
How far should downspouts run from the House?
Buried downspouts should run at least 20 feet away from the house so the water does not discharge anywhere close to the foundation. Here’s an example of what happens when you don’t discharge your gutters far enough away. I want to show you guys why you do not just run a gutter out 10 feet.
How long should your downspout extenders actually be?
How Long Should Your Downspout Extenders Actually Be? Downspouts should divert water 8 to 10 feet away from the foundation! If your downspouts don’t extend out, you could end up with bug expensive problems. Thankfully, downspout extenders are cheap!
Why do I need downspouts on my house?
The downspouts job is to keep the rainwater from the gutters away from the home. When it gets too close to the home, there are foundation issues, mold, mildew, dry rot, and leaks into the basement. However, this does not need to happen! The slope plays a big role in keeping water away from the home.
Can I extend my downspout to collect rainwater?
Rain barrels collect water from your gutters into a large tank, which you can use to water flowerbeds and vegetable cards or even wash your car. This won’t extend your downspout per se, but it’s an eco-friendly way to collect and reuse rainwater. Your gutter system is only as good as your downspout drainage.

How do I extend downspouts from my house?
3:2012:103 Options for Extending Your Downspouts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSection back on the home. And then i'll just install one screw here and then use the existing strapMoreSection back on the home. And then i'll just install one screw here and then use the existing strap to secure to the home. And then once that's in just putting the splash guard in. Place.
How far should pop up drains be from house?
Next, think through pop up drain placement. Experts say the drain should be a minimum of 10 feet away from your house. Ideally, you want the drain located where water can run into the street's drain system. During a strong rainstorm, your drain will be gushing water.
How far should downspouts be from the ground?
12 to 48 inchesDownspout drains are usually buried from 12 to 48 inches below the ground to better conceal the drainage system. This also serves to avoid damage from rain and snow, and to leave the yard free of obstructions.
How is downspout placement determined?
As a general rule at least one downspout should be placed per every 40 linear feet of gutter. This ensures adequate drainage to prevent overflowing gutters during heavy rain.
How long can a gutter be with one downspout?
gutter capacity and length. To limit the effects of thermal expansion in gutters 50 ft(15.3 m) is a practical maximum length of gutter to be served by a downspout.
Should you bury downspouts?
Downspouts should be buried at least a foot deep underground. If you live in a cold climate, keep in mind that the frost line falls between 36 and 48 inches underground. In that case, you should dig down to below that depth to previent the need to thaw your gutters and downspouts during a cold snap.
How far should gutter extend past roof?
The gutter should be installed as close to the shingles as possible; no more than 2 or 3 inches. If the gutter distance is more than 3 inches, the rain will run off the roof and won't drain properly.
Where should gutter downspouts go?
You'll likely want your downspouts to run down the side or back of your house. Downspouts come in a variety of colors so they can match your siding and won't be so noticeable if they end up closer to the front of the house. 5. Downspouts should extend 4-6 feet away from your home.
Where will you least place a downspout?
Here are some general guidelines.Install at least 1 downspout for every 40 linear feet of gutter. ... Never position a downspout so it discharges close to your home or to its foundation. ... Install downspout extensions if downspouts cannot be installed where they lead water away from the house.More items...•
How do you space downspouts?
The typical recommendation is one downspout for every 20 to 30 feet of gutters. The next factor to take into account is the pitch of your roof, because the pitch will cause water to flow in a certain direction.
How many gutter downspouts do I need?
A common guideline is that you need one downspout per 40' span of gutter for proper drainage, but this is usually not enough for a 2”x3” downspout. A homeowner should also consider the size of the roof which will factor into how much water is going into the gutter.
How close to the foundation should a French drain be?
We recommend installing the french drains between 2 and 5 feet away from the foundation. There are a few variables that impact the exact distance to dig the new drain lines to carry water away from your home. Finding the right distance: Check where surface water is pooling naturally during heavy rains.
Where do you put a pop-up emitter?
You can place a pop-up emitter at the edge of your property or by a curb as long as it's up to code. You'll need to terminate the line in your yard in a way that doesn't affect your neighbors' properties.
Can you put a French drain next to foundation?
It can be placed inside a basement or outside along the foundation. If water pressure beneath the slab forces water into the basement via the joins of wall and floor or through cracks in the foundation, then a French Drain will be placed inside the basement along the wall and floor joins.
