A rain chain does two things: guide rainwater to drains and receptacles, and add beauty to a home's exterior. When you install rain chains, you're beautifying your home while making it more functional, too. For the most discerning homeowners, installing a rain chain is a great opportunity to protect your home without sacrificing curb appeal. These chains turn purely utilitarian gutters into true water features that add a new focal point to your home.
Talk about a win-win! A rain chain is relatively easy to install. First, you need to know where to install it. Start by measuring the distance from any gutter or downspout you'll be removing and the ground so you know what length of chain to buy. Then, remove the gutter. Insert a V-hook or other anchor, and attach your chain.
Yes, you can use a rain chain without a gutter, but you do want your rain chain to be able to capture enough water to be able to function. Cup-style rain chains can often handle more water than link-styles, so choose according to your home's needs and local climate. You can quickly figure out how your roof handles rain, then use that information to inform your installation decisions. Run a hose on your roof for 10 to 15 minutes and see how water pools. If you have a sloped roof, rain will likely move toward a well-placed rain chain naturally.
See where it goes, and place your rain chain accordingly. You can also attach your rain chain to gutters or downspouts! This will ensure great and good-looking! Every rain chain is different, but in general, you'll want to attach your rain chain to a gutter or downspout for best results during very heavy rain.
Don't worry, you won't need your gutter or downspout to go all the way to the ground. That's what the rain chain is for. The gutter or downspout will just make sure the water is properly transported to the rain chain. If you live in a more arid climate that experiences very little rain, such as Arizona or Southern California, you'll probably be fine without gutters.
If you're in South Florida or another tropical, water-rich climate, using a gutter or downspout and a rain chain for the best and most beautiful! Most rain chains are copper or finished in a flamed-metal color for a copper-like, neutral effect. Over time, thanks to water and weather, rain chains often develop a rustic patina that's both charming and unique. Rain chains have two main styles: cup or link. The cup style is better for climates with more rain, but they're both effective and attractive.
At Happy Gardens, we offer a wide selection of both cup- and link-style rain chains suitable for year-round use. Our selection ranges from rustic to modern, ornate to simple.
Image source: Sustainable Ballard. Rain chains can elicit even more captivating vibes when integrated with a rain garden or ground-level water feature. For those who believe less is more, too many garden ornaments give a tacky impression. Many homeowners consider their rain gutters as a purely functional component. However, gutters can add significant flair.
Image source: Ornamentals. Accenting colors, especially glossy copper gutters, conceivably induce just as much if not more elegance as rain chains. An effective drainage system directs as much water as possible at a safe distance from the building.
By that metric, rain chains perform worse than downspouts because they can splash water onto windows and siding, especially during heavy rainfall. Downspouts should not splash water, which crucially helps keep these components and the building foundation dry. Rain chains are typically sold in 8. Image source: Wayfair. Rain chain installation kits include adapters or hangers that slide into the downspout cutout.
To collect water and anchor the rain chain from high winds, many systems use basins. You may need to perform some landscaping for drainage. Rain chain installations get more complicated when integrating rain barrels or fountain features into the system. Downspouts typically come with professional gutter installation, though you can DIY.
Cut a hole at the low end of the gutters, place the downspout, and fasten it to the building. Overall, both rain chains and downspouts provide relatively easy installation compared to other exterior home components. Image source: TC Baker. Gutter maintenance primarily consists of cleaning, most notably at the downspout where debris tends to accumulate.
Some rain chains allow debris to drain out of the gutter along with the flow of rainwater, which helps keep gutters clean. Image source: Gutter Supply. In regions that see freezing temperatures, however, ice can amass on rain chains. Consider how water channeled with a rain chain will be used. Common best practices include incorporating rain chains into a water feature or using them to direct water into a rain barrel. Water collected in rain barrels can then be used for non-potable water uses such as irrigation of landscaped beds or to fill a birdbath.
There are many different types of metals available. Rain chains made of aluminum are lightweight and can be used in protected areas with little wind. Galvanized steel is a heavier rain chain; the associated durability makes for a good selection in areas of high winds.
When selecting a rain chain, consider the cost and effort associated with diverse options. If the intention is to make the rain chain a focal point, associated time and money will be more than if the rain chain is purely functional.
A rain chain that is a statement piece can be purchased or constructed but will require more resources than one that is less conspicuous. Homemade rain chains can be just as effective as store-bought ones and can be a fun DIY project for the whole family. The first step in installing a rain chain is finding the correct location that provides the functional benefit and aesthetic look intended. If gutters exist, the ideal locations may include places in the gutter system that leak or in place of an existing downspout.
If the home does not have a gutter system, watch the roofline during a rain event, and identify areas where the water is naturally concentrating, often this is an eave where roof lines come together, such as a corner of the home. Further inspection of the ground beneath the roof dripline may indicate areas of soil loss. Locating a rain chain in these areas may assist in reducing rainfall energy, as previously mentioned.
Rain chains are a tool for water management for on the spot water management versus trying to redirect the water to a new section of the roof. Once an appropriate location has been selected for the rain chain, it is ready to install.
Here are the minimum materials needed for installation:. Thanks, Debbie! It took a couple of hours to cut and put together.
Hammered copper spray paint would be great!. I do have gutters, down spouts, and soffits. Copper turns into a turquoise color powdery oxidation and does so extremely fast. You would do better putting out the money for stainless steel chain.
You can also buy coated chain that has a really thick plastic coating on it. Actually, now that I think about it, the refrigeration coil that I used must have something in it that slows the oxidation down. Thanks for sharing it! Is there anyway I can see a picture of this idea Linda? I bought cheap rain chain from an online catalog about 10 years ago. Everyone loves it. To fix that, I bought a metal planter at Home Depot, drilled a ton of holes in the bottom, positioned the bottm straight section of a wire hanger up the middle and filled the planter with white stones.
I then hooked the top of the hanger wire in the bottom cup of the rain chain. That anchors the rain chain and keeps it from flailing all over the place when it rains. Looks great and works well. I can even add small decorations to the planter in the summer. I love when the sun starts to melt the ice and it drips. It sparkles! Hi Dianna…what a great idea!
It sounds like it works well, and looks very pretty. Can a rain chain be left up through the winter in the Midwest or would the ice weight pull down my gutter? I would probably go out and knock the ice off if it looked like it was building up a lot. MN here, I have left mine up year round… It does get a little icy in the winter, but not to heavy, and its really pretty with a little ice and the sun shining on it! What can you tell me about this. Anyhow, I have seen people install a hook in a concrete block or big rock underneath the chain, and then attach the bottom rung of the chain to that.
Hope that helps! I love that you talked about how you think that rain chains are so much more than just a replacement for a downspout. My neighbor is looking to get some copper rain chains for her home to change the look of it.
I think I will talk to her about how they can be so much more than just a replacement! Thanks, Kyle! Thank you for your great article and that you posted on Pinterest. It was lovely. So thank you for the education. Thanks Royce! Would a rain chain stand up to Michigan winters? We gets lots of ice and snow. Would the ice on the rain chain be too heavy for the gutter to hold? Such great dress. I too had always wondered about rain chains.
I like the look of them and the idea of it. I hate downspouts, especially when they get clogged. I have two concerns.
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