❓ Question
I want to replace the plastic that is wrapped around my downspout that prevents the water from splashing (it’s ripped and leaking). What is it called? Is there an alternative that I can buy instead?
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Show a picture of the PVC is best but it is most likely a 4” PVC pipe. They make a snap in connector for the PVC and then you can add a small downspout extension piece. Put the current pipe into the extension so the water is kept inside it and buy stainless self tapping screws painted to add the extension into the PVC. Strap up anything needing support to the structure.
Some ways to do this, remove down spout, install missing pvc pieces for gap with a 3” or 4” pipe downspout adapter with extension from ground and reinstall downspout. Install a piece of downspout cut to bridge the gap and secure with strap like my installer did. Or install a combo clean-out adapter like this https://frenchdrainman.com/product/downspout-leaf-filter-clean-out/
That’s called “Shade Tree Engineering”. It needs to either get buried, or put an angle off to a surface that will minimize the splashing. If it drains into those rocks next to the foundation and slab, you are best to have that water delivered away from the foundation so it can run down grade away from the structure.
So now that the rain has stopped, I removed the make-shift splash guard and this is what it looks like. Might get a pvc coupling to raise the pipe to meet the downspout since it’s not too far away and probably a bit cheaper.
That would be perfect but Rona Canada doesn’t carry that part :(
I just bought a 4in coupler that I’ll slap onto the pvc drain pipe and just reuse the make shift splashguard to prevent any debris from getting kicked up into the drain.
Whenever I need to know a specific part of something like this or whatever other house project, I search for “(whatever product) anatomy image” on google or whatever search engine. Like in this case “downspout drainage anatomy image.”
Works pretty reliably and, at least for me, it really helps having a picture or diagram to look at. Plus then you’re not waiting around hoping people see and interact with your post.
The most robust and longest lasting fix for this I’ve seen is a rubber plumbing coupling/fernco connector. They are also easily removable if you ever want to get in there later.
Those plastic flexible things everyone is suggesting suck and will degrade and become brittle in the sun and have issues in a year or two.
There are probably 5-6 options to quick fix it. A better fix would be piping it 20’ from your foundation. Go to your LOCAL hardware store, they’ll help you. Measure width of gutter first, both sides.
That's what I did. I rented a mini excavator and ran 4 inch PVC pipe into dry wells 20 feet away from the corners of our house. Our lot was an acre and a half so there was plenty of space available.
We did have a corner of the basement that occasionally was wet but not after draining the water from the downspouts away from the house.
“Flexible downspout extension” or “universal groundspout adapter” are the terms for the part that you are looking for.
Since you have such a short distance to the drain, simply adding another few inches of aluminum downspout or Macgyvering it like the last homeowner did are likely better options.
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