Do Downspout Extensions Work? – How To Install & Maintain

Downspout extensions work to reduce the amount of rainwater that falls on your property and into your gutters. Downspouts can be installed on the ground or on a wall, and they direct water away from your foundation. but its effectiveness depends on where you live and how you maintain it.

Downspout extensions, also known as downspout accessories, are simple extensions that increase the coverage of your downspouts. Most people choose these for aesthetic reasons, but they can also be a useful way to extend the protection of your home from rain and snow.

In this article, we’ll know do downspout extensions work? and explore how to install a downspout extension to get the most out of it for your project.

What Are Downspout Extensions?

After the water has been redirected by gutters, downspout extensions direct water away from a building. You can choose from flexible, roll-out, or flip-up extensions based on the needs of your home.

Downspout extensions are a popular way to keep your downspouts draining into an area that is not in your yard. They come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all do the same thing- direct rainwater away from your house. Downspouts can be tricky to set up on the side of your house, so adding an extension is often necessary for proper drainage. 

How Do Downspout Extensions Work?

Downspout extensions are a great way to keep water from flowing over the foundation of your house. They help divert water away from the foundation, which can be a major problem for homes. Downspouts are typically installed at the end of a roof’s gutter system and extend outwards to direct runoff away from the home.

To install a downspout extension, you’ll need to connect the hose from the extension to one of your downspouts. You can also use this as a way to drain excess water from rain gutters and eaves that aren’t connected directly to an outside spigot or drainage pipe. When installing these extensions, it’s important that they’re installed correctly so that they don’t leak and damage your home’s exterior finishing.

Different Type Of Downspout Extensions

Downspout extensions can be made of PVC, ABS, or Copper. All the materials used in these downspouts should have good quality to prevent leaks and problems with them. PVC is a cheap material but it is not suitable for outdoor use as they tend to break easily. ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and copper are the best materials because they don’t rust, crack or fade easily which makes them last longer and save money on repairs. There are 6 main types of downspout extensions available in the market-

  1. Aluminum downspout extensions: Aluminum downspout extensions are usually added on the bottom elbow of the downspout. The downspout runs horizontally and exits in your yard. After these are in place, they can’t be moved for lawn mowing, etc. When extending gutters in a straight line without any obstructions, these would be the best option.
  2. Corrugated flex pipe downspout: Most downspout extensions are made of corrugated flex pipe. They can be positioned anywhere since they are flexible. These can be picked up for mowing and other landscape tasks as well. Some corrugated flex pipes come with pre-fitted adapters that snap right onto the ends of your downspouts.
  3. Underground gutter drain: Underground Drainage Systems are Corrugated Flex Pipes or PVC Pipes that are installed underground and lead the water away from your home. They usually lead to the street, sidewalk, or even straight into the sewer system. Underground clogs can lead to basement flooding, and it is hard to keep these pipes clean.
  4. Splash stone downspout extension: Splash stones are placed under downspouts to prevent water from getting close to the house. Typically, they measure 2 to 3 feet in length, although larger sizes are available as well. They prevent the water from digging holes in gardens and mulched landscaping. Splash Stones are made from stone, PVC, and rubber.
  5. Rain chute downspout extension: As with splash stones, Rain chutes are longer sides. These are also known as Gutter Channels. You can install it if you need to re-direct water away from your home.
  6. Automatic downspout extensions: Water fills up the bag and forces it to unroll when it rains. In a fully unrolled state, water shoots out of little holes, just like a sprinkler. Once the rain stops, the bag rolls back onto the spool. You can use these if you have soil erosion problems.

Are Downspout Extensions Necessary?

When your roofs are large/steep, rain gutters will receive a lot more water, which is why downspout extensions can be useful. The downspout extensions typically run underneath the landscaping. If a building does not have concrete surrounding it, the drainage pipes can be buried inside a trench (normally 12-14 inches deep). For example, you can extend downspout extensions far enough to discharge water into the street or at least a safe distance from your home. In other cases, a specialized mechanism will suffice to collect water without further renovations.

How To Install Downspout Extensions

Step 1: Before installing the underground downspout extensions, you need to take a look at your property. If there are any obstructions that may block the rainwater from draining out of your downspouts, then you need to remove them. The second thing is that the downspouts should be located near where they will drain because it will help to prevent clogging in the drainage system and allow water to flow smoothly through.

