One of the puzzles of connecting a rain barrel to your gutter system is how to divert water from the barrel when it is full.

Some barrels have overflow pipes that take water to the ground in a safe manner.

Another option is to install a downspout diverter valve that can be switched from “barrel” to “normal”.

Sources of the diverter valve include

Aquabarrel

Gutterworks

RainReserve