Install a drain pipe
Install a drain pipe at each gutter downspout to prevent rain water from discharging very close to your foundation wall. Diverting downspout water away from your basement wall is one of the important things that you can do to reduce the risk of a flooded basement.
Heavy rainfall in the Bluegrass
The heavy rainfall and flash flooding being reported in the Bluegrass Region and other areas of Kentucky can be a reminder of the importance of diverting downspout water away from your foundation.
57,000 gallons of water on your roof?
It is important to divert downspout water away from your basement because of the large amount of water that discharges through your downspouts. With Lexington’s average annual rainfall of 45.91 inches and an average house roof size of 2000 square feet, more than 57,000 gallons of water lands on the roof during the year.
Install it yourself?
Installing a downspout drain pipe is a task that many homeowners are capable of doing themselves. There are also a number of drainage contractors in the Lexington area that you can contact to install downspout drain pipes.
How far should the drain pipe extend?
A drain pipe should extend at least ten feet away from the house if the ground slopes downward away from the house at least six inches in that ten foot distance. Extend the drain pipe beyond the ten foot length if the ground slopes less than six inches in a ten foot distance from the house.
The construction materials
The drain pipe, which is usually a black corrugated plastic pipe that is five inches in diameter, can be connected to the gutter downspout with a plastic adapter fitting that neatly connects the drain pipe to the downspout. The drain pipe can also be fitted directly over the downspout if the downspout elbow at the bottom of the downspout is removed.
What to install at the end of the drain pipe
The discharge end of the drain pipe can be fitted with one of several types of commercially available outlet drains or catch basins. One popular type of cover is the pop-up drain. The drain pipe can terminate directly at ground level without any terminal fittings if the ground slope is adequate. Avoid terminating a drain pipe into a granular French drain unless the ground conditions are appropriate and if you or your contractor is knowledgeable about their proper installation. An improperly installed French drain will stop functioning after it fills with sediment that is unable to properly drain.
Watch the video
The author's installation of the downspout drain pipe was successful, as shown on the video that follows this article.
Watch the slide show
Watch the slide show that follows the video for a step-by-step construction sequence of the drain pipe.
Where does the 57,000 gallons of water go that lands on your roof in a year?
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