Drain gutter installation

Allow 1 square inch of downspout cross-section for every square feet of roof area. Place downspouts at least 20 feet apart but no more than 50 feet apart. Lateral piping at the end of each downspout should also be given careful design consideration because typically a 5-foot lateral channel will get in the way of lawn mowing and other yard activities. Inspect the roof edge to determine if a metal drip edge is installed or included as part of the gutter.

Some metal gutters have an integral flashing piece that serves the function of a stand-alone drip edge. If a drip edge is not present, install one. The drip edge will serve two purposes: 1 it will help protect the roof edge sheathing and fascia from exposure to flames that could occur if debris in the gutters or on the roof is ignited by wind-blown embers, and 2 it will minimize the entry of embers into the gap that can exist between the edge of the roof sheathing and the top of the fascia IBHS Protect your Property from Wildfire-California Edition.

The map in Figure 1 shows the climate zones for states that have adopted energy codes equivalent to the International Energy Conservation Code IECC , 12, 15, and The map in Figure 2 shows the climate zones for states that have adopted energy codes equivalent to the IECC Install gutters and downspouts to direct water away from foundation.

Pooling water attracts a variety of pests. Put leaf guards over gutters to prevent accumulation of leaves and plant debris which can encourage nesting by animals. Compliance The Compliance tab contains both program and code information. Code language is excerpted and summarized below. For exact code language, refer to the applicable code, which may require purchase from the publisher. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting.

Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links. Water-Managed Roof Assembly. Footnote 13 The assessment of whether the soil is expansive or collapsible shall be completed by a certified hydrologist, soil scientist, or engineer. Footnote 14 Any of the following are permitted to be used as alternatives to Item 3.

Exhibit 1 Mandatory Requirements. Section R Requirements apply to asphalt shingle roofs, metal roof singles, mineral-surfaced roll roofing, slate and slate-type shingles, wood shingles and wood shakes.

An exception is included for detached accessory structures not containing conditioned floor area. Retrofit: , , , , and IRC. Additions, alterations, renovations, or repairs shall conform to the provisions of this code, without requiring the unaltered portions of the existing building to comply with the requirements of this code, unless otherwise stated.

See code for additional requirements and exceptions. Appendix J regulates the repair, renovation, alteration, and reconstruction of existing buildings and is intended to encourage their continued safe use.

Chapter 5 of the IWUIC provides regulations that establish minimum standards for the location, design and construction of buildings and structures based on fire hazard severity in the wildland-urban interface. These provisions are intended to supplement the requirements of the International Building Code and address mitigation of the unique hazards posed to buildings by wildfire and to reduce the hazards of building fires spreading to wildland fuels.

Section Fascias are required and shall be protected on the backside by ignition-resistant materials or by materials approved for not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction or 2-inch 51 mm nominal dimension lumber.

Sections Gutters and downspouts. Gutters and downspouts shall be constructed of noncombustible material. Gutters shall be provided with an approved means to prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris in the gutter.

If you are retrofitting an older home with no gutters, see the Description tab for guidance. The U. More Info. Access to some references may require purchase from the publisher.

Building Media, Inc. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The Building America Field Kit allows you to save items to your profile for review or use on-site. Sign Up or Log In. Gutters and Downspouts Print. Scope Images. Install adequately sized gutters and downspouts. Or, install a rainwater harvesting system that includes a drainage system to handle overflow. Or, construct a grade-level rock bed with a waterproof liner and drain pipe to collect water that drains from the roof.

Figure 1. If not drained away from the house, the volume of water coming off a roof in a large rainstorm can quickly saturate the soil and wick through the foundation into the interior of the building. Controlling Roof Runoff As outlined in the scope, builders have four options for dealing with rain water runoff from a roof: Install gutters and downspouts that terminate at least 5 feet away from foundations.

OR Install gutters and downspouts that terminate to an underground catchment system at least 10 feet away from foundations. OR Install a rainwater harvesting system that has a properly designed drain to adequately manage the overflow and meet discharge-distance requirements. OR Instead of gutters install a grade-level rock bed around the home with a drain pipe in a lined trench beneath the bed to carry water to a sloping finish grade at least 5 feet from the foundation, or to a drywell, or other approved location; the house must be protected from splashback damage as described below.

Gutters System Basics Gutter systems consist of two parts: 1 gutter channels that run horizontally along the roof edge to collect runoff and 2 the downspouts that carry the collected water down to grade level. Figure 2. Gutter channel. Stock gutter material's found in building supply centers are often listed as "K" or "U" styles. The difference in styles is purely aesthetic. Figure 3. Unless downspouts are connected to an underground catchment system or storm sewer system, they should drain to daylight at least 5 feet from the foundation.

How to Install Downspouts Install downspouts every 20 to 50 feet along the gutter. The more closely downspouts are spaced along the gutter, the more water can be conducted away during peak rainstorms. Extend the lateral piping at least 5 feet from the building.

Terminate the lateral pipe to daylight or to a catchment system or storm sewer. It is critical that a daylight drain empty onto a sloped grade that directs water away from the building and does not allow water to drain back towards the building. A splash block placed at the end of the lateral pipe will help control erosion to this location EPA How to Install a Downspout Drain Install drains for the gutters and downspouts that terminate to an underground catchment system at least 10 feet away from foundations or direct water to an underground storm sewer or other approved discharge point.

Use a non-perforated, smooth or corrugated plastic pipe as the drain. If a rainwater harvesting system is installed, properly design the drain to adequately manage the overflow and meet the discharge-distance requirement of 10 feet.

Connect and seal the pipe directly to the downspout. Bury the drain pipe at a slope consistent with the final grade around the home i. Do not connect the gutter drain pipe to the perforated foundation drain pipe; this practice will soak the foundation see Figure 4.

