You know that it’s important to direct water away from your home. This is why most people have gutters on their homes.
Gutters work to direct water toward a downspout. The downspout then guides water away from the house and toward somewhere safe.
Did you know that there is an alternative to using a downspout? Recently, people have started using rain chains in place of downspouts.
Are these rain chains better than downspouts? Do they truly work, or are they inferior to standard downspouts?
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about rain chains. This should help you to decide whether you want to replace your downspout with a rain chain or stick to the tried and true method of protecting your home.
What is a Rain Chain?
You might not even know what a rain chain is yet. These are decorative alternatives to downspouts that many people have fallen in love with.
These rain chains are designed to be another method of water drainage. One reason why so many people are starting to choose rain chains is that they look really nice.
Rain chains are designed to be decorative. They look great and they hang down from your home as if they’re some type of decorative element.
They aren’t just there for looks, though. These rain chains truly work to help with water drainage.
Is a rain chain better than a downspout, though? Keep reading to learn more about rain chains so you can make an informed decision.
The Pros and Cons of Using a Rain Chain
You can use rain chains to keep water runoff away from your roof. It’s a simple design concept, but it works well.
Rain chains have been in use in Asia for a very long time. They’ve been in use in Japan for years, and they’re just now becoming popular in North America.
Many people love these rain chains because of how beautiful they are. They’re designed to be aesthetically pleasing while also being functional.
Another good reason to own a rain chain is that installing them is simple. You can add a rain chain to a gutter, or you can hang it from the roof.
It doesn’t cost too much money to buy rain chains. They’re affordable drainage solutions that will appeal to many people.
You’ll enjoy the fact that rain chains don’t typically clog. So you won’t have to clean the rain chains out too often or worry about clogs preventing them from working.
The sound of rain chains can be considered a positive as well. When rain makes contact with rain chains, it will create a pleasant sound.
These rain chains last for a long time, too. They age well and can stand the test of time better than downspouts.
Of course, there are some cons to consider. One of the biggest cons is that these products don’t redirect rainwater.
Downspouts are capable of directing water away from your home. Rain chains simply don’t do this.
They can’t handle as much water as downspouts, either. So they might not be as useful during heavy rainstorms.
If you live in a windy area, rain chains won’t work nearly as well. So the practicality of rain chains will depend on your needs and where you live.
What is a Downspout?
Downspouts are connected to gutters, and they redirect water away from your home. A downspout is long, and it carries water to a safe location.
You can install downspouts on your home and they work in tandem with your gutters. A gutter and downspout system can work to protect your home from water damage effectively.
The Pros and Cons of Using a Downspout
There are some pros and cons to using downspouts, as you’d expect. When comparing downspouts to rain chains, you’ll find that they aren’t nearly as beautiful.
Rain chains are gorgeous, and downspouts simply look like gutters. Typically, downspouts will be made out of aluminum or other common types of gutter materials.
Downspouts also don’t make nice sounds when rain is traveling through them. They can sometimes be noisy, and you might even describe the sounds coming from the downspouts as unpleasant.
Of course, none of this might matter to you. If you care about functionality, downspouts are superior to rain chains.
Downspouts direct water away from the house. They protect the foundation of your home to keep it from being damaged by pooling water.
You do have to clean downspouts and gutters every so often. They can get clogged if you don’t take action, but they function well, and they’re very reliable.
Can a Rain Chain Replace a Downspout?
In some cases, you might be able to use a rain chain to replace a downspout. However, rain chains don’t do the same things that downspouts do.
Rain chains can help to keep water from damaging your roof. They do nothing to redirect the water and keep it from pooling near the foundation of your home.
So rain chains might not be as useful in many situations. If you need to protect the foundation of your home, rain chains won’t do much for you.
If your home is surrounded by sidewalks you might not need to worry about your foundation so much. So rain chains can be practical for some homes.
Can You Use a Rain Chain Without a Gutter?
Yes, you can use a rain chain without a gutter. These rain chains can be attached to gutters, but they can also be attached directly to roofs.
So rain chains are very easy to install, no matter what your roof situation looks like. Generally, rain chains will come with instructions that tell you how to install them.
You can install rain chains even if you don’t have experience with them. It doesn’t take a lot of expertise or effort to install them properly.
So you can buy rain chains with confidence even if you don’t have gutters on your home. They’re intuitive, and you won’t have a tough time with them.
Where Can You Buy Rain Chains?
Since rain chains are becoming more popular, it’s not that tough to find them. You can buy rain chains at many different home improvement stores.
It’s easy to find that at common home improvement chains. You can also order rain chains online at popular online retailers.
Some department stores might carry rain chains as well. Generally, it won’t cost you a lot of money to buy rain chains.
You can often find them being sold for $60.00 or so. Some types of rain chains might cost a bit more money depending on the materials that are used to make them.
Some of the more intricately-designed rain chains will cost more as well. Look around and see what types of rain chains you can find for your home if you’re interested.
Rain Chains Can Simply Be Decorative
Sometimes people buy rain chains for purely decorative purposes. You don’t have to buy rain chains with the intention of replacing your downspouts.
These rain chains are beautiful to look at, and they also make lovely sounds. This is enough to make them appealing to many people.
You might even choose to use rain chains alongside your downspouts. Install rain chains in certain spots for purely aesthetic purposes.
Of course, you don’t need to buy rain chains if you’re not interested. Some people simply love them because they look great and they sound pretty when it rains.
Final Thoughts
Now you know a lot more about rain chains. Rain chains are great for those who want aesthetically appealing solutions to water pooling on their roofs.
They don’t redirect the water, though. So they might not be practical solutions for those who are trying to protect their foundations from pooling water.
This doesn’t mean that rain chains aren’t neat and appealing for other reasons, though. They can be fun to own just because they’re pretty, and you might want to buy some even if you don’t want to use them as replacements for your downspouts.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and over 10 years of experience working in IT. As a homeowner, I love working on projects around the house, and as a father, I love investigating various ways to keep my family safe (whether or not this involves tech). I’ve also played guitar for almost 20 years and love writing music, although it’s hard to find the time these days.