My rain barrel setup flooded my basement last week

I put in a 55 gallon rain barrel system last spring to water my garden, thinking it was a solid move to cut down on tap water. It worked fine until we got that heavy rain in Portland last Tuesday. The overflow hose, which was just a basic garden hose, got clogged with leaves and pine needles. I didn't check it before the storm. Next thing I know, water is backing up, overflowing the barrel itself, and pouring right down my foundation wall. Had about two inches of water in a corner of the basement before I caught it. I spent the whole night with a wet vac and fans. I guess my 'climate action' almost caused a mold problem. Has anyone else had a rain barrel fail like this, and what's a better overflow setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella_shah899h ago

Two inches of water is a minor cleanup, not a real flood.

troy_butler78h ago

Tell you what, @stella_shah89, two inches can wreck laminate flooring or a cheap subfloor if it sits. Gotta pull the baseboards and get fans under there fast, or you'll get mold for sure.