After the last two posts in which we analyzed what is a gutter protection system and what are the different gutter guard options, we are finishing this series focused in the gutter protection systems by covering the alternatives available for the downspouts. Although they could look pretty similar, the gutter guards and the downspouts guards have different functions.
The downspouts are the pipes that drive the water from the gutter to the place where we want to dispose that water. All of them start in the outlet of a gutter or a collector box, and from there, some of them drain to the underground drain and others go directly to the ground in a place where they don’t cause trouble to the house foundation.
The downspouts protection systems are aimed to prevent the debris to go into the underground drainage and so, to prevent it from clogging. This means that they should be used:
- 1. When a house gutter system drains into an underground drain, and
- 2. When there are not any gutter covers installed in that gutter.
There are different types of downspout protection systems, also known as downspouts leaf catchers, downspout clean-outs or downspouts debris traps. Some of them are installed in the gutter outlet – which is the connection between the gutter and the downspout pipe-, and others are added to the downspout pipe.
Downspout protection systems installed in the gutter outlet
The idea behind this type of leaf catchers is that leaves and debris float up and away from the downspout opening so the water can drain without eventually clogging the downspout pipe and the underground drain system.
a. Strainers: these systems can be made of plastic, aluminum or copper, and are placed inside of the gutter. They can be flat or rounded, being the rounded ones the most commonly used. This shape ends in a cylindrical body that is introduced into the downspout.
b. Wedges: mainly plastic pieces, they are placed in the same location as the strainers, although their shape is elongated. They consist on a filter that is sloped to allow water to flow through the top, bottom, both sides and back. Many times they are made of recycled materials.
Both are easy to install; however, they need to be cleaned very often because they usually end up clogging the gutter outlet, being the cause of overflowing that can cause damage to structures. This also means using a ladder to do so, which could be dangerous.
These gutter protection systems are:
- Strainers
- Wedges
Downspout protection systems installed in the downspout pipe
Also known as downspout clean-outs, these box-like structures are installed in the downspout pipe, and are used to catch the debris coming from the rain gutters and prevent them to flow into the underground drain system.
They have a filter where leaves, twigs and other debris get stuck while letting the water flow into the underground drain, preventing the clogs of the drain system that can lead to damage to the house foundation.
Clean-outs are installed about 2-4 feet from the ground making it easy to clear out debris periodically. This is a safe and convenient location to service. We recommend emptying out the basket after every rainfall, or whenever you see fit.
Opened downspout leaf traps
Made of plastic or metal, these leaf catchers have a sloped filter where the leafs and other debris get stuck. The type and size of the filter is going to be the key quality differentiator. One of its advantages is that it is easy to see when they are dirty so you can clean them easily. The main downside in this system is that usually overshoots if it doesn’t have the proper maintenance.
Closed downspout leaf traps
These metal inline clean-outs are like a box with a basket inside where the debris are collected. They have more capacity to retain debris than the open models, making them require less maintenance. Some models have a small mesh that retain even smaller debris, however, in contrast to what is recommended for the gutter guards, the micro mesh in this small and narrow spaces is not recommended because it get clogged very easily.
Both options are usually available for the standard corrugated downspouts (2×3 and 3×4), but the closed inline clean-outs are also available for rounded and custom-made downspouts in aluminum, steel, galvanized, zinc or copper.
“It is important the maintenance in all this systems for the best performance”
Finally, you may come across with the downspouts rodent protections, that are screens placed in the opening of the downspout close to the ground when it doesn’t go into a drainage system. These protections are more a problem than a protection itself and they are not recommended by experts. It is unlikely that animals nest in the lower opening of a downspout, and they usually clog the downspouts.
To conclude, there are many types of downspout debris catchers, and each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. However, the features for the best quality downspout filters are:
- Installed where there are underground drains.
- Made of metal.
- Installed in the downspout pipe to avoid clogging the outlet.
- Closed box type for bigger capacity and better look.
Remember that some kind of maintenance is going to be needed, regardless of the type of filter chosen.
Ask an expert about the best option for your project. Take a look to the gutter system protections we work here!
