Can a Check Valve Solution Make Water Flow Up a Pipe into a Rain Barrel?

[johnjackson112]

Good day to you all, some of you may be able to help me with my problem. So I have a flat roof and I have a pipe that goes from the roof to the ground and it drains all the water. I want to extend the pipe to a rain barrel, so I can use it for the garden. The rain barrel has an opening at the top where the pipe should go to let out all the water. The problem is that the pipe is lower than where the opening of the rain barrel is. I thought of drilling a hole in the side of the rain barrel and putting a check valve there so the water can go into the rain barrel but not back into the pipe. I just want to know if that will work or if there is another way to like make water go up a pipe and into the rain barrel, thanks!

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

I think a check valve would work. The efficiency of the entire thing might depend on how steep the incline of the bottom of the pipe to the rain barrel is. Perhaps a siphon might come in handy ... ?

And the entire project shouldn't be too costly so you can always experiment and play around with the setup

 

[Orodruin]

What is the point of the check valve? You will need a water column inside the pipe which is as high as the water column in the barrel for water to flow through it. As you empty the barrel, the water surface in both will go down. You will never have a higher surface in the barrel than in the pipe (which is why you might want a check valve) unless you fill it using some other means - so unless you do that the valve is completely without function.

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

You will never have a higher surface in the barrel than in the pipe

I thought the OP was implying that rain barrel is on higher ground than where the start of the pipe is, no?

 

[johnjackson112]

I thought the OP was implying that rain barrel is on higher ground than where the start of the pipe is, no?

The rain barrel is indeed higher than the pipe

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

The rain barrel is indeed higher than the pipe

In that case, a check valve would serve a function.

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

... though I think that your first goal is to figure out how to push the water up the incline. Wouldn't a siphon work?

 

[1oldman2]

Wouldn't a siphon work?

Your on the right track, only you need to maintain the siphon suction during low water in the barrel.

 

[russ_watters]

The rain barrel is indeed higher than the pipe

The rain barrel is higher than the top of the pipe where it meets the roof? Really?

 

[rootone]

... or if there is another way to like make water go up a pipe and into the rain barrel, thanks!

A pump, it could be low power solar wotsit powered pump if you have a lot of sun.

 

[1oldman2]

are you speaking of an inlet or outlet on the barrel ?

 

[Ketch22]

Russ is onto something. It sounds like the water source is on the roof and the barrel is on the ground. Just extend the pipe back up from the ground to where it dumps into the barrel. The static head coming down from the roof will push it up into the barrel.

 

[Orodruin]

In that case, a check valve would serve a function.

The rain barrel is higher than the top of the pipe where it meets the roof? Really?

What Russ said. If the barrel is higher than the top of the pipe you do not need a check valve, you need a pump.

The only reasonable interpretation of the OP is that the pipe outlet is lower than the top of the barrel.

Russ is onto something. It sounds like the water source is on the roof and the barrel is on the ground. Just extend the pipe back up from the ground to where it dumps into the barrel. The static head coming down from the roof will push it up into the barrel.

This.

 

[russ_watters]

Russ is onto something. It sounds like the water source is on the roof and the barrel is on the ground. Just extend the pipe back up from the ground to where it dumps into the barrel. The static head coming down from the roof will push it up into the barrel.

Right. The pipe would be full of water up to the level of the barrel top, but that's probably not a big deal.

 

[johnjackson112]

The rain barrel is higher than the top of the pipe where it meets the roof? Really?

What Russ said. If the barrel is higher than the top of the pipe you do not need a check valve, you need a pump.

The only reasonable interpretation of the OP is that the pipe outlet is lower than the top of the barrel.

This.

The barrel is higher than where the pipe ends, but not higher than where the pipe starts

 

[russ_watters]

The barrel is higher than where the pipe ends, but not higher than where the pipe starts

So just extend the pipe back up to the top of the barrel. The pipe will remain full of water and will need to be well sealed.

 

[johnjackson112]

So just extend the pipe back up to the top of the barrel. The pipe will remain full of water and will need to be well sealed.

If I make the pipe go up how will the water go up?

 

[russ_watters]

If I make the pipe go up how will the water go up?

The water will fill up the pipe until it spills out whatever is the lowest opening...which will be into the rain barrel.

 

[johnjackson112]

The water will fill up the pipe until it spills out whatever is the lowest opening...which will be into the rain barrel.

That may be true, but wouldn't that mean that not all the water will go into the barrel?

 

[russ_watters]

That may be true, but wouldn't that mean that not all the water will go into the barrel?

Yes, the pipe will hold a certain amount of water all the time. But rain barrels fill up surprisingly fast, so I doubt that will be a problem.

 

[berkeman]

So just extend the pipe back up to the top of the barrel. The pipe will remain full of water and will need to be well sealed.

And be sure to use a fine screen at the top of the pipe to keep leaves and twigs out of the pipe (and keep the screen cleaned). Also, consider attind a cleanout vent (screw-on cap) at the bottom of the pipe where you are adding a U-joint to go back up to the top of the barrel. That will help you keep the pipe cleared out.

Can you UPLOAD a picture or two of your setup?

 

[russ_watters]

Can you UPLOAD a picture or two of your setup?

Yeah, because rain barrels are kind of a normal thing and what is being described for us as the setup isn't. Usually, you cut the downspout and splice-in a diverter pipe...
[not my sketch]