How to Use a Rain Meter
- 1). Clean your rain meter inside and out with dish soap and warm water, using a soft cloth. Use a towel and dry it off completely.
- 2). Place the rain meter in an open area, exposed to the rain. Make sure there are no building and trees obstructing the rain from falling directly into the rain meter. Rain falls at an angle; therefore, you want to make sure your rain meter is under direct skies up to about 50 feet in all directions.
- 3). Position your rain meter straight up and down. If your rain meter comes with a stand, use the stand to keep it from tipping over. If not, you can affix the rain meter to a 2-by-4 by screwing it in place on the beam.
- 4). Check the rain meter only when the rain stops completely, but before the sun comes out and the collected water starts to evaporate. The rain meter will show collected water in measurements of tenths. Record the measurement with a pen and paper.
- 5). Check the rain meter after the next rainfall and record that amount as well. Keep checking the meter after all subsequent rainfalls and add the amount to previous records during the specific period of time you need to record rainfall.
