Simply put rain chains are attached to eaves or gutters of a home.
Gutter chains do they work.
The most basic rain chains and often the most affordable are aluminum variations that resemble decorative versions of standard linked chains.
Our rain chains are designed to be easily installed in a standard gutter however there are many instances where they have been installed in a custom setup without a gutter.
Like downspouts rain chains prevent water from just falling out of a hole in your gutters and onto the ground which can cause erosion and splashing.
Then it runs down the chain and into whatever you are using to collect or redirect the water.
How do rain chains work.
Since roof slopes will vary from home to home so will the trajectory of the water that streams from a roof through a crevice or crease during a storm.
Since there are many different situations that might use a rain chain without a gutter there is no standard recommended installation method.
Rain chains are a unique addition to a home s rain gutter system.
The water flows from the gutter through the hole where the downspout used to be and onto the chain.
Traditionally they are attached to a decorative bowl that fills with water and creates a circular fountain when it overflows.
A pleasant white noise sound is heard when just a chain is used without the cups.
You can use almost anything as long as it does not interfere with the water flow.
They are as the name suggests a chain of rings or other shapes strung together to channel rain from the top of the house down into a rain barrel or decorative basin.
Rain chains also don t do anything to move the water away from your foundations.
Weighing between 5 10 pounds rain chains attach to the gutter through the hole where the downspout would normally be.
Garden rain chain info.
Traditional rain chains use a small pot or catch basin to handle the water that travels down the chain.
At the functional level rain chains are a replacement for the downspout from your gutters.
Rain chains transform a plain downspout into a pleasing water feature.
Study your roof and how it expels rain water before you install your gutterless rain chain.
Most sloping roofs can accommodate a rain chain even without a gutter.
No doubt they can look attractive don t clog as regular gutters do and save you from the many guttering problems out there.
They guide rainwater from gutters to the ground along chains cups or other designs which creates an aesthetically pleasing effect.
They don t help you prevent erosion which is the whole point of having a gutter system in the first place.
Though rain chains do work best when used alongside traditional gutters they can also be used alone if you install them in locations where rain naturally flows from a roof or awning.
They function well moreover add a pleasant waterfall sound as the rainwater travels downward from cup to cup or link to link.
Rain chains make beautiful alternatives to traditional downspouts.