The question of where to drain rainwater from eavestroughs may not be as straightforward as some believe. It’s crucial that rain and melting snow make their way through your gutters and downspouts and away from the foundation. Then what?
For homeowners interested in water conservation and protecting their house’s integrity, there are ways to maximize water usage safely. The following information could prove invaluable if you are considering some type of gutter garden drainage system.
The Importance of Proper Drainage
Before altering the trajectory of your current drainage system, the standard for water runoff away from a structure remains at least 3 meters. The reasoning behind this distance stems from the fact that water can seep along the building’s foundation and cause damage. The notion of water affecting concrete may not seem problematic at first blush. But when water gets into even small cracks and freezes, it splits them wider each winter.
The good news is that professional gutter cleaning or gutter guards allow water to move efficiently. With the force of water volume and gravity, a sound eavestrough and downspout system has little difficulty hitting the 3-meter mark.
Can Your Gutters Drain Into Gardens?
The short answer is: Yes. Installing a gutter drain into flower bed areas or vegetable gardens involves basic excavation, PVC pipes, a level, and gravel.
- Dig trenches from the base of the downspouts with a slight pitch angling downward toward the garden.
- Widen the trenches under the gardens. Put down a layer of gravel of about 10 centimetres.
- Drill drainage holes in the sides and bottom of the PVC piping to allow water to escape and lay them over the gravel.
- Connect the drainage pipes running from the downspouts and cover the sides with gravel and soil over the top.
The trick is generally knowing how much drainage piping is needed to prevent water from backing up in the system.
How to Ensure Proper Drainage Performance
One of the safeguards water conservationists use involves positioning a rain barrel between the downspouts and gutter garden drainage piping. Much like a small connector in your home plumbing, it can accommodate a diverter. This mechanism allows you to push out excess water should the gutter drain into garden areas become overwhelmed.
If you are considering installing an environmentally sustainable gutter drain into flower beds and vegetable garden landscapes, the key to success involves debris-free water. When leaves and sediment build up inside eavestroughs, they will eventually make their way into the pipes and clog up the holes. That’s why it’s prudent to have your eavestroughs professionally cleaned and install gutter guards.
Contact Home Service Solutions for a Gutter Cleaning & Gutter Guard Installation
At Home Service Solutions, our experienced technicians possess the tools and experience to conduct a thorough cleaning. We routinely install gutter guards to prevent unnecessary build-ups in your eavestroughs. If you are considering a gutter garden drainage system, contact Home Service Solutions today.