Step 2: After taking a look at your property, you can start by removing any debris or loose soil from around the underground downspout extension. You can use either a tarpaulin or some other kind of waterproofing material if needed so that it doesn’t damage anything when you pull up the old pipe and put in a new one. Make sure not to damage or harm any nearby plants or shrubs as well because it would cause them unnecessary harm as well.

Step 3: The next step is attaching both ends of the pipe together using the plumber’s tape (if required). The kit includes everything that you need including the downspout. All you have to do is clean your downspout and install the extension, then screw in the nuts and washers and attach the end caps.

Take care not to cut off too much length of pipe so that it fits properly into your existing pipes and drainage system. The whole process should take no more than 15 minutes once everything is done correctly. Once done, simply clean up all trash left behind and make sure nothing gets damaged during this process because this would only mean additional work for yourself later on!

Any Tips For Burying Downspout Extensions?

There are a few things that you can do to bury downspout extensions properly.

  • First, make sure that the downspouts are long enough to reach the ground.
  • Second, make sure that the downspouts are at least 2 inches in diameter and that the discharge end of the downspout is directed away from your home or building.
  • Third, ensure that the downspouts are properly installed and connected to your main water line using proper fittings.
  • Fourth, avoid installing downspouts on slopes or near trees or other obstructions.
  • Fifth, use a rain gutter system to direct water away from your home during heavy rains.

How Long Should Downspout Extensions Be?

We recommend that downspout extensions drain at least 10 feet from the foundation of your home. If possible, incorporate your yard’s natural grading to improve drainage, and to help move the water farther from your house.

You can bury the extensions in the yard after they are installed. They do not need to be buried deeply; 5-6 inches below the surface is sufficient. This is a project you may be able to do yourself if you are inclined to do it.

A contractor can do this work for you if you don’t want to do it yourself. The cost of an extension of a downspout is $5-8 per 10-foot extension. If your property allows, you may need more than 10 feet (20 feet is ideal).

How Do I Make My Downspouts Longer?

You can easily extend your downspouts with the help of PVC pipes and fittings.

  • To get started, you need to cut the downspout at its end using a hacksaw or circular saw.
  • Then drill a hole through the bottom of the spout and run it through the top of an existing downspout that is longer than yours.
  • Next, insert a piece of PVC pipe into each end of your new downspout.
  • Slide one end into one side of your new spout and then thread it through the other side so that both ends are in place on either side of your existing spout.
  • Now pull tight on both ends to make sure they are securely connected.
  • Finally, cut off any excess length from each end so that they will fit snugly inside your home’s drain pipes when finished.

Do downspout extenders work? In order for this project to work, all parts must be cut properly before assembly takes place. Also, if you do not have access to a hacksaw or circular saw, then there are other ways you can use to accomplish this task like using an electric jigsaw machine or electric carving knife which would also work well in cutting long lengths of pipe.

Landscapers’ Mistakes With Downspout Extensions

  1. Wrong materials: Landscapers often use corrugated plastic pipes for interior drains but it is not recommended for underground downspout extensions since it leaks water. 
  2. Incorrect pitch: Installing underground downspout extensions, like “U” shapes, can create more problems than they solve because the discharge water can back up into the drain. In cold weather, trapped water can freeze (and expand), causing severe damage to downspouts.
  3. Direct Connection: Contractors usually attach the extension directly to the downspout. This prevents the gutter from allowing access to the downspout, so clogs are often difficult to clear and require excavation.
  4. Short extensions: Ideally, a downspout extension should carry water a minimum of 10 feet from the foundation to avoid the “zone of failure,” the backfilled area. Landscaping companies install just a few feet of pipe, due to lower prices contracts, and ignorance.

Why Does Downspout Location Matter?

What you’re asking is a question that can be answered in many ways. But one of the most important things to consider is where your downspout ends up.

  1. Draining water too close to a concrete slab erodes the dirt beneath it, causing the slab to sink. I mean your driveway, patio, porch, and walkway.
  2. In a sinking slab, water can pool and be directed toward your house instead of away from it.
  3. Your foundation faces hydrostatic pressure as water tries to move through it as it collects near your house.
  4. Hydrostatic pressure creates cracks in your foundation These cracks let water enter your basement or crawl space.
  5. As these waters soak into the soil over time, they cause the ground to soften, causing your foundation to settle (“sink”). 
  6. Mold slowly begins to grow, causing your foundation to deteriorate.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Downspout Extension?