How do you keep pop-up drains from freezing?
6:438:09How to Prevent Underground Buried Downspout Pipe From Freezing ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow this is not going to keep your downspout from freezing up the only thing that will keep yourMoreNow this is not going to keep your downspout from freezing up the only thing that will keep your downspout from freezing. Up is heat tape.
How far away should downspouts be from foundation?
Downspouts should divert water 8 to 10 feet away from the foundation! If your downspouts don’t extend out, you could end up with bug expensive problems. Thankfully, downspout extenders are cheap! They are also easy DIY projects. In truth, some of the homes we will show you while we go house hunting together may not have adequate downspout extenders. Some will simply be equipped with normal downspouts with no extensions or provisions for diverting the water. This is something you’ll want to address as soon as you move into your new home.
What happens if your downspout doesn't extend?
If your downspouts don’t extend out, you could end up with bug expensive problems. Thankfully, downspout extenders are cheap! They are also easy DIY projects. In truth, some of the homes we will show you while we go house hunting together may not have adequate downspout extenders.
How expensive is a downspout extender?
Downspout extenders aren’t very expensive. Having them can help you avoid extremely costly repairs and replacement costs. All you need to do is choose the extender style you prefer. You can choose them for ease of use, aesthetics or cost. The main thing though is to choose an extender that will divert the water eight to ten feet away from your foundation!
Can you roll a downspout back up after a storm?
The hassle is that you would roll it back up after the storm has passed and it’s no longer raining. This is good for places that don’t see frequent rain or people who don’t want extenders wrecking the aesthetics of the yard, but also want a cheap option.
What is a roll out extension?
Roll-out extensions are designed to uncoil during heavy rain and disperse water from little holes. Once the flow stops, they roll back up—kind of like a party blower, but for your downspouts.
What is the key part of yard installation?
The key part of installation is making sure your yard is graded properly, otherwise it defeats their purpose.
Can you extend a downspout above ground?
If you don’t want to go through the hassle off digging, you’re in luck! There are a few more methods to extend downspouts above ground besides the aluminum extension.
Is a gutter system good?
Your gutter system is only as good as your downspout drainage. Extending them is a necessary project to keep your home safe from damaging rainwater. The good news is there’s a fix for every budget and DIY skill level!
Is burying drain pipe a good idea?
Buried Drain Pipe. On the flip side, burying drain pipe is more work-intensive, but it’s a guaranteed way to keep water away. The most difficult part is digging the trench. Besides making sure the slope is correct, you’ll want to make sure the pipe run ends in a good location.
Can aluminum downspouts be installed?
This one’s a popular solution for a few good reasons. Aluminum downspout extensions are inexpensive, low maintenance and can be installed in seconds. A couple downsides are they don’t always jive with your curb appeal and a rigid design limits where you can direct rainwater. That said, this is still one of the easiest fixes on our list.
Why extend downspout?
Need to extend your downspout? Connecting downspouts to buried drainpipes can help dry out a wet basement and soggy lawn.
How to install a downspout on a trench?
Lay out all the pipe lengths and fittings beside the trench to make sure you've got all the necessary parts. Press a downspout adapter into a 3x4-inch reducer coupling and slip it onto the bottom end of the downspout.
What type of pipe is used for downspouts?
The drainage pipe used for extending downspouts is non-perforated Schedule 40 PVC pipe with 4-inches-diameter. Some jobs will also require flexible drainpipe, which is invaluable for getting around obstacles or following uneven terrain. For our installation, we used it to snake around a few large boulders we couldn't pry out.
How wide should a backfill trench be?
This is a trick that can make backfilling go much more smoothly later on. The trench should be at least 6-inches-wide and slope down slightly (1 to 2 inches per length of pipe) so water drains away from the downspouts. Continue until you have completed the trench.
How to cover a pipe end?
Lay down the pipe end on this rocky bed and cover it with more rocks or several inches of gravel.
How to mark a trench line?
Sprinkle flour from a can along the string to mark the trench line. Remove the string and lay cardboard along the edge of the white line.
How deep should a trench be for a reducer?
Place flexible pipe over the reducer. At the very end of the trench, dig a wide, shallow hole (approximately 16-inches-deep x 36 inch-diameter) and line it with flat rocks or a 4-inch layer of gravel. Lay down the pipe end on this rocky bed and cover it with more rocks or several inches of gravel.
