Gutter downspouts extend from the gutter and transport water away from the house. They should extend four feet from the house, but that varies from property to property depending on the slope of the ground.
If they are not extending far enough, they could cause soil erosion around the foundation of the home. You can solve this problem by adding a downspout extension.
Gutters
Changing the location of your gutter downspouts can help alleviate problems with clogged gutters. Downspouts are a vital part of any gutter system. They carry the water away from your home and prevent it from saturating the ground and leaching into the foundation. This can lead to cracks in the foundation and even leaks into your basement or crawl space. The best way to prevent these problems is to install gutter downspouts that are properly pitched and positioned.
Depending on the type of gutter you have, you will need different types of downspouts. The most common type is the K-style gutter, which is named because it resembles a letter “K” when viewed from the side. This type of downspout is a great option for DIY homeowners because it is easy to install. Another popular type is the rectangular box gutter, which is typically found on commercial or industrial buildings. This type of downspout is also very easy to install, but it requires a bit more skill to ensure it is installed correctly.
Start by removing the old downspout, however it is attached to the gutter. If it is soldered you may need a torch or a soldering iron to remove it. Then, attach the new downspout to the gutter using the gutter hangers. Be sure to use the right gutter downspout outlet for your gutter type (metal or PVC). Then, place a downspout extension or drop outlet on the end of the downspout.
Downspouts
While gutters do a great job of directing rainwater away from the foundation, downspouts do even more important work by carrying water to designated areas like yards and flower beds. Without proper downspout placement, it can be difficult to get rainwater away from the home and can lead to foundation problems, mold, mildew and erosion. One downspout drains up to 35 feet of gutter run, and you may need multiple downspouts depending on the size of your house.
Before you start installing new downspouts, check to make sure the existing gutters are pitched correctly. You can do this by observing the gutters from ground level or using a ladder to look at the slope of the downspouts. A slight pitch is ideal; however, you shouldn’t need more than a 1/4-inch per 10 feet of gutter run for the downspouts to be correctly pitched.
If you find the gutters are not sloped properly, remove the existing downspout, if attached, and scrape any gunk or sealant off the end. You can also loosen the gutter hangers and add a new downspout section at this point, if needed. After you have the downspout section and elbows positioned, drill a hole in the gutter for the drop outlet (the piece at the end of the downspout that points toward the house). Fit the cylinder downspout outlet into the hole, making sure it is pipe-side down. Connect the downspout outlet to the gutter with an elbow, fitting the larger end of the elbow over the smaller end of the downspout sleeve.
Outlets
While gutters do a lot of work directing water away from your home, downspouts finish the job by carrying rainwater to an appropriate draining area. Downspouts are small, lightweight pipes that connect to the bottom of the gutter channel and run vertically down to a drainage location. Typically, downspouts empty into rain barrels, garden beds or into a drain pipe that carries water away from the foundation of your house. If a downspout is installed in the wrong place, it can cause problems by redirecting rainwater near your foundation.
Gutter downspouts are available in a variety of sizes and materials, but most of them are made from PVC. If you’re changing a downspout’s location, it’s best to replace the entire stretch of gutter that contains it. That way, you can ensure the new downspout is properly angled to direct rainwater away from your home.
To install a new downspout in a gutter system that has existing downspouts, you’ll need to add a drop outlet (the piece at the end of the gutter that feeds into the downspout). You can purchase these outlets from most hardware stores.
Before you buy an outlet, mark the location of your new downspout in the gutter with a pencil. Next, trace an “X” in the center of the template with a marker and cut along those X lines using tin snips or a similar tool.
Brackets
One of the most critical parts of gutter installation is establishing fall, or slope, so that water moves toward downspouts and away from the house. This is easiest to do with a level and a tape measure. Place the end of a downspout against the fascia board at the wall and mark where it should sit. Repeat this process for a downspout every 20 feet or so along the gutter. Aim for about an inch of fall for each foot of travel.
To change a gutter’s pitch, start by removing any screws or rivets holding the downspout end cap to the gutter. Then screw in the new end cap. To ensure a waterproof seal, apply a high-quality siliconized caulk to the seam.
Once the downspout is in place, you’ll need to install the gutter’s first elbow over the downspout outlet. Screw the downspout outlet into the elbow with more screws, and then attach another elbow at a point about a foot below the first. Repeat this process for the rest of the gutter.
If your roof has a lot of overhang, you’ll need to use more elbows. To help you keep track of how many gutter brackets you need to buy, divide the number of linear feet of gutter you’re installing by 2.5. This will give you the correct number of gutter brackets. If you prefer, you can also purchase hidden gutter brackets that are attached to the fascia board instead of on top of it.
