It’s important to drain rainwater and prevent pools on your roof or down your walls, or rot will set in and damage your wonderful home at your own expense.
This is why most of us have a gutter system on our home, but what if there was a more creatively attractive option to downspouts?
Well, there is; the garden rain chain which are an alternative to your downspouts and incredibly common in places like Japan.
However, in the western world many people are discovering their potential with the rain chain either because they find it fits better into their home aesthetic or because they want to avoid their existing downspouts.
Now, if you have been thinking about doing this, here is your complete guide to everything you can think of.
What Is A Rain Chain?
As previously mentioned a rain chain is an alternative to the downspouts that form part of your guttering system on your house.
Originally, from Japan, they are what’s known as kusari-doi here.
In this country, you are more likely to see a rain chain than a downspout because rain chains in Japan have been used for hundreds of years on all kinds of Japanese buildings including temples.
In the same way that downspouts direct the water to the ground, rain chains have a similar design.
Rain chains collect the rainwater from gutters using water in a horizontal position along the edge of the roof, instead of being channeled through a downspout, the water flows down a series of linked chains.
Again, just like downspouts, a rain chain will drain water into a drain, barrel or anything else at the end of the rain chain.
Are Rain Chains Durable In Bad Weather?
One of the primary concerns for utilizing a rain chain instead of a traditional downspout, is that they will not perform as well during very extreme weather conditions.
In areas with a large amount of heavy rain, you could certainly be excused for looking at a rain chain and thinking that they won’t perform as well.
However, this is far from the case, and a rain chain performs just as well or as better in heavy rain as the best traditional downspouts.
Another thing to mention is that many people who have a rain chain will maintain they are easier to take care of because leaves and debris from storms do not get stuck as much as they do in a traditional downspout.
They also do well in wind since they are placed close to your house and have coverage from the wind.
That said, if you are concerned, you can anchor it to the ground at the bottom.
Can You Use A Rain Chain Without A Gutter?
Although it is possible to have a rain chain without a gutter, it may not be an optimal choice.
If you live in an area with minimal rainfall, it’s easier to have a rain chain that does not involve a gutter.
However, most people will need to clarify which rain chain, if any, they would use.
Link style rain chains will not collect as much water as a cup style rain chain, which would work better with anything other than minimal rain.
It’s also important to think about how your roof functions with water on it.
Try to run your garden hose onto your roof to see if it pools in a certain area and how it runs off.
This will give you some visibility to where to place your rain chain for the greatest effectiveness.
Types Of Garden Rain Chains
When it comes to rain chains, you do have options.
We touched on this in the previous section but let’s take a look at the different types of rain chains:
- Classic rain chains have a link design, and really, that’s as close as you’ll get to a chain. The water cascade down the chain then drips into a container at the bottom.
- Then there are cup chains which have small cups along their length that are open at the bottom to allow the water to go through. As a general rule, there is usually a cup every sixth inch or so up the chain.
- Finally there are very decorative rain chains that come in just about any style and color. This is a wonderful option if you are looking for a rain chain that has some charm to enhance the aesthetic of your home.
What Are The Benefits Of Rain Chains?
The rain chain has plenty of great features and that’s probably why it has become such a popular choice far out of Japan.
If you are still sitting on the fence whether to use rain chains, maybe these advantages may help you decide.
First and foremost – they really do add “curb appeal” to your home. You cannot deny that a downspout is not the prettiest item but it does serve a purpose.
Rain chains, however, are beautiful and will help contribute to a more aesthetically pleasurably looking home.
Along with this, they give off a pretty tinkling sound as the water cascades through the chain and are quite relaxing to listen to.
Additionally, these are extremely durable as they are usually made of copper.
In fact, these are much more sturdy in durability than say plastic or vinyl, which is what downspouts are normally made of, and will last longer!
Maintenance of your rain chains is very easy. Like we stated before, they do not usually get blocked by debris so they are much easier to clean!
Installation is also a simple process, but we will go into more detail on this later.
