What is a downspout?

A downspout is a pipe that directs rainwater from the roof of a house to the ground. Typically running down the corners of a building, downspouts attach to the ends of gutters that direct the water to the corners. Rain gutters and downspouts are made of aluminum, vinyl, galvanized steel, copper or wood. They can be painted to match the trim of the house. Without proper working downspouts, water will run over the edge of a house and can cause flooding and damage to the exterior walls of the house. Rainwater can seep into cracks in the walls, through windows and into the foundation. The most common problem with downspouts is that they become clogged with leaves and debris so that the rain cannot flow through properly. The entire gutter system must be cleaned and checked regularly to avoid problems. Leaves should be removed from the gutters. A hose run through the gutters can reveal any clogs in the downspout. Downspouts are attached to a house by clamps and can easily be removed for ...  more

Your home's rain-carrying system is designed to catch rainwater and snow melt from the roof and funnel it to the downspouts, which direct it away from the foundation. An ineffective rain-carrying system can lead to big problems such as wet basements, cracked and eroding foundations, or damaged siding or landscaping. To avoid such problems, make sure your gutters are installed properly, have no leaks, and are free of debris which can clog downspout. Most of the downspouts on homes in the Capital Regional District are directly connected to the storm drain system. This can lead to flooding of creeks where the strom drains empty (see our pilot project).  more

Gutters run along the roof lines in a horizontal fashion, while downspouts are the pieces that run vertically along the walls of the home, connecting the gutter to the ground.