Where Should The Water From Your Rain Gutters go?

November 08, 2018

In previous blog posts we have talked about the importance of a rain gutter system in your property; whether you live in a place with a constant rainfall or with occasional storms you need a well-installed gutter system that hold large amounts of rainwater, but have you ever wondered where should the water from your rain gutter go? Well, when everything works perfectly, your rain gutters fulfill their main function: to collect rainwater running off the roof and lead it far enough from the house, in order to protect your house' foundations from water damages.

However, it is very easy for proprietors forgetting about rain gutters and is understandable, considering all the activities they need to manage every day; this is why before entering into the subject we'll help you identify if your rain gutter installation is doing its job, and the rainwater is going the right way with these simple questions:

• Have you seen dampness stains on sidings near your house' foundations?
• Have you noticed stagnant water near the downspouts in your garden?
• Is the downspout outlet placed near your house?
• Have you seen efflorescence or mold on your front entrance walkways?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions your rain gutters are not delivering the rainwater to the right place. This is a very common issue in both residential and commercial properties, usually due to the lack of knowledge. At Rain Gutters Solution we strive for providing you with first-hand information regarding rain gutters so that, you can take actions on time and keep your drainage system free from water damages.

What Happen When Downspouts are not Doing Their Job?

• You will notice that your rain gutters are overflowing because downspouts are clogged with organic debris such as leaves and twigs, thus they are not redirecting the rainwater.


• When downspouts are too short, the rainwater will be delivered too close to your house, increasing the risk of damaging your foundations.


• If your rain gutter system doesn't have enough downspouts installed to manage the runoff at some point it will collapse, causing the overflow of the rainwater all around your house.


• Erosion and flooding in your garden can be the result of a bad downspouts placement and the absence of accessories like splash blocks or downspout extensions, which have the purpose of keeping rainwater away from your property, without interfering your home's curb appeal.

Where to Deliver the Rainwater?

No matter the weather you live in at any moment you may find yourself in the middle of a large rainfall event, so that you need to ensure that your rain gutters and downspouts are in good shape and free from clogs, for the rainwater to move down the roof without interruptions until reach a safe spot in your garden or in a drain.

The following is a list of some water delivery options for your garden that will help you find out the best choice for your case:

• Drainage pit: building a drainage pit in your garden is a great option to lead the rainwater to the drain in a safe way without interfering your house' curb appeal. This method is also called dry well, soakaway pit or drainage well, and consists in excavating a part of the ground, usually 3 feet deep, 3 feet wide and 3 feet long. Then, it is partially filled with polished stone and a drain pipe is installed in the lowest area in order to catch the water from the soil and drain it into the pit. This type of drainage is perfect for large volumes of water, is cost-effective and can be built in two or three days.
  
  The general conditions for the installation are:
  
  
  1. The bottom of the pit needs to be above the groundwater level.
  2. The pit should be at least 2 m away from the foundation wall.
  3. You have to calculate the dimensions of the pit regarding the volume of water that usually comes out from the downspout.
  
  However, we advise you to check with the municipality about residential stormwater management standards just in case they have any regulation that you may ignore.

• Rain barrel: adding a rain barrel to your rain gutter system is one of the easiest ways to store rainwater, to then give it other purposes in your home or garden during the dry season of the year. For this, you can add a diverter to your downspout to deliver the water into the barrel which can be installed underground or aboveground depending on your needs or preference. You can find this type of containers in size from 30 to 100 gallons and made of plastic or wood.
  
  The maintenance of rain barrels is very simple, just try to use the collected water with regularity and place it in a shady and protected location to keep it free from algae growth.


• Rainwater collection system: another useful alternative is installing big underground tanks to collect all the water coming from the rain gutters; these tanks are linked to a filter and a pump that pumps the water out whenever you need. This system is perfect to water the plants of your garden through an irrigation system which should be installed by professionals.

As you may see, a rain gutter system is not only about gutters, there are so many aspects that need to be considered during the installation process in order to achieve results that benefit the environment, the property and the people who live in it. As professionals in rain gutters, we recommend you to always consult with your contractor about the rainwater delivery option that best suits your home whether a drainage pit, a rain barrel or another rainwater collection system.

Are you considering a new rain gutter installation in your property? Rain Gutters Solution offers you a staff of high-skilled technicians with a wide experience ready to meet all your rain gutters needs. We rely on top-notch technology to build the rainwater collection system that best works for your property. If you have concerns about this information do not hesitate and contact us by calling at (305) 270-7779 or filling out our contact form below. We'll gladly assist you!

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