If you have a pre-installed underground downspout in your home, you might be thinking about where it takes the water from your gutters. It can be hard to tell since these pipes work underground.
Knowing how your gutter drainage works at home goes a long way in maintaining its much-needed functions. Luckily, we’re here to help shed some light on this.
So, where do underground downspouts go? Let’s take a closer look at this not-so-complex system to help you with pipe management.
Where Do Underground Downspouts Drain Water?
As the name implies, underground downspouts tuck beneath your yard to avoid runoffs on the surface of your property. Like any other downspout, it works to keep water gathered on the house’s roof away from your home.
Where underground downspouts drain water depends on how you and your basement repair specialists or plumbers built the roof’s drainage system. These are the common places underground downspouts drain water to:
- Driveways
- Sidewalks
- Streets
- Lawn sprinklers
- Storm drains
- Underground sewer system
If you don’t know where to find your underground downspouts or how their pathing goes in your yard, you might need to use a pipe locator to determine where they drain to. Another way of knowing is by checking with the local city office.
Do Underground Downspouts Stop Basement Flooding?
Underground downspouts work just like any typical downspouts do. They carry water from the roof gutters and away from your home.
The purpose of these downspouts is to prevent runoffs, basement flooding, and water damage to your property. However, it’s a different story if they start to leak and overflow in other places due to clogged pipes.
Are Underground Downspouts More Effective Than Above-Ground Downspouts?
While underground downspouts are a neat way to structure your roof’s drainage system, many people go for above-ground downspouts too. They either decorate around the downspout to make it look more pleasing or connect to rain barrels or hose adapters.
If you’re not a fan of working your way around an above-ground downspout, you might prefer one that’s tucked neatly underground. That way, you don’t have to worry about pipes turning into an eyesore in your yard.
That’s not to say underground downspouts are entirely better than above-ground. Both systems work well, depending on how you maintain them.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of an Underground Downspout?
One of the main reasons why people use underground downspouts is because they’re out of sight. Such a setup gives people more freedom to decorate and layout their yards with ease.
Additionally, it’s easier to have downspouts go underground if it directly links to an underground drainage system.
Be that as it may, it does come with a few drawbacks worth considering. For instance, it’s a bit more hassle to maintain them when the pipes clog since you have to dig them up.
You also have to deal with the risks of frozen pipes during the cold season.
How to Install Underground Downspouts
If you’re looking to install underground downspouts in your home, it’s worth reaching out to your local specialist to aid you in the process. The installation can take anywhere between one to three days, depending on your property’s size.
To get started:
- Sketch a blueprint of your yard’s layout and determine the downspout’s pathing.
- Mark the trench line in your yard, then start digging.
- Place the waterproof pipe on the trench line.
- Connect the starting elbow from the gutter pipes to the underground downspout.
- Insert adapters where necessary.
- Depending on your arrangement with the specialists, direct the flow to where you want the downspout to drain.
- Fill the trench until the pipe is neatly tucked.
Where Do Underground Gutter Drains Go?
Underground drains work similarly to underground downspouts. They usually direct the water flow from gutters to the streets, sidewalks, or your local sewer system.
Gutters, gutter drains, and downspouts all work hand in hand to gather rainwater from the roof and redirect it away from a building or structure.
Final Thoughts
Knowing where your underground downspouts go is essential in maintaining their functionality. While it may sound intimidating at first, it’s actually not too complicated to at least get the basics down.
Regardless if you prefer an underground or above-ground downspout, what matters is how you lay them out in your yard and maintain them. Water damages are never welcome in anyone’s home, so it’s best to equip yourself with helpful knowledge.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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