Downspouts and drainage in Winchester, Virginia
Gutters collect the water. Downspouts decide where it ends up, and if that's against the foundation, the gutters did only half the job.
Every gallon your gutters catch leaves through a downspout. When the downspout empties right at the wall, that water soaks the ground against the foundation, washes out the beds and can find its way into a basement or crawl space. Good drainage carries roof water somewhere it can soak in or flow away without doing damage.
How do I know the downspouts are the problem?
- Soggy ground or a puddle where a downspout lets out
- Mulch and soil carried off after every storm
- Water in the basement or crawl space after rain
- Downspouts that back up and spill over at the top
- Runoff across a sidewalk or driveway that freezes in winter
- Splash blocks that have sunk or tipped back toward the house
What are the usual fixes?
- Bigger downspouts. Moving from 2-by-3-inch to 3-by-4-inch carries more water and clogs less. It's standard with 6-inch gutters.
- More downspouts. Long runs and large roof planes often need another outlet.
- Extensions and splash blocks. The simplest step: carry the water several feet out before letting it go.
- Buried drain lines. Pipe that takes downspout water to a pop-up emitter, a downhill outlet or another safe spot.
- Rain barrels. Save some water for the garden, with the overflow piped away from the house.
Do buried downspout drains work?
Yes, when they're laid with steady fall, use smooth-wall pipe that can be cleaned, and include a cleanout. They fail when leaves and shingle grit wash down and settle inside, which is another reason guards help. A blocked buried line makes the downspout overflow at the top and puts the water right back at the foundation. Keep in mind that Frederick County's design frost depth is 24 inches, so shallow lines can freeze in a long cold spell; ask the installer how the line will drain between storms.
Where should the water go?
Away from the house first, then somewhere it won't cause trouble. Don't send it onto a neighbor's lot, across a public sidewalk or into a spot where it will cut a gully. On sloped lots, which are common west of Winchester, route uphill downspouts around to the downhill side or into a line that carries water past the house. If your property is in a mapped flood hazard area, the building official may require a permit for work that would otherwise be exempt.
What affects the cost of drainage work?
- How many downspouts and how far the water has to travel.
- Above ground or buried. Trenching and pipe add cost.
- Obstacles. Driveways, walks, tree roots and landscaping.
- Where the water can safely be released.
We don't quote prices. The installer sets a price after measuring each gutter run, counting downspouts and looking at the roof's height and pitch, so a number given over the phone would only be a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How far from the house should a downspout empty?
Several feet at least, and farther on flat lots or where the ground slopes toward the house. The goal is to keep water from soaking in along the foundation.
Why does my underground downspout drain back up?
Usually leaves or grit have built up inside, roots have gotten in, or the pipe doesn't have enough fall. A cleanout and gutter guards help prevent it.
Related services
More background: Winchester and Frederick County gutter guide.
Tired of scooping leaves out of the gutters every fall?
Call and a gutter guard installer who works in Winchester and Frederick County will come measure the roofline and quote it.