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.
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.
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.
The Basics of Downspout Location
The cardinal rules for downspout placement suggest that they should be located at every corner of the house and approximately every 20 to 30 feet along the gutter line.
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.
If at all possible, the downspout should end in an elbow and extension that directs the water 5 to 6 feet away from your foundation. However, make sure that it does not extend onto your neighbor's property. The extension should be at a 30 degree or more angle in relation to the ground.
Redirecting roof runoff is as simple as adding a downspout extension. These are plastic (PVC) or metal extensions that attach to the bottom of your existing downspout. The extension should carry your roof runoff at least three to five feet away from your home to prevent any water damage to your home or foundation.
The most important thing to remember is to DISCHARGE IT FROM YOUR HOME. Any lines that end within 5 feet of the house will ONLY cause foundation damage, basement flooding, and expensive repairs for the homeowner.
Proper Depth and Distance Considerations
The drain should be placed at least two feet away from the foundation wall to avoid undermining the structure. Ensure the bottom of the trench slopes away from the house at a rate of at least 1/4 inch per foot.
Downspout drains are usually buried from 12 to 48 inches below the ground to better conceal the drainage system.
Install downspouts every 20 to 50 feet along the gutter. The more closely downspouts are spaced along the gutter, the more water can be conducted away during peak rainstorms.
How many downspout installations should your gutters have? If we have to sum it up in a single rule, gutters need a downspout around every 30 to 40 feet. For most homes, this means installing spouts at either end of a gutter section.
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.
To ensure proper coverage and protection, bury your downspout extension at least 12 inches deep. This depth helps protect the pipe from surface activities and ensures efficient water drainage.
A Elbows guide the water flow in a slight turn, typically used at the top and bottom of downspouts for sidewards redirection. On the other hand, B Elbows offer a sharp, right-angle turn, most commonly used at the downspout base to steer water away from the foundation.
Your goal is to have all the water that falls on your house roof and across your entire property to run away from the house. All water that falls within 10 feet of your house (snowmelt or rain) should have a clear path away from your home without ponding (water only runs downhill).
Gutter downspouts should extend a minimum of four feet away from the house; however, they may need to extend much further depending on your soil, the slope of your house and local buildings codes. Here's what you need to know to determine if your gutter extenders are far enough away from your home.
For those without gutters, consider artistic solutions like rain chains. These decorative chains attach to your roof and channel rainwater down each link, creating a visually appealing water feature while effectively directing the flow away from your house.
A properly installed underground downspout extension consists of an upright PVC pipe that runs into an elbow joint below ground with another length of pipe, at least ten feet long, extending underground away from the house.
How far apart should your downspouts be on your gutter system? Your gutters should have a downspout around every 30 to 40 feet. This typically means installing downspouts at both ends of a gutter section. Although there are some factors that can affect the total number of downspouts you need for your house.