Leaking Water Butt

Nutty_Tart

Hi all, I hope you can help?

I have recently 'robbed' my friends garden (they are moving, so I took the opportunity to 'help them get rid of a few things' lol) Although you could call it recycling Anyway, I now have a compost bin, lots of bulbs etc and a water butt. It has become apparent that the water butt has a leak in the bottom of it. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to 'seal' it? Is there something special I need to buy, or should I just get another butt?

Your advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

sce37

Have just replaced the tap on our butt with the hosepipe end. Had to mess about with the hole abit and used I think its called plumbers mate or something. It is like putty but does not set. Seems to be holding the water in ok on our butt.

alanobrien

There is a 2 part putty you can get from BandQ and the likes plumbing section.
Its normally used to seal off dripping pipes and taps.

You use a bit of each putty mix them together then press it into the leak and it will harden off and seal the leak. It has several different trade names, i used a bit on our old leaky water butt and it worked a treat.
Ask at your local DIY shed.

angelavdavis

I had the same problem with mine, it split along the seal. I tried various things without success so ended up drilling holes in the bottom, cutting it down a third of the way straight across. Used the top bit with the lid as a rhubarb forcer and the bottom to plant my potatoes in!

Sid's_a_gardener

If the barrel is leaking from the base as you describe try a spade full of sand or garden soil in the barrel. The escaping water/soil mixture will soon block that leak. I've used this method, its cheap and it works.;)

Nutty_Tart

Thank you all for your replies. I will try Sid's method first (coz its free! lol). I like the potato idea too - I have to have a couple of tyres put on the car in the next couple of weeks, so was thinking about bringing the old ones home and painting them ready to put potatoes in. Am getting the hang of this re-cycling thing

Lord_Gardener

If its a split, careful use of a soldering iron should do the trick - I've done a few! If its a hole - drill to uniform size and use nut and bolt and washers to fix!

Dustykitten

I've just been to use our water butt which was full 2 weeks ago and it is empty. It is a really old wooden barrel. We've upended it (now I know where the slugs have been living with the woodlice) and the base is wet , the inside is full of black sludge. Do you think I should try to soil method or does anybody else have another idea, I really want to repair it and can't afford a new wooden one.

Suzy_M

Wooden Barrel Leaking -

If the tap has been knocked it might just have broken any seal. Try tightening the tap.

If the barrel itself is leaking a quick fix would be to line it with a heavy duty bin liner.

Or it could simply be old age and the base has rotted. You could fit a new base or if the old one isn't too bad clean the barrel out and let the wood dry thoroughly (probably for weeks) treat the wood with a preservative, then treat any soft areas with a wood hardener and then an exterior filler.

Dustykitten

Thanks Suzy - we have established that the base is rotting - the bricks it was on had sunk and it was on the soil. It has been cleaned and is drying out. We will then try fixing. It is leaking round the edge of the base - do you think silcone filler (like you use on baths etc) would work?

bella165

yes thats the best thing to use or even candle wax will do the job