Downpipe shape, pitch and profile can greatly affect water flow. In this article we explain some common downpipe design flaws and how properly designed downpipes mean less gutter cleaning for you.
Downpipes are a very important part of your roof guttering system. The size, shape and pitch of your S-bend will effect the rate of water flow. The S-bend is the section of downpipe that has 2 separate turns between the fascia board and the wall. If the middle piece is almost horizontal the chances of blockage are much greater. Some downpipes are installed with the middle piece on a steeper angle, this can look less appealing visually, but these downpipes are normally much more functional and less likely to block.
Another problem we encounter in gutter cleaning is downpipes with far too many turns, some of these downpipes can be so badly blocked that they are almost impossible to clean and the homeowner must re-install a new downpipe. More S-bends and joiner pieces are often installed to fit the shape of the external walls. To determine how many downpipes you need, we recommend there should be at least one downpipe for every 10 metres of guttering. We are cleaning gutters and downpipes in Melbourne every week. Call our office on 1300 GRAYSONS (1300 472 976) today.
