Gutters are the traditional way to direct water off your roof. The water runs from the roof to the gutter, and then down a downspout away from your home. Rainhandlers are a new way of directing water off your roof. They don’t require a downspout and are easily installed on the home’s fascia. But, how do they stand up against gutters? Is it time to put rainhandlers on your home? Not so fast. There are pros and cons to both gutters and rainhandlers.
What’s a Rainhandler?
A rainhandler is a set of rails or metal bars that look a bit like levered blinds instead of a more traditional U-shaped gutter. They’re installed like traditional gutters on the sides of your roof.
How Do Rainhandlers Work?
A rainhandler serves as an alternative to traditional gutter systems and shares the purpose of safeguarding your home against rainwater. It accomplishes this by fragmenting the water into tiny droplets and releasing them over an area spanning two to three feet. When the rain passes through the rainhandler, the rain hits the bars and breaks up, which spreads the rain out as it falls onto the ground.
How Do Gutters Work?
Rain gutters are designed to capture rainwater that runs off a roof and channel it away from the building’s foundation to prevent erosion, water damage, and other issues. This is important because if rainwater is allowed to pool around the foundation of a building, it can cause structural problems, including cracks and leaks. Certain gutters have slightly different shapes to help with water direction and clogging.
Do Rainhandlers Really Work?
There are some advantages to using rainhandlers. In principle, the gentle dispersion they create will also water the plants below. This is important in dry areas that need to conserve water. Arguably, you can do the same thing by collecting the water from your downspouts.
They also prevent ice dams, although some critics argue that they can easily be damaged by ice and snow. They don’t clog with leaves like traditional gutter systems. However, gutter guards will also prevent leaf clogging, and regularly scheduled gutter cleaning keeps gutters clear of any debris. In heavy or windy rain, the run-off may completely miss the rainhandler.
The big flaw with rainhandlers is that they can’t redirect heavy rains away from the foundation of your home the way gutters and downspouts can. This means that your home is susceptible to everything from water in your basement to structural damage.
Rainhandlers are more visually interesting than traditional gutters, and they don’t require the use of downspouts. For some homeowners this is an important consideration in choosing between gutters and rainhandlers.
We know we’re biased toward gutters, but they remain the most effective way to direct rain away from your home. Want more information about how to direct water from your property? Contact us today for more information about our gutter systems and gutter guards.
We’ve been installing and repairing gutters for over 50 years. Let us provide you with a free consultation and estimate on your gutter cleaning or replacement.
