Downspouts and gutter drainage
Gutters only do half the job. Downspouts and drains have to carry the water away from the house, or it ends up at the foundation anyway.
Every gallon your gutters collect leaves through a downspout. If that downspout empties right beside the house, the water soaks into the soil against your foundation, washes out beds and can find its way into a crawl space or basement. Drainage work is about getting water from the roof to a spot where it can soak in or run off safely.
Signs your downspouts aren't doing the job
- Puddles or soggy ground where downspouts empty
- Mulch and soil washed out of beds after storms
- A damp crawl space or water in the basement after rain
- Downspouts that back up and overflow at the top
- Water pooling on walkways or the driveway and freezing in winter
- Splash blocks that have sunk or tipped toward the house
What are the options for downspout drainage?
- Bigger downspouts. Upgrading from 2-by-3-inch to 3-by-4-inch downspouts moves more water and clogs less. Common with 6-inch gutters.
- More downspouts. Long runs and big roof areas often need an extra outlet.
- Extensions and splash blocks. The simplest fix: carry water several feet out from the foundation before releasing it.
- Underground drain lines. Buried pipe that carries downspout water to a pop-up emitter in the yard, to daylight on a slope, or to another suitable outlet.
- Rain barrels. Capture some water for gardens, with an overflow routed away from the house.
Are buried downspout drains a good idea?
They can be, if they're installed with enough slope, use smooth-wall pipe that can be cleaned, and have a cleanout or easy access point. Buried drains clog when leaves and roof grit wash down the downspout, which is one more reason gutter guards help. If a buried line backs up, the downspout overflows and water ends up at the foundation again. Ask the installer where the line will discharge, and don't route water onto a neighbor's property or a sidewalk.
How does Catawba County terrain affect drainage?
Much of the county is rolling Piedmont, with homes built on slopes and lots that drain toward creeks and the Catawba River lakes. Clay soils common in the North Carolina Piedmont absorb water slowly, so runoff tends to pool or run across the surface during heavy rain. On sloped lots, water directed downhill and away from the house is easier to manage than water released on the uphill side.
What affects the cost of drainage work?
- Number of downspouts and length of runs.
- Above-ground vs buried. Trenching and pipe add cost.
- Obstacles. Walkways, driveways, roots and landscaping.
- Discharge point. How far the water has to travel to a safe outlet.
Prices come from the gutter company after they've measured your house and looked at your roofline. We don't quote prices ourselves, and a phone estimate is only a starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How far should a downspout drain from the house?
Several feet at a minimum, and farther on flat lots or where the ground slopes toward the house. The goal is to keep water from soaking in next to the foundation.
Why does my buried downspout drain back up?
Usually debris has clogged the pipe, roots have gotten in, or the pipe doesn't have enough slope. A cleanout and a gutter guard help prevent it.
Related services
More background: Catawba County gutter and drainage guide.
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