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.
You'll also ensure that no part of the gutter is keeping too much water at any moment. Downspouts need to be emptied at least 10 feet away from the house. If you can't ensure this with the downspout, it's best to either relocate it or add an extension that will lead the water away from the house's foundation.
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.
Dig a trench from the downspout to the discharge point. Slope the trench away from the house (at least 1/4 inch per foot). Install a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe in the trench. Connect the pipe to the downspout using an adapter.
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.
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.
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.
Permits are generally not required for routine maintenance. This includes things like recaulking your windows, upgrading light fixtures and installing ceiling fans. Fortunately, a permit is also not required to install new gutters or add top-rated gutter guards from Gutter Helmet® to your existing gutter system.
Distance from Foundation
A general rule of thumb is that a french drain should be installed around three feet away from the foundation of a home, but this can vary depending on individual landscaping factors such as where the water is pooling and where gutters are already aligned.
Downspout drains are usually buried from 12 to 48 inches below the ground to better conceal the drainage system.
Reduces Flooding Risk
During heavy rainstorms, excess water can overwhelm above-ground downspouts and lead to flooding around your home's foundation. Buried downspouts help to alleviate this risk by providing a more efficient drainage system.
This can be done using swales, French drains, catch basins or downspout and sump pump extensions. These methods of rerouting can be combined together with capture and storage practices (see below). Whenever you are redirecting runoff, you must send it to a suitable outlet.
Grading drainage is one of the most efficient ways of providing drainage around a home's foundation. Grading drainage involves creating a slope around the perimeter of your home that leads water away from its foundation.
A French drain is an irrigation tool that is meant to collect water from the soil near the home's foundation and move it to a safe place for disposal. Typically, these systems consist of a corrugated and perforated PVC pipe set under gravel and a few inches of soil.
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.
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.
The in-ground gutter drain is an unconnected pipe that connects the gutters on your roof. Its function is to transport rainwater into an underground drain system which drains it away from the house. The downspout is a way to protect the structure from damage caused by water.
The ideal distance for a French drain from the house ranges from 5 to 10 feet. This distance provides an adequate buffer to keep water from seeping into and around the foundation, which can be a common cause of damage.
Be sure to only use rocks for drainage if your soil slopes away from your home's foundation. If your home is situated in the direction of water flow, keeping rocks at your home's foundation will do little to help as the water will have nowhere to flow.