Downspouts are designed to guide rainwater out of the gutter system to somewhere away from the exterior walls of your home. However, when it is not drained efficiently, runoff can flow onto a driveway, spread across patio pavers, or oversaturate landscaping, causing problems and damage that might be costly to repair. Rerouting downspouts can address most of these issues and protect your home’s exterior.
Reasons to Reroute Downspouts
Rainwater can pool beneath the downpipes. If it hangs around long enough or the ponding area is large, runoff can cause basement flooding.
Runoff might also seep into the foundation, resulting in soil erosion, shifting, and cracks/pitting/pinholes in the cement.
Excess moisture from downspouts that doesn’t drain properly can lead to structural damage beginning with wood rot.
When to Reroute Downspouts
Downspouts need to direct water away from your home. When runoff exits from the gutters too close to the house, they need to be rerouted.
Hard surfaces such as a patio, driveway, or sidewalk might appear immune to a little rain. However, when downpipes consistently deposit water onto these surfaces, it can wear them away, impacting curb appeal, safety, and property values.
If downpipes cross a high traffic area, rerouting them will help prevent accidents and damage to the downspouts.
Reroute downspouts if runoff waterlogs landscaping.
Options for Rerouting Downpipes
Water deposited from downpipes can seep safely into the ground when redirected in one of the following methods.
Use a downspout extension.
Downspout extensions are available in different styles and types, designed to address specific issues.
Standard: A standard extender is a downspout installed horizontally and is ideal for depositing runoff directly into a flower bed, around a tree, or onto an expanse of lawn.
Flexible: A flexible downspout is made of heavy-duty plastic to allow it to be placed around obstructions. Flexible downspouts are a great solution for problem areas that require adaptability – a pipe that can bend instead of one fixed in place.
Hinged: Hinged downspout extensions resemble a standard extender except for the hinge mechanism that lets the downspout to be folded up when not in use.
Use a splash block.
At first glance a splash block may appear to be another type of downspout extension. While it’s true that both splash blocks and extenders serve a similar purpose, there is a significant difference between the two., mainly distance. A splash block is designed to guide water a short distance away from the foundation while protecting the ground from the soil erosion.
Change the downspout’s direction.
Downspout elbows for square downpipes are available in two main types, A and B. If you face the downspout head on, an A elbow deposits water directly toward you. A B elbow directs water to one side. Altering the direction of a downspout can be as easy as replacing the elbow at the bottom of the pipe where the runoff exits the gutter system.
In order to change the downspout’s direction, you might need to replace both downspout elbows – at the top where the pipe connects to the gutter outlet, and the bottom where the water flows out. Begin by taking measurements. Remove the current downpipe from the gutter system by unscrewing the brackets and removing the parts of the downspout. If the new pipe needs to be shorter, cut to fit with a hacksaw. When you’re ready, you can begin to install the new downspout by aligning the elbow joint with the gutter outlet, ensuring the pipe is flush to the exterior wall, and the bottom elbow is facing in the direction the runoff should exit.
To redirect water from a round downspout, remove the current elbow joint, turn it to face the opposite way, and reattach the elbow.
