How to Install a Downspout
A step-by-step look at installing a downspout — cutting the outlet, running the pipe with elbows, strapping it to the wall, and getting the discharge far enough from the house to matter.
Category
Downspouts
A downspout is only as good as where it puts the water. Undersized outlets overflow, and a downspout that dumps at the foundation just relocates the problem. This section covers sizing, extensions, splash blocks, pop-up emitters and safe discharge.
Guides · Page 3 of 4
Downspouts articles
Round vs Rectangular Downspouts
Round versus rectangular downspouts compared — how each looks, how they handle clogs, what they cost, and which one fits your gutters and your house.
Downspout Backing Up in Heavy Rain
Why a downspout backs up only in heavy rain — how to tell a capacity problem from a partial clog, and the fixes that actually keep water moving when it pours.
How to Extend a Downspout Underground
How to run a downspout underground the right way — solid pipe, continuous slope, a real outlet, and cleanouts — so the line stays hidden without turning into a buried clog.
Splash Block vs Downspout Extension
Splash block versus downspout extension — what each actually does, how far each moves water, and when a simple block is enough versus when you need real reach.
Can You Bury Downspouts?
Whether you can bury a downspout, when it makes sense, and what a buried line needs to work — slope, an outlet, cleanable access — instead of just hiding the problem.
Downspout Diverters for Rain Barrels
How downspout diverters connect a rain barrel — what they do, the main types, how they handle overflow automatically, and the winter step people forget.
How to Fix a Leaking Downspout
Find where a downspout is really leaking and fix it — reversed joints, loose seams, a leaking outlet, or a cracked section — with the causes and fixes for each.
Downspout Pulling Away From the House
Why a downspout pulls away from the house and how to fix it — loose straps, working joints, and the fastening and spacing that keep the run tight to the wall.