  1. Extensions are not feasible in various situations. Depending on your home’s structure, you may not be able to add an underground extension without major renovations. If you want an extension for your downspout, be sure to get permission from the homeowner or property manager before starting any work. You also need to be aware of any restrictions that may apply in the area – for example, extensions are typically not allowed in certain parts of town due to the risk of flooding.
  2. The use of underground downspouts will be impossible if you don’t have a garden or your property is surrounded by concrete.
  3. It is always wise to hire a professional installer to avoid structural damage as well as damage to the rest of your rain gutters. This leads to extra costs.
  4. Performing regular maintenance on your guttering system determines how long your downspout extensions will last.
  5. You might end up with rainwater pooling on your foundations or blocks in the extensions if you let your gutters and downspouts get clogged with debris, leaves, or frozen water.
  6. In some cases, it’s especially hard to remove an obstruction from an extension, so you may need to remove them in order to do the job.

Are underground Gutter Extensions Worth It? Or Future Problems?

There are many benefits to having underground gutter extensions, but there are also some potential future problems that need to be considered.

One of the biggest benefits of having underground gutter extensions is that they can prevent water damage in your home. This is because rainwater will flow down the gutters and into the ground instead of flowing through your home and into your water supply. However, there are a few potential future problems that you should be aware of.

  • First, if the gutter system becomes clogged or overloaded, it could lead to water flooding into your home.
  • Second, if the system fails completely, then rainwater could pour directly onto your property and cause major damage.
  • Therefore, it is important to consult with a professional before installing any type of gutter system in order to ensure that all potential problems are taken into account.

How To Find The Best Downspout Extensions?

The best downspout extensions are those that can fit with your home and the budget you have.

It is important to choose a product that is not only aesthetically appealing but also durable. The materials used in its construction should be strong enough to withstand the elements such as weather, snow, rain, etc.

The type of material used will determine how long it will last and if it can last for years. It is essential to ensure that your new downspout extension fits with your house or home as well as the aesthetics of the property itself. The brand name should also matter because some brands are known for their durability while others might not be so good at this aspect. You should consider doing research on different brands before buying one because you don’t want to regret buying something inferior later on.

For finding the best downspout filter read this article.

Conclusion

Downspout extensions do work and provide an easy, cheap solution to keep your home safe from flooding. They also save homeowners money because they can reuse their existing downspouts and reduce water runoff into the street. So, do downspout extensions work? Yes. It also aids you in other areas, such as:

  • Downspout extensions are an effective way to collect rainwater across many climates. 
  • They are easy to install and require no maintenance. 
  • If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly way to collect water, downspout extensions are a great option!

Downspout extensions are a great way to prevent water damage around your home. They are easy to install and can be completed in just a few minutes. We have been getting a lot of questions about do downspout extensions work. Let us know if this article helped you out.

Downspout Extensions (FAQs)

Which one is better: do downspout extensions or copper gutter cleanouts?

Downspout extensions and copper gutter cleanouts effectively remove debris from downspouts and gutters, but they have different benefits and drawbacks.

Downspout extensions are a more affordable option, but they may not effectively remove all the debris from downspouts and gutters. Copper gutter cleanouts are more expensive, but they effectively remove all the debris from downspouts and gutters.

Do I need a downspout extension for a detached slab garage?

If you do not have a downspout extension, you will need to install one to divert water away from your garage.

Downspouts are a vital part of any home’s drainage system and should be installed according to local regulations. Downspouts help prevent water from building up on the ground and flooding your home or property. They also protect your home by directing rainwater away from streets, sidewalks, and other areas that could lead to flooding.

Do auto drain roll-out downspout extension work?

Auto drain roll-out downspout extension systems can be a helpful addition to your property if you have problems with water overflowing from your downspouts during heavy rains or snow.

By attaching an extension system to your downspout, you can divert water away from your home and onto a sump or pond where it can be collected and disposed of properly. This system will also help reduce the amount of flooding that occurs in your home during extreme weather conditions.

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