towards your lawn and garden? If you can cut that amount back by using a rain barrel, the money you're going to save will be substantial.

There are other ways you can use the water from a rain barrel as well. You can use it for your indoor plants (they'll love it!), you can wash your car with it, and you can hose down your patio furniture and gardening implements.

The price of rain barrels can be anywhere from $80 for a plain Jane style up to $200 and more for decorative rain barrels. The decorative styles are actually very popular because they add to the look of your landscape. Some of them, such as the line of Algreen rain barrels, even incorporate planters that make them even more functional. These are available for about $100 to $150, but are really worth the money. You can also get a collapsible rain barrel for the low price of $59.99.

Rain barrels usually have a spigot that you can open and close for filling a pail or attaching a hose. Some only have a hose attachment. Many of them come complete with a diverter kit that you attach to a downspout to collect the rain from your gutters. With others you have to buy this kit separately. But if you want to get maximum use from your barrel, it's definitely a recommended purchase.

One of the best places to buy rain barrels is Amazon.com, where they have some terrific prices on products like Algreen rain barrels, RTS Home Accents rain barrels, and Fiskars rain barrels.

It's not hard to buy rain barrels, but you will need to be aware of certain features you should look for. Make sure it has a lid that fits snugly and is childproof. This will also keep out small animals and pets. It needs to have a screen to prevent mosquitoes from using it to lay their eggs. This will also keep out leaves and other debris. Make sure it's constructed from heavy duty plastic or solid wood that can handle the elements without cracking, chipping or fading. Rain barrels range in capacity from 50 to 65 gallons, but you can find some that hold as much as 300 gallons or more.

Some of the best deals on rain barrels can be found at Amazon.com. Their prices are always consistently lower than retail outlets, and if your order is over $25 it might be eligible for free shipping. You'll also find that most of the rain barrels they sell are available at cheaper prices than their online competitors. And because all the rain barrels sold by Amazon are made by well known manufacturers, you know you're going to get top quality for your money. If you're at all dissatisfied, there is absolutely no problem getting a refund. This is an important consideration, because it's great to get a good deal, but good customer service can't be overlooked.

I've looked around for the best price rain barrels on the market, and found that Amazon consistently has the best prices. The Algreen Agua, for example, is $100 at Amazon, but $125 at other online retailers. The Algreen Cascata is $200 at Sears, $199 at Home Depot, but only $150 at Amazon. Some of the RTS Home Accents rain barrels are available from sellers at comparable prices to Amazon, but some of these retailers don't offer free shipping, which means you're actually going to pay more.

The term discount means different things to different people. If you're looking for discount rain barrels, are you just looking for the cheapest price on a reputable product, or are you looking for a cheap, no-name rain barrel? You'll probably find many of those cheaper products, but they're really not a good deal. They're not constructed to last, and you'll probably end up replacing it within a season or two. A true discount rain barrel will be a product made by a well-established manufacturer, but available for a really low price. This is what you'll find when you shop at Amazon.com, where they sell rain barrels from companies such as Algreen, RTS Home Accents and Fiskars, all at considerably lower prices than retail stores and other online outlets.