Cold Climate Folks- Rain Barrels?

[keyslover]

I am looking at getting DH a Rain Barrel for Father's Day and I have been looking at ones that are able to handle "Harsh Temperatures".  Anyone have one that was out during the winter and survived?  Here are some of the examples I have seen.



www.skymall.com/canadian-year-round-rain-barrel/12040.html


www.homedepot.com/p/Koolatron-55-gal-Rain-Barrel-RBSS-55/100670191


www.amazon.com/Algreen-81112-50-Gallon-Collection-Storage/dp/B001U88ZP8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432729452&sr=8-2&keywords=year+round+rain+barrel

[nomad100]

We have one and just drain it after the first frost, and leave the spigot open at the bottom. We disattach it from the downspout and attach a flexible spout for when we have more rain before the snow. 3+ years and still going strong. And it is just made from a 55 gallon plastic drum, nothing fancy.

[dirtyred]

May 27, 2015 7:47:32 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

We have one and just drain it after the first frost, and leave the spigot open at the bottom. We disattach it from the downspout and attach a flexible spout for when we have more rain before the snow. 3+ years and still going strong. And it is just made from a 55 gallon plastic drum, nothing fancy.

Ditto.  Drain and keep open.  Ours was made from an old pool filter drum.

[gummy]

I think this would be fine if you drained it before winter

www.amazon.com/dp/B00FWN9QK0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2YZEU8W2ZB7X2&coliid=I27EF4DMLGJZ65

[isabel]

We have one that MIL gave us. She had it in Indiana before moving here (Colorado) and it's in great shape. It hasn't been through a winter with us yet, but I can't imagine why it wouldn't be just fine. Just need to drain it completely first. I'll probably turn it over too because we get a lot of freeze/thaw and I don't want it filling up with snow.