And even better – the perception by many that rain chains are expensive is at all true. In fact, they are fairly reasonable priced and will not break the budget.
Installing A Rain Chain
Choosing to hire a professional to install your rain chains is of course an option.
But, there is no benefit in spending extra money if the installation process is simple. If you have basic DIY skills—and even if you do not—you will find the process very manageable.
Everything required to correctly install the rain chains into place will come with the product. There will be clips to attach the chain to the pre-existing gutter.
The only extra thing you may want to add is some pebbles or stones to put around the drain at the bottom, which is common practice in Japan for decorative purposes.
When you purchase your rain chain, and as I mentioned earlier, you will have all the proper equipment. However, you will need to collect some items that will be helpful.
These include:
- Tin snips
- Leaf filter
- Gravel, pebbles or stones
- Hacksaw
- Hanging bar
- Gloves
- Tape measure
Step 1
When it comes to putting a rain chain in, the first thing you need to figure out is where you want to put it.
As we talked about earlier on, it is a good idea to spend some time looking at how water behaves on your roof, as this will help you determine the best location.
Also remember, you can put in as many rain chains as you want.
After all, you don’t only have one downspout on your home, right?
Just consider where the rainchain will empty.
- Is there a drain you can place it over?
- Would you prefer to use a rain barrel?
Some people even place them over plants that require a lot of water which is a great way to use rain in an eco friendly manner.
Step 2
Next, you’ll want to take off the downspouts from your current guttering system.
This may seem like overkill but you are going to be adding the rain chains so this step is very important.
Step 3
After removing the downspouts, you will want to create an opening for your rain chain.
This is where your tin snips will come in handy, but be sure to make the opening the proper size.
Once you’ve done that, you can attach the hanging bar that is shaped like a V and gives you something to attach the chain to.
A copper bar is preferred so it will give the required amount won’t bend under the weight of the chain filled with water.
Step 4
While it is not time to hang your rain chain, be sure to read the instructions provided with the product in order to hang it in the best manner possible.
Once you have the rain chain hung, you can then change the length also.
You may not need this step but in more cases you will and be sure to change the length where you need to change it so that the rain chain works properly.
Step 5
It’s not always necessary to anchor the bottom of the rain chain to the ground, but sometimes it is a good idea.
You will usually want to do this in areas that have wind or a strong wind. You want to make sure you choose an anchor that will prevent the rain chain from blowing around or falling down.
4 Tips On Choosing A Rain Chain
Rain chains are fairly similar to each other – after all, at the end of the day, they all fulfill the same purpose.
But since there are many different designs available, it can be beneficial to consider your options before you make a final choice.
1. Design
An initial consideration will be the design of the rain chain.
Previously we mentioned designs that incorporate links and cups.
If you live in a dry area, a more traditional link design would probably be OK, and if you live in an area that receives a lot of rain, you might want to consider a rain chain with a cup.
2. Place
Another thing that you should take into account when thinking about where you are going to hang you rain chain is that it very well could affect your decision on what type you use.
If you are going to hang a rain chain near a window or door, then a cup style rain chain would work better as it will reduce splashing into onto them compared to a link design.
If you have plants nearby that need water, use a link style, as this design will splash small amounts of water onto them.
3. Materials
Another factor to think about is the material your rain chain is made from.
Mostly they will be made from copper but you can also get aluminum and steel rain chains.
The reason most people would say copper is the best material is because they are far less likely to rust so they will last much longer.
But a consideration is that the copper will eventually turn green as it ages.
4. Installation
The last, and maybe most important factor to consider when picking out a rain chain, is how simple it will be to install.
Whether or not you would like to spend additional dollars by hiring someone to install it for you, you will want to obtain something that is doable as a DIY project.
It will be much easier for you if you buy something that includes a complete installation kit!
Conclusion
Rain chains can provide a lovely alternative to downspouts and really enhance the beauty of your home.
They’re also very functional and operate in all types of weather, so if you live in an area where you get heavy rainfall, it doesn’t really matter.
There are many different styles to choose from and they’re also easy to install, so it makes sense why they’ve become so popular.