Stuff You Should Know Stuff You Should Know

Short Stuff: Rain Barrels!

Jun 10, 2026

Summary

Josh and Jerry discuss rain barrels, covering their history, benefits for plants, and environmental impact. They explain how to calculate water yield based on roof size and warn against drinking the collected water due to contaminants. The hosts also detail essential setup tips, including filtration, overflow management, mosquito prevention, and winterization.

Topics discussed

Sponsors: Capital One and LinkedIn Introduction to rain barrels and past failures Benefits of rainwater for plants and softness Ecological impact and reducing runoff Sponsors: LinkedIn and Wayfair Calculating rainwater collection volume Roof materials and water contamination risks Essential components: filters, lids, and overflow Maintenance, winterizing, and safety warnings
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