55-Gallon Plastic Drum : Detailed User Guide And Reviews

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It’s awful when you need a good 55-gallon plastic drum, but don’t even know what to look for, let alone where to look for it. I’ve been in that situation in the past, that’s why I want to give you my experienced reviews and advice on which 55-gallon plastic drums are the best one out there.

In this text, you’ll find everything you need to know when buying a 55-gallon plastic barrel. I’ll show you where the best places to find them are, how to compare them, and what makes a good plastic barrel.

I know it’s not easy to filter out good products, among tons of others that are being offered. Especially when it’s something seemingly simple like a 10-gallon plastic drum, but you will be surprised with what can affect the quality of the drum.

What is the best 55-gallon plastic drum?

	PRICE	PRODUCT
		Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Recycled Rain Barrel Screen to keep out debris and insects BPA Free
		Augason Farms 6-07910 Food-grade polyethylene Perfect for Emergency Water Storage
		Eagle 1656BLK Black Drum UN certified Lab pack open head drum
		Emergency Essentials Water Barrel Heavy-duty polyethylene resin FDA-approved and BPA-free
		ER Emergency Ready Water Barrel Water can be stored for 5 years Comes with accessories
		Eagle 1656MBBG Straight-Sided Drum High Density Polyethylene Lab Pack Open head

I’ve had tons of experience with 55-gallon plastic drums over the years. So before you go and spend money on some random 55-gallon plastic barrel, or overpay an average one, I want to explain what’s the best product you can get for your money and what’s worth paying more.

1. RB55-BLUE 55 Gallon Water Barrel

If you want to collect rainwater effectively and ecologically, then this (25 x 25 x 37) 55-gallon barrel is the right deal for you. With the help of this blue plastic barrel, you will be ecological in these times of over wasting.

With this recycled, rust, mold, and mildew resistant drum, you can save rainwater for any kind of purpose. There are 2 separate spigot holes on it, alternating depending on your purpose. The bottom one is great for hoses, while you can use the upper one to fill buckets.

You will get a neat little brass spigot for hose hook-up or dual overflow. You also don’t have to worry about bugs entering your 55-gallon water barrel due to the anti-debris screen on top of it.

It’s very affordable, and a great deal for its price. I love it that it’s ecological without losing any functionality. Since it’s recycled from food barrels, this one could show cosmetic wear or slight odor.

2. Emergency Storage 55 Gallon Water Barrel

Thanks to this 55-gallon water barrel for emergency water storage you will never be left without water. Droughts are becoming more frequent all over the world, so this BPA-free 55 gallon blue barrel is a necessity. It’s perfect if you have a holiday house somewhere without freshwater access.

Water can stay safe up to 4 years in this 21.5-pound heavy barrel. It comes with water treatment bottles that can purify up to 60 gallons of water, just the right amount for your 55-gallon water barrel.

This 55-gallon blue barrel also comes with 2-inch barrel plug fittings, a barrel opener, and 6” siphon hose with a hand pump.

I like it that it’s very sturdy and made to last, but affordable at the same time. However, they could add a spigot or some other way of emptying this 55-gallon water barrel without using the pump all the time.

3. Eagle 1656BLK Black 55 Gallon Plastic Drum

This black 55-gallon plastic drum (36.38” x 22.5“) is one of the best plastic drums that can be used for many purposes. Most often, people use this drum with a poly lever-lock ring for rain storage and irrigation.

It’s great when you don’t have to water your garden with pipe water. I’ve even seen some friends that do DIY projects with it. Besides liquids, this UN certified 55-gallon plastic drum works can store powders and solids too.

It weighs only 20 pounds, but it’s still strong sturdy. Even though it stores liquids, the lid is not that of a great sealer, so you should be careful during transport with it, other materials are not a problem.

Eagle company is famous for their 55-gallon plastic drum making, and this black polyethylene barrel is one of the best ones.

4. Emergency Essentials 55 Gallon Plastic Drum

Another great 55-gallon plastic drum for emergency water storage is coming from Emergency Essentials. Do you know how they say that you can never be too prepared?

This 55-gallon water barrel can supply a family of four with drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene water for two weeks. What’s even better, this water can stay drinkable for 4-5 years with proper treatment and purification.

Being a barrel for drinking water, it’s BPA-free and it’s also approved by the FDA. This 55-gallon water barrel is a very heavy duty and its color helps to prevent the growth of algae and bacteria.

The barrel is sealed with two different sized screws on bungholes, which can be a bit limiting. Price may seem a bit high, but considering that it guarantees safe drinking the water, it’s worth it. This 55-gallon plastic drum is also very lightweight and easy to move and transport.

5. ER Emergency Ready BPA Free 55 Gallon Water Drum

Aquamira presents a great 55-gallon water drum that is food grade, meaning that you can store emergency or backup drinking/cooking water in it.

The barrel is also really strongly sealed, so you don’t have to worry about the leaks or contamination. We rely on tap water to always be there, but it’s always smart to have a backup somewhere, especially considering the way the climate is changing right now.

It would be good to have some other option to empty the barrel but the pump works great too. True, I’ve heard people complain about the price, but everyone that has it doesn’t regret a second.

6. Eagle 1656MBBG Straight-Sided 55 Gallon Plastic Drum

I would like to show you another Eagle model, similar to the black 55-gallon plastic drum that we mentioned before, but still different. This 36.5” x 22.5” inch drum is not a great option for liquids, as much as it is for solids.

It comes with a metal lever-lock ring, but it’s not sealable. Highly dense polyethylene is one of the reasons why blue plastic drums are good for mold and weather conditions.

Highly dense polyethylene is one of the reasons why blue plastic drums are good for mold and weather conditions. With plastic bung lid and metal lever lock ring, this UN rated plastic drum is ideal for hazardous materials, bio waste disposal, and shipping.

You can also use it for irrigation, and considering how versatile it is, the price of this 55-gallon plastic drum is a bargain.

So I’ve shown you the best 55-gallon plastic drums that I’ve worked with and described what makes them so great.

Now let’s expand that knowledge so you can decide for yourself in the future. The basic things you need to know are where to buy a plastic drum and what to look for when buying it.

What to look for when buying 55-gallon plastic drums?

It all depends on what you need it for. For example, if you want to store drinking water or food, you must check that it’s BPA free and rated food-grade, FDA approval is a great indicator too. Otherwise, you could threaten your health.

It’s a good idea to check how the 55-gallon plastic drum is being filled and sealed, as well as how it’s being emptied. When using it for collecting rainwater, check if it has anti-debris screens, you don’t want insects in your water.

Where to find 55 plastic barrels for sale?

Plastic drums are not a common item in the shops, so it can be a bit harder to find them. If you want to buy used ones (try not to do it for food or drinking water), you can check online on eBay or Craigslist, for some cheap offers.

If you don’t want old barrels, you can search for new ones in local gardening and hardware stores, or go online for best deals and best choice.

I buy from Amazon most of the time, they have a crazy variety of 55-gallon plastic drums at most affordable prices. You can also see the reputations of manufacturers and read the experiences of others. If you don’t want old barrels, you can search for new ones in local gardening and hardware stores, or go online for best deals and best choice.

I buy from Amazon most of the time, they have a crazy variety of 55-gallon plastic drums at most affordable prices. You can also see the reputations of manufacturers and read the experiences of others.

I’m really glad that I had the chance to write more about this, more so if someone will benefit from it. Rarely there is a chance to talk about this and it’s too bad since I’ve managed to learn a lot about plastic and other drums. Good luck with choosing your 55-gallon plastic drum!