By Downspouts, or vertical spouts, are vital and attached to your gutters. You shouldn’t place a downspout anywhere you want – it needs to be carefully placed to work. How many downspouts do you need for your home? Let’s discuss it!
A Brief Review of Gutters and Downspouts
The downspout of a gutter is the part that directs the water to the ground. The downspouts come in many shapes, including tubes, chains, and more. They are designed to keep gutters from overflowing by directing water away. We can’t simply put downspouts anywhere we want – the gutters must be able to drain water quickly enough to prevent out-of-control leaking.
How Often Should You Install Downspouts?
In a nutshell, gutters require a downspout every 30-40 feet. This means that for most homes you will need to install spouts on either end of the gutter section. Wait! This broad rule can be changed by many other factors. Included are:
- Roof Area: More roof area above gutters means more rainwater is captured and directed into gutters. The downspouts may need to adjust their location to compensate for a large roof.
- Roof slope: A steeper slope will move water faster. If gutters are having trouble handling a large amount of water within a short time period, adding an additional downspout may help.
- Gutters are available in a variety of sizes. Larger gutters are able to hold more water, so they may not require as many downspouts. To compensate for the low volume of smaller gutters, you may need to add extra downspouts.
- Climate: Heavy rainfall puts a greater strain on gutters. Climates with a lot of rain may require more efficient drainage systems.
This is why it’s so important to consult a professional roofing contractor like Findlay regarding gutter installations and the proper downspouts. When making these decisions, it is important to measure the square footage of the roof and have a good understanding of local rainfall patterns. Changes to your gutters or downspouts may be necessary in order to solve the problem of overflowing.
Sizing vs. Placement
Last but not least, there is one final consideration. The diameter of downspouts is usually between 2 and 3 inches, but they can be made in many different shapes. They can also be much larger. It’s usually possible to use a larger downspout to achieve the same result. The gutter must be big enough to fit the downspout.
This post was written by a professional at Rain Gutter Medic. Rain Gutter Medic’s commitment to protecting your home starts with ensuring it has the best gutter system in place. Based in West Jordan, UT, they bring over 24 years of specialized experience in rain gutter installation, professional gutter cleaning near you, and gutter repair in UT for residential and commercial properties. RGM is dedicated to providing top-notch gutter services that safeguard your property and enhance its appearance and value. Click here to learn more!
