Rain Barrel Bulkhead Fitting

For open top or sealed top barrels with at least a 2 inch bung hole.

This is how to install a bulk head fitting on a rain barrel without silicone, without leaks, and ready for your water valve.

This can be done on sealed barrels that have the two inch bung holes. I used an open top barrel to show how it works. Be sure to get a fitting that will fit through the bung hole. Also, I bought one fitting at Home Depot, but when I got home and read the label it had a warning about it containing lead. I didn't want that in contact with my water, so I took it back. I recommend asking about lead content when you buy one.

The tools, the fitting, some string, and a pipe wrench or crescent wrench big enough to fit on the nut. I used a hole saw to make the hole in the barrel, and it turned out the hole was just a bit too small for this fitting. It was perfect for the last fitting I used, but I bought this one at a different store, and it was ever so slightly bigger, so I used a file to enlarge the hole

Unscrew the fitting, take the nut and one washer off.

Run the string through the fitting

Drop the string (but not the fitting) into the barrel. Tilt the barrel so the string can be seen through the hole.

Fish around with your finger and pull the string outside.

Let the fitting fall down while holding the string at the top outside the barrel, and using your finger, stick it in the fitting and pull it through the hole, then pull the string out.

Hold onto the threaded end, put the outside washer on, screw the nut on (which is left handed thread). Tighten slightly with a wrench, but remember you're dealing with plastic, so don't over tighten or you will crack it, and your done! A leak proof fitting without silicone or any other chemical sealant coming into contact with your water. The last picture is how it looks on the inside of the barrel.