Water Butt not filling with slightly longer pipe

I would like some advice concerning a water butt as I am not quite sure of the science behind water levels, etc.

Basically, I have a water butt on a corner downpipe that always worked fine. I had to move it just around the corner so I attached a new pipe from the butt to the diverter, it's a longer length but we're talking less than a metre so I didn't think there would be a problem.

Now there's been a lot of rain but the butt is not filling at all. When I remove the pipe some water pours out so it does seem to be coming from the diverter. The downpipe is not blocked.

Is there a maximum length of flexible pipe that can be attached to a diverter and still fill the butt? Does the pipe have to be entirely straight or can it be curved?


Thanks

 

@Madra so long as levels are the same or the tank inlet is a bit lower than the diverter outlet (preferable); it shouldn't be a problem. I have had the outlet from the diverter and the inlet to the tank blocked by slugs or debris.

 

I already checked the inside of the diverter but there were no debris or blockages.

Right now, I would say the tank inlet is level with the diverter so maybe I should raise the diverter a couple of inches.

 

The idea seems to be to get them exactly level, then if the butt fills to capacity the water runs back and down the drain. If the butt is too low the water can leak out the butt/fitting (my scenario) and if the butt is too high the water won't run into the butt.

 

I think the butt, although it looks level to my eyes, is slightly higher. Instead of digging out some soil to make the butt lower and then not have enough space for a watering can under the tap, it would be better if I raised the diverter a bit.

A small amount of overflowing might be inevitable but since the butt is on a lawn it hopefully won't cause too much problems. How would one even go about finetuning the diverter to be exactly level, once I hacksaw off a piece of the downpipe I can't go back down again.

 

Source a replacement downpipe, by exchange elsewhere on the property or builders merchant, diy store etc .

 

I could but may have the same alignment problems with the new downpipe too. I think I will just saw off a small piece and advance up in 1 inch increments and keep testing until the butt starts to fill again.

 

Ideally it should look like this

 

UK designs are a bit different: essentially a collar with a dam in the centre and an outlet; cut pipe, insert collar, reconnect bottom pipe then water collects in collar, runs through outlet to tank, tank full overflow from dam goes down the remaining pipe.

 

Yes, the water tends to run down the wall of the downpipe and gathers in the collar.