Winter and waterbutts

davemorton

Should I empty and leave the taps open on my waterbutts, or just let them fill up like normal and possibly freeze ??

wornoutmumoftwo

I have a plastic butt and it's filled full and frozen in the winter, not sure if it's good like that or not but I haven't had any problems in 3 years of having it.

alanobrien

I have several plastic water butts, they do sometimes freeze over winter but i have never touched them, they look after themselves.

BargainGalore

I empty mine regularly what I do if I dont need water for swilling car down after a wash (I make sure its clean water). I wash path with it with some bleach to kill algae I also fitted a hose with the tap adaptor as it fits the tap on water butt abet loose fit and fit a couple of feet of hose (old hose) into the drain and drain off so water never gets smelling

Dustykitten

I've got oak barrel butts and have never emptied them or had a problem with frozen water.

zeupater

Hi

I've got oak barrel butts too ..... I use the old fashoned solution of dropping a tennis ball into the butt .... theory is that the ball will float and absorb the surface ice expansion to protect the butt walls .... it's what both my grandfather and father did, they never had any problems, neither have I (yet !! .... )

Mojisola

It's worth keeping the water in them. If there are any problems with the water supply over the winter, at least you'll have water to keep the toilet flushed!