Downspout

A downspout, waterspout,[1] downpipe, drain spout, drainpipe,[2] roof drain pipe,[3] or leader is a pipe for carrying rainwater from a rain gutter.

For tornados over water, see Waterspout. For the fictional police officer, see Constable Downspout.
Rain gutter and downspout
A downspout in Strasbourg Place du Chateau.

The purpose of a downspout is to allow water from a gutter to reach the ground without dripping or splashing down the building structure. Downspouts are usually vertical and usually extend down to ground level, although may be routed at an angle to avoid architectural features and may discharge onto an intermediate roof.

At the bottom of downspout there are typically features to divert discharged water away from the building's foundations to prevent water damage. This may be a simple bend of, typically around 70 degrees, at the bottom. Alternatively a downspout may lead to a sewer, a runoff water drain or a seepway to allow the water to soak into the ground through seepage.

The first ever downspout to be installed was in 1240 on the Tower of London, as it was whitewashed and the newly painted walls had to be protected from the rain. Decorative heads are sometimes added, these being low-height gargoyles.

See also

References
  1. "Merriam Webster Online, Thesaurus".
  2. "drainpipe". Collins English Dictionary. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  3. Francis Joseph Patry 1974. Roof Drain Arrangement. United States Patent 3909412
  • Media related to Drain pipes at Wikimedia Commons
  • The dictionary definition of downspout at Wiktionary


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