Figure 4. Use proper site grading, footing drains set in coarse gravel, gravel beneath the slab, free-draining plus impermeable backfill, and a polyethlylene vapor barrier to protect the foundation from water intrusion. Grade-Level Drainage System In cold and very cold climates, where snow can accumulate on roofs, the water in gutters can freeze. Figure 5. Gutters can freeze in cold and very cold climates. Therefore, in cold climates, install a grade-level drainage system instead of gutters, as shown here.

How to Install Grade-Level Drainage Design and install the foundation so that there will be 8 to 16 inches of foundation wall showing between the ground at grade level and the first course of siding. This will prevent splash back from damaging siding materials. Install a perimeter foundation drain at the footing level as described in the guide Footing Drain Pipe. The standard foundation drainage system shown in the graphic above consists of Schedule perforated piping and clean stone that is isolated from the surrounding soils by filter fabric.

Backfill the foundation drainage system with a well-draining backfill material. Stop backfilling 16 to 18 inches from grade level. Lay a piece of EPDM rubber roofing or other impervious membrane in the trench to isolate the grade-level drainage system from the foundation drainage system below. Lay landscape fabric and 1 or 2 inches of clean rock or gravel in the pipe.

This piping should extend past the corner of the foundation at least 5 feet and drain to daylight or connect to a catchment system or storm sewer. Backfill around the drainage pipe with 4 to 6 inches of addition clean stone and wrap the filter fabric over the rock with 4 to 6 inches of overlap. Bring the sides of the EPDM isolation membrane up the sides of the trench to create a contained channel so water is drained off by the perforated piping and does not overflow and saturate the foundation backfill.

Install an additional 4 to 6 inches of clean stone over the landscape fabric EPA Underground Catchment System As an alternative to draining roof runoff to daylight, the downspout can connect to a catchment system, storm sewer, or rainwater harvesting system.

Figure 6. A roof runoff catchment system, such as the drywell shown here, must be located at least 10 feet from the building foundation. How to Install a Catchment System Connect downspouts to lateral piping that extends at least 10 feet from the foundation.

Provide overflow protection to alleviate the water load during peak rain events. Locate overflow pipe at a branch in the downspout, or tee-off near the top of the catchment basin. If it branches off the downspout, as shown in this illustration, it must extend at least 5 feet from the building foundation and drain to daylight. Install a clean-out in the catchment basin. In a drywell, as shown here, this clean-out consists of a perforated pipe through the center of the gravel that allows the basin to be flushed out periodically.

The clean-out should also connect to the lateral pipe to allow leaves and other debris to be removed. Isolate the catchment basin with a geotextile filter fabric to prevent soil intrusion from clogging the system.

Fill the basin area with coarse gravel. Remove the old gutter and replace it with your new gutter system. Place the gutter drain where it will be permanently installed. Thread the tailpiece into the bottom of the gutter channel to hold it in place. Use a square or plumb bob to check for level as you connect your underground drainage system together.

Checking for level is important because if your drainage system does not run straight, water may back up and cause problems. Screw in the underground drain with a masonry bit and sealant. Use screws to hold the liner in place. Make sure you do not block access to any backflow prevention devices or outlets on the lateral. Lastly, you may want to install a hood at the edge of your property to prevent leaves from blocking any outlets along the gutter drain system.

A professional gutter installer is familiar with all of these steps and may be able to do this job for you in a short amount of time. If money is tight, decide if hiring a contractor or doing it yourself is a better fit for your needs. Once you have installed gutter drains, do not forget to clean them out when they become clogged with debris of any kind. Failure to keep your drains clear can cause water to back up and overflow into your home, causing damage and a large mess for you to clean up.

You want to be sure the water will be directed away from this point and not back up into your gutter system. This will ensure that water cannot back up into the system and cause damage. Connecting two straight sections of underground gutter together ensures that all of the water from your roof can drain away safely. To do this, you must first check for level with a plumb bob. Then, secure the two sections together with a gutter strap or hanger.

Place it as close to the foundation as possible so that water can drain efficiently away from your home and into the downstream section of gutter drain you just connected. These devices are inexpensive and easy to install when you know how to do it yourself. This type of device can save you a lot of money in repair costs if something goes wrong in the future. Install the backflow prevention device and cover it with dry gravel and sand to keep everything in place.

Your gutters and downspouts can now be connected to the drain to divert water into your underground drainage system. Finally, check for level once more with a plumb bob before filling in around the edges of your gutter drains with gravel or stone to direct the water towards your new underground drainage system. You may want to add a hood with an outlet to your gutter system to prevent leaves and other debris from blocking the ends of your downspouts.

If you live in a rainy area and get heavy rains, a rain barrel may be an effective way to capture water for non-potable uses around the home. Place barrels under downspouts or along the edge of gutters, or even on flat roofs to capture water for garden use. A gutter system helps direct rainwater away from your home and safely away from your foundation. You can also make use of a rain barrel to store captured rainwater for non-potable uses around the house.

Rain barrels are made of recycled plastic and come in many sizes to accommodate small homes and large buildings. Use of a rain barrel is an inexpensive way to collect water for non-potable uses around the house, such as watering plants or filling up kiddie pools for summer playtime.

Rain barrels are usually made from recycled plastic, or even food grade plastic if you plan on using the water yourself. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance.

Skip to content How to install a gutter drain. Home How to install a gutter drain. What is a gutter drain? Contact Us. The pros of installing a gutter drain A simple gutter drain is what you need to minimize the presence of moisture under your gutters. How to install a gutter drain? Purchase a gutter drain from your local hardware store.

Find the lowest point where water is accumulating. Remove the gutter from its location and lay it out on a level surface with. Measure the distance between the bottom of your roof and this low point.