As an integral part of your gutter system, downspouts need to be situated carefully for maximum effectiveness. It can be hard to know exactly how many you need and the optimal spots to place them, but as a general rule of thumb, your gutters should have one downspout every 30-40 feet. There are, however, exceptions to this rule.
Factors That Influence Downspout Placement
- A steep roof. The greater the slope of your roof, the more quickly water is going to move off of it, which means your gutters are going to encounter a higher volume of water in a shorter period of time than roofs that are more gently sloped. Take a look at your gutters the next time there is a rainstorm. If it seems like they’re have a hard time handling that amount of water, consider putting up an additional downspout to help with the problem.
- Increased roof surface. Bigger houses mean bigger roofs and more surface area for rainwater to drain off. With greater amounts of water running down the roof and into the gutters, the number and location of the downspouts will need to be adjusted to prevent gutters from overflowing.
- Gutter size. The size of your gutters will greatly affect how many downspouts you need. Large gutters that can handle a greater volume of water can get away with a smaller number of downspouts, while smaller sized gutters will need the extra help from additional downspouts. If you think your home could use more downspouts, but you don’t want to mess with installing new ones, sometimes it’s possible to switch out existing spouts for ones that are larger in diameter and will allow faster drainage. Just make sure to measure your gutters to ensure they’re large enough to accommodate bigger downspouts.
If you’re having issues with overflowing gutters or just aren’t sure if your gutter system is adequate for your needs, give Muth & Company Roofing a call at (614) 682-3060. We will help you determine the proper number and placement of downspouts for your system, and we would be happy to advise you on any other roofing concerns you may have as well.