Eavestroughs and downspouts
Install and maintain eavestroughs, downspouts and rain barrels to catch, store and direct water away from your home.
On this page
Who should take action
- Homeowners
- Landlords and property managers
- All homes with or without eavestroughs and downspouts
What it is
Eavestroughs, gutters and downspouts
- Eavestroughs and rain gutters are metal or vinyl troughs that collect runoff from your roof
- Eavestroughs and gutters are slightly different from each other:
- Eavestroughs catch water from the eave, which is the overhanging part of a roof that extends past the exterior wall of the home
- Homes without eaves have gutters, which function similarly to eavestroughs
- A downspout should be attached to the eavestrough or gutter to transport the water down from the roof towards the ground and away from your home's foundation
Rain barrels
- Rain barrels are large containers that collect and store runoff from rooftops
- They can be made of plastic, wood, stone or ceramics and generally hold about 200 litres of water
- They are positioned at the base of downspouts to catch the flowing water
- Rain barrels reduce the amount of runoff that flows onto your property and street
- They can also conserve the stored rainwater and melt water for future outdoor uses, such as gardening
Benefits
Eavestroughs, gutters and downspouts
This high impact action can help prevent flooding of your home and property and save you money over the long term.
When properly installed and maintained, eavestroughs and downspouts can mitigate water damage by capturing and directing the flow of water away from your home's exterior walls and foundation. Eavestroughs and downspouts are recommended for all new and existing homes.
Rain barrels
Rain barrels help retain excess water around your home. Using water collected by rain barrels is good for the environment and your wallet.
What you'll need
For maintenance
- Ladder
- Work gloves
- Yard waste or compost bags
Optional items
- Gutter guards
- Rain barrel and overflow hose
What's involved
Eavestroughs, gutters and downspouts
Check with your local government about regulations such as permits or inspections required before installation.
A professional will install eavestroughs along the eaves below the roofline, followed by the downspouts.
- Downspouts are typically installed near corners of roofs
- A common guideline is to install one downspout for every 6 m to 12 m (20 to 40 ft.) of eavestrough
- Gutter guards are recommended to keep out debris
- Using a downspout extension, direct downspouts to flow towards an area on your front or back yard with good drainage, such as a vegetated area or rain garden, and at least 2 m (6 ft.) away from the foundation of all surrounding homes, if possible
- Downspout extension kits can be purchased from most hardware stores
- Downspouts can be fully or partially directed to a rain barrel
Upgrade your eavestroughs or downspouts to a larger size if they consistently overflow during rainstorms, even with regular maintenance
Check with your local government and roofing professional about whether your downspouts must be disconnected from the municipal sanitary sewer or stormwater system.
Connected downspouts:
- can overwhelm the municipal storm sewage systems during heavy rainfall
- increase basement and community flood risk
- can send pollutants into stormwater, which is ultimately destined for local waterways
- are illegal in some Canadian municipalities
- Some municipalities offer programs that fully or partially cover costs for downspout disconnection
When to do it
Most flood damage caused by clogged eavestroughs and gutters is preventable.
- Check your eavestroughs and downspouts at least twice per year, during fall and spring, to remove debris such as leaves and sticks
- Seal small cracks in eavestroughs, downspouts, and downspout extensions with silicone sealant
- Gutter guards can be installed at any time
- Ensure your safety while checking your eavestroughs
- Do not work alone. Ask a friend for assistance or hire a professional
- Check more frequently:
- after a severe storm, heavy rain or high winds
- when ice is building up
- Empty rain barrels as needed
Best practices
- With the help of a partner, safely climb a ladder and pour hot water over ice buildup in the eavestroughs, or use a roof rake to gently break ice apart
- This prevents blockages as it thaws and during rain events
- Use a garden hose to loosen debris in the downspout if you notice water isn't draining properly
- Check for damage on your installed eavestroughs and downspouts. They are commonly made of aluminum, which can last approximately 20 years
- Watch for water pooling around your foundation that could leak into your basement
- This could be due to clogged eavestroughs or downspouts
- Install an overflow hose on your rain barrel that discharges to an area with good drainage, such as a vegetated area or rain garden, at least 1.8 m (6 ft) away from your foundation or that of neighbouring properties, if possible
- Empty your rain barrel before rain storms to reduce the risk of overflow, and before temperatures drop below freezing to avoid the barrel bursting
Be flood ready
Flood readiness requires regular upkeep just like any other home or property maintenance task. Add maintaining eavestroughs and downspouts twice per year to your seasonal maintenance checklist.
Seek support from a local professional, friend, family or neighbour if you're unable to complete this task on your own.