Noisy Gutter Downspout

[Jeff Hoch]

Here's the scoop: The gutter downspout nearest our bedroom
it is very noisy. When it's raining hard it's ok but when it
drizzles there is a constant tapping noise from watter hitting
the elbow at the bottom of the spout. I've gotten up there to
look at it and can see the problem. The rain gutter has a round
tube coming out of the bottom, and this tube goes inside the
rectangular down spout. When there isn't much flow the water
lazily drips off the round tube, falls all the way down the spout,
and then hits the elbow.

Are there any solutions that don't require changing the downspout?
I'm envisioning something that will use the surface tension of water
to help it transfer from the wall of the round tube to the walls of
the downspout. Like those "leaf free" gutters. But, I can't think
of an easy way to do this.

I'm open to any and all tips available.

TIA, Jeff

--

[John Ongtooguk]

Jeff Hoch (jh...@cisco.com) wrote:

: Here's the scoop: The gutter downspout nearest our bedroom

: it is very noisy. When it's raining hard it's ok but when it
: drizzles there is a constant tapping noise from watter hitting

: the elbow at the bottom of the spout....
:
: Are there any solutions that don't require changing the downspout?

Try shimming the bottom of the downspout out a little bit so
that the drops don't fall all of the way to the bottom of the
spout before hitting. One could probably tilt it in either of
two directions.

John Ongtooguk (jo...@vcd.hp.com)

[J.P. Boileau]

On 29 Jan 98 21:02:47 GMT, jh...@cisco.com (Jeff Hoch) wrote:

>
>Here's the scoop: The gutter downspout nearest our bedroom
>it is very noisy. When it's raining hard it's ok but when it
>drizzles there is a constant tapping noise from watter hitting

>the elbow at the bottom of the spout. I've gotten up there to
>look at it and can see the problem. The rain gutter has a round
>tube coming out of the bottom, and this tube goes inside the
>rectangular down spout. When there isn't much flow the water
>lazily drips off the round tube, falls all the way down the spout,
>and then hits the elbow.
>

>Are there any solutions that don't require changing the downspout?

>I'm envisioning something that will use the surface tension of water
>to help it transfer from the wall of the round tube to the walls of
>the downspout. Like those "leaf free" gutters. But, I can't think
>of an easy way to do this.
>
>I'm open to any and all tips available.

How 'bout using a small pad (same width as the elbow) of 1/4" rubber
to absorb the falling water? Or how 'bout using some spray insulation?

Just thoughts.

JP

[Jim Franklin]

Put something on the bottom to catch the drips, like a sponge, or piece
of wood, something that doesn't resonate when water hits it. If you
angle the wood at 45 or so you won't even hear it hitting the wood.

jim

[David Kaplan]

Jeff, I stayed in a motel up in Vermont that had large plastic link chains
rather than leaders coming down off the gutters. I asked the owner about
them and he loves them. They don't freeze up or fill up with leaves as do
normal leaders, but they do keep the water away from the foundation. It
seems they have been using them in Europe for years. Sorry, but I never did
ask him where they came from.
Jeff Hoch <jh...@cisco.com> wrote in article
<jhoch.3...@jhoch-ultra.cisco.com>...

Here's the scoop: The gutter downspout nearest our bedroom
it is very noisy. When it's raining hard it's ok but when it
drizzles there is a constant tapping noise from watter hitting
the elbow at the bottom of the spout. I've gotten up there to

look at it and can see the problem. The rain gutter has a round
tube coming out of the bottom, and this tube goes inside the
rectangular down spout. When there isn't much flow the water
lazily drips off the round tube, falls all the way down the spout,
and then hits the elbow.

Are there any solutions that don't require changing the downspout?
I'm envisioning something that will use the surface tension of water
to help it transfer from the wall of the round tube to the walls of
the downspout. Like those "leaf free" gutters. But, I can't think
of an easy way to do this.

I'm open to any and all tips available.

TIA, Jeff

--

[Charlie]

> Jeff Hoch <jh...@cisco.com> wrote in article
> <jhoch.3...@jhoch-ultra.cisco.com>...
>
> Here's the scoop: The gutter downspout nearest our bedroom
> it is very noisy. When it's raining hard it's ok but when it
> drizzles there is a constant tapping noise from watter hitting
> the elbow at the bottom of the spout.

snip

I think the tilting idea is the best. If it's long enough to drip
loudly, it'll be long enough that the angle of tilt won't need to be
enough to look weird. Tilt it in the direction of the short dimension of
the cross section. The drops can hit a glancing blow a foot or two from
the bottom and you won't hear them.

--
Charlie Newark, DE

To reply by email please remove antispam "TY" from address.

[MadH...@lookinglass.com]

I have the same problem and have been thinking alot about it.

I personally like the idea of putting something to deaden the drips in the
elbow (sponge, rubber etc.) Wood might still transfer some resonance.

I also thought about replacing the aluminum elbow at the bottom with the
plastic ones they sell now...would probably be less noise but not silent.

One other thought was to take the elbow off. I have these wedge shaped
errosion guards under there which will channel the water out anyway.

Matt D

In article <34D108...@earthlinkTY.net>, Charlie <de...@earthlinkTY.net>
wrote: