More and more homeowners are choosing to install water butts. With water bills creeping up, British weather doing whatever it feels like, and a growing awareness that wasting rainwater is a bit like throwing money down the drain, water butts are having a well-deserved moment. A properly installed water butt system collects rainwater straight from your gutters, helping reduce waste and cut down your reliance on mains water.
And let’s be honest – in London, we get enough rain. We might as well make it work for us.
Whether you own your home, manage a rental property, oversee school grounds, or simply want a more efficient setup, installing a water butt is a practical, cost-effective upgrade that makes environmental and financial sense.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Key Takeaways
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Water butts collect rainwater directly from guttering, providing a simple, practical way to reuse water for gardens, cleaning, and property maintenance.
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There are options to suit different properties and spaces, from compact domestic butts to larger systems for schools, landlords, and commercial sites.
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Water butts offer clear practical advantages, such as lowering water use, supporting sustainability goals, and helping reduce strain on drainage during heavy rainfall.
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Sam’s Gutters & Roofs can install water butts alongside gutter maintenance, ensuring systems are working properly and efficiently across London properties.
What Is a Water Butt?
A water butt is essentially a clever storage tank that connects to your guttering system. When it rains, water flows from your roof into the gutters and down the downpipe. A diverter kit channels some of that water into the butt for storage.
Think of it as giving all that perfectly good rainwater a second job.
The stored water can then be used for:
- Watering gardens and lawns
- Cleaning patios and driveways
- Washing vehicles
- Feeding irrigation systems
- Maintaining landscaped areas at schools or commercial properties
In London, where rainfall is frequent but often arrives in short, enthusiastic bursts, capturing that water simply makes sense.
Types of Water Butts
There are several options available depending on your property type, space and usage requirements.
1. Standard Plastic Water Butts
The most common and affordable option. Typically 100–250 litres in capacity, these are ideal for domestic properties with modest garden needs.
Best for: Homeowners and smaller rental properties.
2. Slimline Water Butts
Designed for narrow spaces, these are ideal for terraced homes or properties with limited side access. They are very common across Greater London.
Best for: Urban properties with limited outdoor space.
3. Decorative Water Butts
Available in wood-effect, stone-effect, or contemporary finishes, these provide functionality without compromising aesthetics.
Best for: Visible garden areas or higher-end residential properties.
4. Large Capacity & Commercial Systems
For schools, estate-managed buildings and commercial premises, larger storage tanks or linked systems can be installed to manage greater roof areas.
Best for: Schools, estate agents managing multiple properties, commercial landlords, and property managers.
Why Water Butts Are a Smart Investment
1. Reduce Water Bills
Rainwater is free, which is more than can be said for your latest water bill. Using stored rainwater for watering plants, cleaning patios, or washing the car reduces reliance on treated mains water.
2. Environmentally Responsible
For commercial properties and schools, it also sends a positive message. Installing water butts shows a practical commitment to environmental responsibility – not just talking about sustainability, but actually doing something about it.
3. Protect Your Drainage System
During heavy rainfall, gutters and downpipes can become overwhelmed. A water butt can take the edge off. It helps divert and store excess flow, reducing strain on your drainage system.
4. Ideal for Drier Summers
Despite London’s reputation for rain, summer hosepipe bans and dry spells are becoming more common. Having stored water available ensures gardens and grounds can still be maintained.
5. Supports Property Maintenance
Well-managed drainage systems help prevent overspill, damp issues and water pooling – something we frequently see at Sam’s Gutters during gutter inspections!
Why Is Now the Ideal Time to Install a Water Butt?
Seasonal timing matters! If you’ve been thinking about installing a water butt, now is an ideal time to do it.
Spring is ideal if you want to store rainwater ready for the garden season.
If you are already booking gutter cleaning in London or roof maintenance, it is both cost-effective and practical to install a water butt at the same time.
Professional Installation vs DIY
While water butt kits are available at most DIY stores, installing one properly isn’t always as straightforward as the box might suggest. A professional installation ensures:
- Correct placement on a solid, stable base
- Secure diverter fitting so water actually goes into the water butt, not down your sleeve
- Proper overflow management for when the British weather really gets going
- Safe ladder work (because balancing on a step ladder with a drill isn’t everyone’s idea of a relaxing weekend)
- Compatibility with your existing guttering system
For commercial properties, schools, and managed estates, professional installation also ensures compliance with safety requirements and reduces liability risk, which is far preferable to explaining a DIY mishap in a maintenance report.
At Sam’s Gutters & Roofs, we regularly assess gutter systems across Greater London. If adjustments or minor repairs are needed before installation, we can address these at the same time, ensuring your system works exactly as it should from day one.
Is Your Property Suitable for Water Butt Installation?
Before installing a water butt, your guttering must:
- Be clear of debris
- Be free from significant leaks
- Have secure downpipes
- Be properly aligned
Blocked or damaged gutters will reduce collection efficiency and may cause overflow issues.
This is why many clients choose to combine gutter clearing, minor repairs, and water butt installation in one visit.
Water Butts for Property Managers and Commercial Clients
For estate agents, landlords, schools, and commercial premises, water butts offer some very practical advantages:
- Reduced outdoor maintenance costs
- Stronger sustainable property credentials – always useful in reports and tenant conversations
- Controlled water usage across larger sites
- Support for environmental policies
- Reduced drainage strain during heavy rainfall
For those managing multiple properties, combining planned maintenance with rainwater collection solutions is a sensible long-term strategy. It keeps systems running smoothly, demonstrates environmental responsibility and, importantly, helps avoid those “why is there a waterfall over the entrance?” moments during a storm.
Why Choose Sam’s Gutters & Roofs?
Operating since 2009, we provide gutter clearing, gutter repairs, roof maintenance, and roof repair in London.
We are SafeContractor accredited and work with:
- Homeowners
- Estate agents
- Property managers
- Schools
- Commercial businesses
Contact Sam’s Gutters & Roofs today to arrange a free viewing and quote.
