Why didn't this water drain properly?

[Ed62]

You southerners have no clue. It's ice in the line! Seriously, I think getting rid of the hump is your best bet. Your theory about the air pocket actually holds water (pun intended).

Ed

[iceman61]

if you drill the hole lower in the side of the barrel the pressure at the new hole is larger than at the old hole. But, you use up all that extra pressure getting back up to the hump so it all gets cancelled out in trying to overcome the hump.
won't work a bit better.

Loring is exactly right on this situation. It all gets cancelled out in trying to overcome the hump. While drilling a hole lower on the barrell will create some extra pressure, it won't be enough to overcome the vertical head pressure (hump height) or the horizontal head pressure (distance to the hump). It's still going to take the path of least resistance, which is to overflow the barrel.

Still another reason that the barrel will more than likely always overflow is that hose is alot smaller than the downspout that's feeding the barrel. It may not overflow during every rain event, but more that likely with anything over a light to moderate rain.

[jbalders]

Would raising the barrel up onto some blocks be possible?

It would increase the distance between the overflow drain and the hump, thereby increasing the pressure of the water on the air in the line. You probably only need to raise it up by 3-4" or so to make a fair amount of difference here.

[Crash2510]

if you drill the hole lower in the side of the barrel the pressure at the new hole is larger than at the old hole. But, you use up all that extra pressure getting back up to the hump so it all gets cancelled out in trying to overcome the hump.
won't work a bit better.

I think I understand know. To help i did the math.

on a normal sized barrel you would only gain approx 2 psi from the top to the bottom which would be negligable considering you lost pressure in the hose

recommend now get rid of the hump

[LCHIEN]

I think I understand know. To help i did the math.

on a normal sized barrel you would only gain approx 2 psi from the top to the bottom which would be negligable considering you lost pressure in the hose

recommend now get rid of the hump

Phil, its not just that its only 2 PSI. You gain 2 PSI making the exit lower but then you lose the same 2 PSI when you got to go uphill to get back to the hump. your net is Zero for moving the hole.

Besides, for problems like this they use pressure in inches of water, much more direct calculation. A water column with a height of X inches has a pressure of X inches of water. 24" water ~= 1 PSI

[chopnhack]

Ok Loring, I must ask....
Are you an engineer or physics major? You always seem to have the answers and the mathematical explanations to go with. Major kudos to you sir.

[Alex Franke]

Well, as usual, you all have pretty much figured it out. Thank you SO much for all the great replies.

I flattened out the overflow line a bit more and was able to get it draining. I also added a little elbow joint to the overflow connector to reduce the risk of the hose going up a bit before going back down.

Now I have a problem with ice! But at least that's more managable.

Thanks again everyone!