Jump to content

Anyone successfully use chains to create a rainwater down pipe?


Recommended Posts

We have planned to use chains as a decorative way of transmitting rainwater down from the gutter to the ground (about 2.3m). However, saw this somewhere else, and it failed horribly. Have a look at the video:

Mentioned this to the designer, who said several chains will work better than one, and the trick is to fill the hole with the chains as much as possible. Our hole has a diameter of 52mm, so wondering which chain size to get and how many lengths of chain to try and implement.

 

Anyone have experience of this?

 

Edited by Adsibob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am going to try this on my balcony.

 

Rather than use a standard outlet, I am just going to use a single chain, and just drill a hole in the bottom of the gutter such that the chain is a very tight fit into it, and secure it with one link on it's side and probably a shackle as well to be sure it won't drop out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, ProDave said:

I am going to try this on my balcony.

 

Rather than use a standard outlet, I am just going to use a single chain, and just drill a hole in the bottom of the gutter such that the chain is a very tight fit into it, and secure it with one link on it's side and probably a shackle as well to be sure it won't drop out.

 

first bbq guaranteed someone will try and swing on it.

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is a gimmick. Style over function.

They splash all over the place.

They also obstruct the wier effect at the outlet so need a bigger gutter and dp.

OK on PD balcony where it is a nicety and can cause no damage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, ProDave said:

I am going to try this on my balcony.

 

Rather than use a standard outlet, I am just going to use a single chain, and just drill a hole in the bottom of the gutter such that the chain is a very tight fit into it, and secure it with one link on it's side and probably a shackle as well to be sure it won't drop out.

What dimension chain/hole will you use?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It does work as long as sometimes splashing isn't going to be a problem.

It avoids a big  dogleg in the rwp if there is an oversailing roof.

But it realy does need bigger gutters and/ or redundancy and/ or big overflow wiers out of harms way.

 

Another place to see it is at the executive bypass of the Black Country, Hilton Park Services.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most recent one I saw on Gardeners world/Malvern show + IRL visiting - it wasn't working well - just looked messy?

Skip to 20:43 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001ltth/gardeners-world-2023-episode-9

Looks like too much flow over the top or might need the chain to come out of a hole on the bottom of the gutter rather than over the edge?
 

Screenshot 2023-05-17 at 06.51.14.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had an agricultural building with a ‘porch’ that had this, chains are  now in the metal skip.

 

Plan for a better solution than a chain, water ingress isn’t something I wish to deal with 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, Adsibob said:

Anyone have experience of this?

A friend of ours used chains for roof drainage on their new build. I wasn't a success when it was windy as the water went everywhere. It only worked well in light rain and no wind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I built one in as a feature for when I was topping up my water feature. It was fed by the mains and I had a stainless steel chain running down the centre. It looked great but I had the advantage of being in control of the water flow. It was very sensitive. 😀

F32B47BE-F178-4F49-8082-ABFD7C0625B1.jpeg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, saveasteading said:

I gave a heart for the photo. Then thought "mains water"?

So the chain feature only runs when topping up the water feature? 

Yep my rain water wouldn't run uphill and it was just a feature and also a means of topping up the water feature when it was required. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...