FCMP Outdoor Raincatcher 4000, Flat-Back Rain Water Barrel, 50-Gallon, Brown - Rainwater Collection Storage Container w Side Spigots, Mesh Screen, Garden and Overflow Hose & Linking Kit

Why I chose this barrel

A gutter downpour can waste more water in minutes than I want to admit. I wanted a simple, durable way to capture that runoff without turning my side yard into a science project. The Raincatcher 4000 hit the practical sweet spot: a 50‑gallon capacity, a flat-back shape that tucks against the house, and a wide, screened opening that’s easy to align under a downspout or diverter. After a full season on my patio and a shoulder season of freeze-thaw, here’s how it has actually performed.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, the barrel is light enough to move solo but feels rigid. The polyethylene body has enough give to absorb bumps without feeling flimsy, and the brown color does a decent job disappearing against brick and mulch. The flat back is the design hero here. It sits flush against siding and makes downspout alignment straightforward, whether you cut the downspout to drop directly over the screen or install a diverter.

A few setup notes from my install:
- Build a base. I used four stacked concrete blocks topped with pavers, leveled carefully. Elevation matters for flow rate and gives access to fittings at the bottom.
- Check inside the barrel. Some small parts were tucked inside; don’t miss them.
- The top mesh screen is actually useful. It’s rigid enough to support a diverter hose and fine enough to keep out leaves, seed pods, and most mosquitoes.

Fittings include side spigots for linking barrels, a lower outlet with a short dispensing hose, and an overflow connection with a hose. Threading and gasket quality were good out of the gate; I applied plumber’s tape to threaded connections out of habit and snugged everything down without brute force.

Performance in the rain

A 50‑gallon tank fills faster than you think. As a rule of thumb, 1,000 square feet of roof yields about 623 gallons per inch of rain. With my small porch roof feeding it, the Raincatcher 4000 regularly tops off in a single steady shower, and the overflow handoff is predictable. The overflow outlet sits just below the rim, and with the hose directed away from the foundation, it has behaved exactly as I want—no surprise sheets of water down the wall.

Dispensing water is equally straightforward. The included lower hose gives a gravity-fed stream suitable for filling watering cans and hand-watering beds. With the barrel on a 12–16 inch stand, I can fill a two-gallon can in under a minute. For longer runs or soaker hoses, gravity alone is borderline; a small transfer pump or higher stand will be more satisfying. The side spigots make daisy-chaining easy, and two barrels filled and drained in unison once I leveled their bases.

Build quality and durability

The body is molded from UV-inhibited, BPA-free polyethylene. Mine has lived through a hot summer in full afternoon sun with no chalking or fading beyond what I’d expect. The shell has shrugged off ladder bumps and the occasional tangle with a wheelbarrow. Importantly, the top opening is reinforced and doesn’t bow under the downspout path or diverter tension.

Cold weather is where many barrels fail. I drained the Raincatcher 4000 before my first hard freeze and left the valves open. The fittings and body didn’t show any stress after a couple of light freezes where a bit of residual water turned to ice. I wouldn’t abuse it by letting it freeze solid, but the material thickness gives me confidence it can handle shoulder-season swings.

Usability and ergonomics

The flat-back profile keeps the footprint manageable, and the overall look is pleasantly utilitarian. It doesn’t scream “plastic drum,” and the color hides dirt. The wide top opening is the kind of small convenience you appreciate every time you clean the screen or reposition a diverter.

There are two usability quirks worth flagging:
- The lower outlet uses a hose barb and clamp. The clamp sits low, so tightening it after the barrel is full is awkward. Assemble and test for drips before you place the barrel on its stand, and consider upgrading to a high-quality stainless worm-gear clamp. A wrap of plumber’s tape on the threads and a dab of silicone around the barb seat eliminated my slow weep.
- The included overflow hose is functional but not my favorite. It arrives flat and tends to hold that shape. I replaced mine with a short length of corrugated sump discharge hose and a 90-degree elbow, which gave me a more secure, kink-free path away from the foundation.

The stow clip for the dispensing hose is a nice idea but not robust. I ended up adding a simple stainless hook to the side of the barrel for reliable storage.

Expandability and linking

One of the strongest arguments for this barrel is how easy it is to expand capacity. The side spigots let you link units in series without buying extra hardware. Tips if you plan to daisy-chain:
- Put both barrels on level, equally tall bases so water levels equalize properly.
- Use short, flexible linking sections and tighten them with proper clamps.
- Add shutoff valves if you want the option to isolate a barrel for cleaning.

With two barrels linked, overflow still worked correctly, and the total system stayed balanced in heavy rain.

Maintenance and water quality

The top mesh screen keeps out large debris and most insects. I pop it off and rinse it monthly during leaf season. For algae and biofilm, the brown, opaque plastic helps; light penetration is minimal, but you’ll still get some organic growth over time. A spring clean with a mild bleach solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water), followed by a thorough rinse, leaves the interior fresh without lingering odor.

To keep mosquitoes at bay, ensure all openings are screened and keep the lid seated. If you’re in a high-pressure area, a mosquito dunk made for water features is an extra layer of protection. If you notice slime or odor, it’s usually a sign of warm, stagnant water—drain lower between rains and avoid long storage in peak heat.

What I’d change

Every product has trade-offs. For this one:
- I’d prefer a threaded bulkhead and true garden-hose spigot at the bottom instead of a hose barb and clamp. It works, but serviceability would improve with a standard valve.
- The overflow hose should be round, pliable, and reinforced out of the box. It’s a key safety feature; it deserves better hardware.
- The hose storage clip needs a firmer detent. It’s easy to knock loose.

None of these are deal breakers, but they’re worth budgeting five extra minutes and a couple of better clamps during setup.

Who it’s for

If you want a tidy, mid-capacity rain capture system that lives close to your house and feeds watering cans, hand hoses, or a short soaker run, this is a strong option. It’s beginner-friendly, space-efficient, and looks decent. If you’re planning gravity-fed irrigation across a larger garden or want to run long soaker circuits, you’ll either want multiple barrels, a taller stand, or a small pump to boost pressure. For climates with hard winters, the drain-and-store routine is simple—just commit to doing it.

The bottom line

The Raincatcher 4000 nails the fundamentals: it’s easy to place, quick to fill, and made from materials that should hold up outside. The flat-back design and wide screened opening make installation and upkeep simple, and the built-in expandability means you’re not boxed in if your water needs grow.

I recommend it. The build quality is sound, everyday use is straightforward, and the few hardware quibbles are easy to fix with inexpensive clamps and a better overflow hose. For gardeners and homeowners looking to conserve water without adding complexity, this barrel delivers a practical, dependable setup that integrates neatly into a typical downspout.