Adding downspouts and a drainage system to your home gutters is a great idea! A good set of gutters will make sure that rainwater runoff from your roof water runs smoothly and flows down safely from your roof. However, if you have ever looked at the underside of a leaf lying in a gutter or downpipes, then you may have noticed some very interesting material that sometimes forms at the base of a leaf. Gutters are composed of many different materials, but the main material that they are made from is typically some form of concrete or some other non-permeable material. Now what is a downspout?
what is a downspout
A downspout is nothing more than a channel along which water flows from a rooftop or from a plumbing drain. This channel is designed to carry run off water from the roof or from a drain so that it flows down and away from your home. In other words, a downspout is a channel that has a flat bottom or an upright surface so that water can flow downward and be carried off in a controlled fashion. It may appear like the simple answer to what is a downspout, but in actuality there are several very important facts about these drains and how they work!
controlling the flow of water
One fact is that when water is forced to move quickly through a gutter or downspout, the speed of the water is decreased. For example, during a heavy thunderstorm or a sudden large amount of rainfall, if the water is forced through a standard size downspout at high velocity, the water could end up with spurts of water shooting straight up into your home! The purpose of having large flat surfaces to spread the water out is to reduce the amount of damage that can be caused by small droplets of water shooting straight up into your house. This is also why gutter guards are so important – they help keep any debris, such as leaves, branches, or other things, from clogging the pipes of your drains and going straight into your house.
downspouts and drainage system material types
Another fact you should know about downspouts and a drain system for home gutters is that they don’t have to be made of copper or any other heavy material. In fact, the best way to make sure that your downspouts and drains are working correctly is to use a non-metallic system with steel caps and nozzles. A brass downspout can clog and break open easily, which could lead to your entire home getting flooded. These types of downspouts are very susceptible to corrosion, so it is much better to buy non-metallic and corrosion resistant materials.
The last thing that you should know about a downspout and a drainage system for home gutters is that they are extremely easy to install. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need any special skills in order to install these drains, since they are typically simple structures that consist of four main parts: the outlet, the ball, the runner, and the main body. When installing these drains, it is important to use screws of different sizes to ensure that they are watertight and will not leak. Once installed, all you have to do is to run a small drain line to them, which will then discharge waste water directly into a sewer line.
Installing downspouts and a drainage system for home gutters is an excellent idea. Not only is it an affordable and smart homeowner’s project, it is also a simple procedure that does not require a lot of work or time. Since the drains pass through the soil, they will be able to keep out leaves, twigs, seeds, insects, and other solid matter that might clog their systems. This is the best way to prevent them from becoming clogged, which could result in flooding and mold growth.