This is to prevent saturated ground and potential flooding or damage to the building's structure over time. Instead, downpipes should outlet into surface water drains or soakaways, which allow rainwater to gradually soak into the ground safely. Directing downpipes straight into underground drains can overload them.
Downpipes must discharge into an intermediary system such as a gully or trap before reaching the public drain. This setup helps manage water flow, reducing the risk of blockages or sewer overload. Follow these guidelines to avoid fines and ensure the safety of your home's structure.
Downpipes are normally found on the corner of your building or property, and it usually stretches from the roof down to ground level. Rainwater that goes into this drainage channel can be discharged to a few places, including: A soakaway. A surface water sewer.
Underground downspouts can help guide rainwater away from your home's foundation—and channel it to the thirsty areas of your lawn. You can DIY this project to save some money and protect your home from drainage issues. Here's a quick guide to burying downspouts around your home.
Insufficient and poorly located downpipes are a frequent cause of poor roof drainage system performance. The installation of downpipes, especially near valley gutters, is designed to ensure rainwater from areas on the roof that have concentrated water flows is adequately removed.
Downpipes must be installed at strategic locations to effectively carry water from the guttering system to the ground. Typically, they should be placed at the ends of gutter runs and at regular intervals along longer gutter sections. This helps to maintain a smooth flow of water and reduces the risk of overflowing.
However, there are some common issues caused by buried downspouts that homeowners should be aware of. One of the most common problems with buried downspouts is clogging. Over time, debris such as leaves, dirt, and twigs can accumulate in the pipe, leading to blockages.
Your gutter downspouts should not touch the ground. Otherwise, the rainwater might get backed up in the gutter until it starts overflowing.
Calculating Downspouts Based on Gutter Length
The general rule of thumb is one downspout for every 20-30 feet of gutter. This may vary depending on several factors such as the pitch of your roof, the volume of rainfall in your area, and the capacity of your gutters.
A downpipe directs the exhaust gases from your vehicle's turbine housing into your exhaust system. The downpipe bolts right to the turbine housing. It is instrumental in moving the exhaust gases through the system as efficiently as possible. The average downpipe has at least one restrictive catalytic converter.
Gutters and gullies should only collect rainwater and connect to the rainwater drain. Wastewater pipes should not be connected to the rainwater system. If the rainwater gutters and gullies are connected to the wastewater drain, rainwater could overwhelm the drain and cause flooding.
To ensure proper coverage and protection, bury your downspout extension at least 12 inches deep.
As with all of our Gutter systems, the downpipe pushes directly onto the bottom of the Running Outlet or Stopend Outlet - no other connector is required.
In many regions, council-managed stormwater systems exist. Connecting your downpipes to this network is mandatory in these areas to ensure efficient water management and prevent overburdening local infrastructure.
But in other cases, like those with a particularly sandy or clay-rich soil composition, homeowners may choose to have their downspouts go directly into the ground. This helps to prevent pooling around a home's foundation, which can cause structural damage if left unchecked.
In many places it's not legal to connect a downspout (storm water drainage from a roof) to a sanitary sewer system. The reason is easy to understand: if storm water flows into a sanitary sewer system the sewage treatment plant may easily be overwhelmed by rainfall.
Installing a buried downspout drainage system is a great way to manage rainwater runoff and keep it away from your foundation. By minimizing the risk of flooding and soil erosion, buried downspouts offer a reliable, low-maintenance alternative to surface-level options.
Estimated Lifespan
Galvanized steel and aluminum gutters, the most common type of gutters, have an average lifespan of 20 years, while copper gutters, a more high-end option, can last up to 50 years.
Water pooling around your downspouts, underground drains, or foundation is one of the most easily spotted signs of a clog in your underground drain. Something is preventing the water from flowing where it needs to be, forcing it to return the way it came in, leading to pooling water.
Size of the Gutter Drainage Area: As a rule of thumb, one downspout should be placed every 25-35 linear feet of guttering. Depending on the local climate and rainfall intensity, some homeowners may need more downspouts. Many homeowners add extra downspouts to boost the drainage capacity of their gutters.
Sometimes that downspouts go underground to a dry well. Don't ask me why it's called a dry well when it gets wet. It's a barrel with holes in it that let's the water seep into the ground slowly. If it doesn't go into a dry well, it may continue further away from the house into a perforated pipe.
As mentioned above, the water should be diverted at least 4 to 6 feet away from the house. If a home has basement walls, it should be at least 6 feet away. The furthest away from the foundation the better. Putting gravel or rocks at the end of the downspout to avoid erosion is a great idea.