Very clever! That will come in helpful with all this rain we're getting this weekend (not that I'm complaining...let it rain!). Thanks for the tip.

Kaaren,
Sounds like it works like a charm! Would it be possible to post a photo?

People don't realize that a barrel can ruin an area with overflow. Great idea. I'm on my way to the box store. Many thanks for this great idea.

ncgardner - thanks for passing that on. I hooked mine up like that a month ago and was gonna mention it, but forgot. Anyway, if you can't find it at HD's, it's in the plumbing aisle/front section and I believe it's called Flex Adjustable Downspout, or something like that. Pretty close to the contractor desk.

I bought 2 of them and hooked them up just as ncgardner explained (good job explaining it). Works like a charm, but on the 2 downspouts on my rear house corners that I use I have 2 different sized downspouts so I have to do a little finagling but it still works okay.

Maybe I'm missing something, but if you have adequate overlow control, you shouldn't have to use this method, which requires you to be around when the rain is coming/expected.

It is a good idea to run your overflow back into your diverted gutter, especially if you have the gutter running into a ground system like the OP described. But, if you set it up that way from the beginning, you don't have the added maintenance of having to run out every time a storm is predicted to a) check your barrel level and b) move the diverter from your barrel and back into your gutter.

Unfortunately, my barrels have too small an overflow at the top to handle the volume of what's coming in from the downspout, and I really doubt anyone has an adequate overflow opening to handle rain coming off a roof through a downspout into a barrel at the quantities that occur.

Also, if my barrels are full and rain is coming, I doubt seriously that it's that big a deal for me to move the flexspout from the barrel to the remaining downspout and travel as before. Otherwise, leave it over the barrel and let it flood the barrel if too much for the overflow. Just my $.02

Mr. Sig - When the barrel is full, I just leave the elbow in the downspout. If I need water, I place it over the barell. I don't run out during the rain to switch it back and forth. I use my overflow hose to water the water-loving plants that are away from the barrels (some 20ft.) I run a solid hose for the first few feet then connect to a drip hose to dispurse the water along the way. I too have placed the overflow hose back into the downspout but I find this gives much better control of the overflow water. It takes care of ALL the water coming off the roof.
Note: WITH ONE INCH OF RAIN, A 1000 SQ FT. ROOF PRODUCES 640 GALLONS OF WATER. That is a lot of water for a couple of 55/65 gal. barrels.

Mr. Sig - When the barrel is full, I just leave the elbow in the downspout. If I need water, I place it over the barell. I don't run out during the rain to switch it back and forth. I use my overflow hose to water the water-loving plants that are away from the barrels (some 20ft.) I run a solid hose for the first few feet then connect to a drip hose to dispurse the water along the way. I too have placed the overflow hose back into the downspout but I find this gives much better control of the overflow water. It takes care of ALL the water coming off the roof.
Note: WITH ONE INCH OF RAIN, A 1000 SQ FT. ROOF PRODUCES 640 GALLONS OF WATER. That is a lot of water for a couple of 55/65 gal. barrels.

Sure, I have seen the same rainfall estimates (no need to shout) but most people don't have one downspout from their gutter system so those numbers are divided depending upon how many downspouts you have and where they are located in comparison to your rain barrel.

I've never had a downpour that my overflow couldn't handle, so maybe my setup is unique in that manner.

My gutters are 2x4 so the 2x3" flexible downspouts don't fit. Does anyone have any ideas how to connect the downspouts back together once I cut them? thanks.

I don't understand that "inch" measurement that they use to measure rain.
One inch thick X 1000 ft (assuming its a flat surface) is 1000 cubic inches and there are 231 cubic inches of water in a gallon, so 1000 divided by 231 comes out to 4.33 gallons.

OH, and how about some pictures of the down spout set up?

GOD, HOW STUPID WAS THAT!!
I WAS THINKING INCHES AND TYPING FEET!!!

Don't suppose you have any pictures of this? WOuld be very helpful