As summer approaches and warmer temperatures rise, you might look for innovative ways to keep your outdoor space cool and comfortable. Creating a water fountain from 55-gallon drums is an effective and creative cooling solution that will upgrade your backyard just in time for the summer!
DIY Garden Fountains: The Ultimate Backyard Cooling Solution
Adding a water fountain to your backyard or garden can transform your outdoor space into a cooler, more peaceful environment. Beyond the aesthetic appeal of garden fountains, they offer many benefits for enhancing your backyard space and quality of life. The sound of flowing water can be soothing, promoting tranquility and reducing stress.
Summer is the perfect time of the year to relax and unwind in your backyard, and adding a garden water fountain elevates this experience. 55-gallon drums can elevate your outdoor space through DIY drum gardens, rainwater collection systems, composting bins, and water fountains.
The Benefits of 55-Gallon Drums for DIY Water Fountains
Repurposing a 55-gallon drum barrel for your DIY water fountain is an eco-friendly solution to your backyard makeover. Creating a DIY garden fountain with UV-stabilized 55-gallon drums protects the drum from sun exposure and degradation. Resin drums are excellent containers for DIY water fountains, releasing negative ions and reducing airborne pollutants and allergens in the backyard. Drum water fountains improve air quality and naturally cool the backyard through evaporation.
Outdoor water fountains can promote biodiversity in your backyard by attracting butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects. A more vibrant and tranquil atmosphere can encourage homeowners to spend more time outdoors. Incorporating an outdoor water fountain with drum barrels transforms your backyard into a more pleasant place for hosting family gatherings and social events. DIY water fountains with industrial drums are intended to be eco-friendly and low maintenance.
How to Build an Outdoor Water Fountain with 55-Gallon Drums
Designing your backyard water fountain with 55-gallon drums takes an innovative approach to outdoor landscaping and design. With eco-friendly resin drums, you can beat the summer heat with the ultimate backyard cooling system. To create a water fountain with a 55-gallon resin drum, you’ll need the following materials:
- 55-gallon resin drum
- Submersible water pump
- PVC pipes and fittings
- Decorative stones or pebbles (optional)
- Plants for landscaping (optional)
- Outdoor seating (optional)
- Solar lights (optional)
If you’re repurposing a 55-gallon drum, it’s critical to thoroughly clean it to ensure all residue or contaminants are removed. Once you’ve collected the essential materials for your DIY garden fountain, you can consider incorporating additional details and features. When incorporating plants into your outdoor fountain, you want to consider the different types of aquatic plants: (1) floating plants, (2) algae and other plankton, (3) emergent plants, and (4) submerged plants.
Emergent plants are rooted with stems and emerge from the water fountains, including water lilies, cattails, lotus, elephant ears, milkweed, and black mangroves. Floating plants and flowers for outdoor fountains can include water lettuce, giant salvinia, floating crystalwort, water hyacinth, and American featherfoil. Submerged plants for drum water fountains are widgeon grass, eelgrass, coontail, and several different types of pondweed, including sago and ribbonleaf pondweed.
Step-by-Step Guide to DIY Drum Water Fountain
After cleaning your drum container, you’ll drill holes near the bottom of the drum for the water pump’s power cord and pipes. To prevent any water leaks from happening, be sure to make the holes slightly smaller than the pipes. Lastly, use a waterproof sealant around the holes to further prevent leaks.
Now it’s time to install the submersible water pump inside your 55-gallon drum. You’ll feed the pump’s power cord through the drum’s drilled holes. Next, attach the PVC pipes to the water pump to carry water to the fountain. Once the water pump is set up, you can arrange the PVC pipes to create your preferred type of water flow. You can customize it to have the water bubble up from the fountain’s center or cascade down.
Now it’s time for the finishing touches. Fill your 55-gallon drum, whether you have a resin or metal drum, up with water until the water pump is fully submerged. Plug in the water pump to test the functionality of your drum fountain and its water flow. Adding decorative pebbles or stones around the fountain’s base enhances its aesthetic appeal.
Adding aquatic plants in the fountain or flowers around the base can help introduce greenery for a tropical and inviting atmosphere. Installing string or solar lights in the backyard can introduce a nighttime ambiance and promote tranquility in your backyard oasis.
Enhancing Your Backyard Space with 55-Gallon Resin Drums
Transforming a 55-gallon resin drum into an outdoor water fountain is a fun and rewarding backyard project. Not only will a water fountain enhance the appeal of your backyard, but it will also make it more enjoyable to spend time outdoors. The cooling effects of an outdoor water fountain can help beat the summer heat while promoting a more relaxing and tranquil environment. 55-gallon drums are incredibly versatile containers with endless opportunities for DIY outdoor projects.
To purchase UV-stabilized resin 55-gallon drums, visit our website and contact us today!
References:
- Boss Magazine. The Serenity of Outdoor Fountains: Enhancing Your Outdoor Space.
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. AquaPlant: Plant Identification.
- Lowes, 2024. How to Build a DIY Garden Water Fountain.
