My rain barrel siphon finally works after 3 tries

I kept having my rain barrel get air locked every time I tried to siphon water out for the garden. Tried raising it up on cinder blocks, still happened. Basically I figured out I needed a bleeder valve at the top of the hose loop. Drilled a little hole and put a brass spigot there, opened it for a second and the flow started right up. What kind of setups do you all use for getting water out without a pump?

3 comments

3 Comments

smith.parker1mo ago

That bleeder valve trick is genius, I had the same air lock issue with my pond pump last summer.

vera1951mo ago

It's funny how many things in life work like that once you start noticing. Air bubbles, vacuum locks, they show up everywhere from pond pumps to your morning coffee maker. It's like the universe reminding us that even simple stuff has its own little physics you gotta work around.

pat_moore1mo ago

Funny how that works, seems like every good idea needs a few attempts before it clicks. That bleeder valve trick is smart, I've noticed that same kind of "air bubble problem" pops up in all sorts of things, not just plumbing. Like when I'm trying to pour gas into a jerry can, you gotta tilt it just right so the air can escape or it glugs and spills everywhere. Same principle with a straw in a drink, you get that little air pocket and nothing moves until you break the seal. Just a reminder that even simple stuff like water flow has its own little rules you gotta figure out.