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Inch Downpipe Direct
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Flex-Drain 53202 Downspout Adaptor, Landscaping Drain Pipe Adapter 2 by 3 by 4-Inch List Price: $12.99 Sale Price: $2.76  |
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FLEX-DRAIN FLEXIBLE DOWNSPOUT ADAPTOR * Attaches to a 2" x 3" downspout * Connects to Flex-Drain expandable drain pipe - Ace no. 4292884, 4292892, 4292918, 4292926 or 4292934 * Also works with standard 4" corrugated drain pipe, 4" clay pipe and 4" PVC pipe * Diverts water away from the foundation |
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Your gutters perform an essential function in protecting your home - they ensure that rainwater is allowed to be collected and directed away from the house efficiently so it cannot get into the fabric of the building and cause harm. Accumulations of water will result in mold, mildew and rot occurring as well as impacting the appearance of your home, both internal and external; these harmful incidents can also severely damage the health of your family. Not only this, water will undermine the foundations and bring your building down if it is allowed to freely accumulate near the foundations of the property.
This is why your gutters are so important - they are there to catch the rainwater and snow melt, direct it to the drain pipes and have it carried away from your property.
The traditional gutter is usually open-topped and frequently either a semi-circular tube or a rectangular box design which is again open-topped. These are affixed to the edges of the down slope of the roof by the eaves. As water runs off the tiles or shingles, the gutters collect the water and it runs along the gutter until it meets a downpipe. The downpipe takes the water down to the drains and then away from the home.
This design has some issues - firstly it must be maintained and requires regular inspection if it is to work properly. As it is open-topped, not only water accumulates in the gutter but also any debris which is washed down. Leaves are a prime culprit but there are also numerous small branches and even animal droppings which can accumulate. The gutter system is not typically designed to handle this debris and it accumulates within the gutters and pipes which serve them. Eventually, the gutters and pipes will become blocked or unable to collect and transport the water away effectively, which results in overflows and damage to the home can result as a consequence.
A development has been top replace the open-topped gutter with a system which provides protection from debris accumulating, but allows for the free collection and flow of the water. By covering the top of the gutter with a grating or flat panel which lies flush along the top, but still leaves a "slit" for the water to be collected. The slit, which is usually nothing more than an inch wide and can be less, is not wide enough for leaves to fall into the gutter, but it is certainly enough for the water to fall through and into the gutter system. The slit runs along the side of the gutter which is fixed to the house.
By protecting the top of the gutter and preventing debris from accumulating in the gutters and pipes, this removes the need for such heavy maintenance on the part of the homeowner. Cleaning a traditional gutter usually involves working at heights of 20 feet or more, and is a source of many accidents amongst homeowners, while the job itself is a very messy affair. Using a protected gutter system removes the need for such messy work and dramatically reduces the need for regular maintenance while ensuring effective protection is delivered by the gutter system for your home.
Keith Smallwood is the president of Creative Energy Exteriors, a leading provider of Richmond home improvement services and products such as Richmond windows and Richmond decks. Creative Energy Exteriors can be found online at: CreativeEnergyExteriors.com.
Does Harvesting Rainwater really help the Environment?
In some parts of the world there is still a certain amount of skepticism about the merits of harvesting rainwater and if it is in fact beneficial to the environment. This may possibly be because harvesting rainwater in rainwater tanks is still a new concept, especially in some modern urban areas where householders are very used to just turning on the tap to water their garden or fill their swimming pools.
I remember when growing up, rainwater tanks, water issues and drought were very rarely talked about. We had all the water we needed. I remember we’d use water for hosing down concrete paths and driveways. We’d pour as much water as we’d liked onto our lawns over summer and as kids we’d spray each other with the garden hose for hours.
And of course all of this water came from our local water storages. These water storages were always full of water, as every winter it rained and filled them up. Then during the summer we’d do our best to try and empty them again but the levels never really seemed to get low.
These days though it’s a different story. South Eastern Australia has now been in drought since 1997. As a consequence most of the water storages, lakes, dams and reservoirs are now perilously low. This winter in 2009 we have received average rainfall which is the first time since 2000. Unfortunately all this has done is slow the decline of Melbourne’s water storages which are now at an all time low of 29%.
To fill these water storages with water is going to take a lot of rain over many years. Unfortunately for South Eastern Australia, this upcoming summer is tipped to be hotter than normal. The likelihood of bushfires of the scale of Black Saturday, during February this year, are high. Low rainfall is also forecast so the chance of ever getting enough rain to fill our storages seems low. Unfortunately though, Australia is not alone.
There are now many parts the USA, India, Asia, Africa, Europe and many other places that are also experiencing lower than average rainfall and low water levels in their water storages.
As a gardener I’ve watched the climate change over the last 13 years and whether or not this cycle of dry weather continues is anyone’s guess. In the meantime though, I’ve installed rainwater tanks for harvesting rainwater for my garden. I have a green lawn in my backyard during summer and I can wash my car or clean my paths whenever I want to. The most amazing thing that I’ve discovered is that even in a climate where you only get around 300mm (12 inches) of rainfall per year I can still harvest lots of rainwater. It all has to do with how much of your roof you can harvest rainwater from.
Underground rainwater tanks are very good at harvesting rainwater from all of your roof area. Unfortunately, these are not always viable for some houses. They can be expensive to install and for existing houses they may not be an option. Above ground rainwater tanks are cheaper and easier to install but it can be difficult to harvest rainwater from all of your roof area. Most people don’t really want a rainwater tank at the base of every downpipe or downspout on their house.
These days it is now possible to harvest rainwater from all of your roof area and direct it to above ground rainwater tanks without having to place a rainwater tank at the base of every downpipe. This means that above ground rainwater tanks are now a viable less inexpensive way of harvesting rainwater from all of your roof area. As a consequence large volumes of rainwater can be harvested from your roof even during a drought.
The other important advantage of being able to harvest rainwater from all of your roof area is that during summer when you’re not getting very much rain and you are using lots of water, you can really maximise the amount of rainwater you can harvest. That means that if you only get a little bit of rain you can still harvest lots of rainwater.
Rainwater tanks are now a viable alternative to using water from already stressed water storages. This can only be good for the environment and the extra water will also allow your garden to flourish which will be good for the environment as well. Harvesting rainwater and storing it in rainwater tanks is just a beginning but the more people that harvest rainwater, the bigger the impact it will have and then everyone can benefit from harvesting more rainwater.
About the Author
I've been harvesting rainwater for my garden for the last three years and as a consequence have become quite adept in the process of rainwater harvesting.
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