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.
Gutter chains do they work.
Rain chains are a unique addition to a home s rain gutter system.
Garden rain chain info.
They function well moreover add a pleasant waterfall sound as the rainwater travels downward from cup to cup or link to link.
Rain chains also don t do anything to move the water away from your foundations.
How do rain chains work.
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.
Rain chains make beautiful alternatives to traditional downspouts.
Study your roof and how it expels rain water before you install your gutterless rain chain.
The water flows from the gutter through the hole where the downspout used to be and onto the chain.
You can use almost anything as long as it does not interfere with the water flow.
A pleasant white noise sound is heard when just a chain is used without the cups.
Rain chains transform a plain downspout into a pleasing water feature.
However i think rain chains are so much more than just a replacement for a downspout.
They extend to the ground and are typically secured to prevent against excessive movement.
Traditional rain chains use a small pot or catch basin to handle the water that travels down the chain.
Traditionally they are attached to a decorative bowl that fills with water and creates a circular fountain when it overflows.
No doubt they can look attractive don t clog as regular gutters do and save you from the many guttering problems out there.
Since there are many different situations that might use a rain chain without a gutter there is no standard recommended installation method.
Weighing between 5 10 pounds rain chains attach to the gutter through the hole where the downspout would normally be.
Most sloping roofs can accommodate a rain chain even without a gutter.
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.
Simply put rain chains are attached to eaves or gutters of a home.
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.
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.
At the functional level rain chains are a replacement for the downspout from your gutters.
They guide rainwater from gutters to the ground along chains cups or other designs which creates an aesthetically pleasing effect.