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Downspouts play an important role in protecting your home. As water collects in the gutter, it flows to the downspout, which sends water from the roof to the ground and also directs it away from the house. But while downspouts are important, they often aren’t enough to guide rainwater away from the foundation.
Water flowing from a downspout can pool in front of your home and leak into the basement or even cause structural damage to the foundation. The solution is to add an extender to the end of the gutter downspout. These pipes are about 4 to 6 feet long and lead water directly away from your home.
Why you need an extender
If rainwater is allowed to pool around the foundation, it can eventually leak into your basement or crawl space because the water can weaken the concrete foundation and lead to cracks. Over time, water can also soften the soil around the foundation, resulting in the house settling unevenly. Soil that stays wet also attracts pests, including termites.
The icons you need to add an extender
There are several telltale signs Your downspout Your home is not directing enough water and you need to add an extender to your downspouts. Mike Fazell, CEO Roof Maxx Says: “A splash block alone may not be enough if you’re seeing pooling, erosion or moisture near the home’s foundation.”
External signs:
- Water puddles around foundations following heavy rain storms
- Erosion of soil and mulch down the downspout
- Yellow plants in nearby landscaping
Internal signs:
- White powdery mildew on basement walls
- Hairline cracks on your foundation
- Basement leakage
- Your crawl space smells.
How long should the downspout be extended?
The extender should be long enough to carry water from the downspout to the part of your yard that slopes away from the house. According to Fazel, the extender should direct the water 4 to 6 feet away from the foundation so it doesn’t run back toward the foundation or saturate the surrounding soil. “In areas with poor drainage or heavy flow, you can push it out more,” he says.
Soil type plays a factor
The type of soil in your yard plays a factor in determining the optimal length of your downspout extender. A 5-foot-long extender should be sufficient for loamy and sandy soils that drain quickly. If you have heavy clay soil that can hold moisture for long periods of time, you may need 8 to 10 feet of soil. Expansion To prevent soil build-up around the foundation wet and muddy.
Slope is key
An expander cannot do its job unless it slopes downward from where it connects from the downspout to the opening. The extender should have a drop of at least 1/4 inch per foot from the downspout to its opening to avoid flooding. “Slope it downward so the water flows away from the house,” says Faisal. “Even a small grade can help prevent water from sitting or flowing back toward the foundation.”
Select the right extender
Extender comes different types Including plastic tubes and trays that flip over. Corrugated flexible plastic tube Ideal for extending downspouts in and around landscaping. A Flipper extension A good choice for extending into your lawn because you can turn it over when it’s time to mow.
When a splash block is sufficient
A Splash block A 2- to 3-foot-long rectangular concrete or plastic pad that sits under the downspout. Its primary purpose is to prevent water from creating holes in the dirt and splashback on your siding as water seeps out from underneath. Because it only directs water 2 feet away from the foundation, it is often not enough to prevent water from pooling around the foundation. The ground around the house must be dug far enough from the foundation (about 6 inches in the first 6 feet) for the splash blocks to be sufficient.
Downspout length is important
The downspout elbow should be about 6 to 12 inches from the ground to provide enough downward slope to support the extension. If the elbow is too low to the ground, the extender will not slope downward at a sharp enough angle to move water away from the house and prevent clogs inside it. If you’re using a splash block, extend the downspout to the ground to prevent water from backing up onto your home’s siding.
Add a debris catcher for longer extensions
Extenders are more susceptible to clogs from leaves, twigs and others Debris that goes down the drain Because of their length. If you don’t have a sewer Drain guardsConsider adding one Inline debris filter box on the downspout to prevent leaves and other debris from clogging the extension.
Number of downspouts you need
As a rule of thumb, one downspout is recommended for approximately every 30 feet sewer properly Sewer drains without letting them overflow. Homes with steeper pitches should have one for about every 20 feet of gutters while homes with shallower pitches may have one gutter for every 40 feet.
Where to locate downspouts
Place gutters at the corners or valleys of your home, which are any places where two roof planes intersect, as these areas will collect more water. “What you want to make sure is that you can move the water from the roof efficiently and away from the foundation as quickly as possible,” Fazel says. Avoid placing downspouts on walkways or in high traffic areas where the ground can become slippery.
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