Downspouts are one of the most ubiquitous features found on homes old and new. After all, every home needs a reliable system for directing water from the roof to the ground and away from the foundation. To be sure, traditional downspouts do a great job at this task. However, their visual appeal has always left something to be desired. For an effective water directing method that can be designed to match any exterior decor, rain chains may provide an attractive option.

What are rain chains?

Rain chains are essentially as simple as they sound: long, decorative chains that are hung from the eave of the house which allows water to flow from the gutters to the ground. They can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and finishes to match your personal architectural tastes. The simplest rain chains are simply a heavy gauge chain with a device at the bottom to direct the water away from your home’s foundation. More ornate rain chains, however, are constructed from short lengths of pipe that are strung together to form a chain. As the water flows over these lengths of pipe, the pipes emit a pleasing, relaxing sound that can provide great background noise for a garden or other outdoor space.

Are rain chains right for me?

rain chains

The main advantage of a rain chain is its pleasing aesthetics. Since rain chains are almost infinitely customizable, you can create a rain chain that will easily blend in with the rest of your home’s architecture, creating a beautiful, consistent look. A challenge you might encounter when using rain chains is that they aren’t as effective at handling large quantities of water as their traditional downspout counterparts. So, if you live in an area that experiences frequent heavy downpours, you’ll want to be sure you have some sort of backup system to handle the excess water during a storm.

Additionally, rain chains depend on the chain being straight to allow gravity to pull the water down exactly where you intend it to be. If there are high winds, however, this can cause the chain to move, thus disturbing the flow of the water. Of course, there are solutions to both of these challenges that will help ensure all rainwater goes exactly where you want it to. For heavy downpours, you can install a backup downspout or French drain to ensure water is directed away from your home’s foundation. If you experience heavy winds, you can utilize a heavier-gauge chain or use a more rigid setup to ensure the chain stays straight at all times.

Be Prepared

Of course, no matter whether you choose traditional downspouts or rain chains for your home, you need to be sure that the water can effectively get to these devices in the first place. This means having gutters that are in good condition and aren’t clogged by debris. If you need assistance with any gutter needs, feel free to give us a call or email us, and we’ll be glad to assist you.