rain barrell

[uphwiz]

any one have an idea how to thaw my frozen solid 100 gal rain barrel ,my jugs are running out.
Could you use the heat tape . such as is used to keep water lines from freezing,
i know nxt year ill need to put something in the water b4 it freezes, i need advise on what to use in that application also , if any knows of an good inexpensive in water heater?

 

[cp-connection]

There are actually heaters designed for heating drums but I'm not sure if they're for outside locations. Second to buying some distilled water, your best bet is a "floating pond heater". I have one of the green ones: http://brands.hardwarestore.com/farm-innovators-inc.aspx I can't remember what the thermostat is set to, I think its on at 35F, off at 45F.

 

[Jayson16]

I have the same problem with my 55 gal rain barrel...

 

[uphwiz]

ive usually emptied 80% out by now and have most of it in jugs ,but got caught off guard this year .
Didn't know winter was coming LOL.
Wonder if it will damage the barrell/ 100gal rubbermade trough, used for feeding cattle think its a fiberglass/rubber compound of some kind , and is graded in three levels small at bottom, so i think the frozen water has room to expand up without binding.

 

[uphwiz]

finally thawed out today , i filled every jug i could find,
i think our temps will drop drastically again soon , though the past two days ive been in just a t-shirt , i do so like the cold. well down to say 20 not less sorry zone 6 and under. its not for me