Ask Tom & Leslie

Rainhandler Vs. Rain Gutters?

Dear Tom & Leslie,
Do you have any comments/criticisms/feedback about the Rainhandler rain dispersal system (see www.rainhandler.com ) to use in place of traditional house rain gutters?
Thanks,
Philip

Philip,
I have seen this type of device have to say that I am concerend.  It seems it does not have the ability to divert water far enough away from the foundation to protect it from frost heave and flooding. 

In my 20 years of experience as a professional home inspector, I learned how absolutely critical it is to keep the first four to six foot perimeter around the foundation of your home as dry as possible via proper grading and the use of a well maintained continuous gutter system that discharges water well away from the foundation.  Saturated soil too close to the foundation can freeze and push on foundation walls and cause cracks.  Also, overly saturated soil, such as what happens when gutters overflow or downspouts drain too close to the house, is the leading cause of wet basements.

While this products claims to be able to move the water farther away than an overflowing gutter, it doesn't seem far enough.  In my opinion, if your home has no basement, surrounded by well draining soil and is built in a part of the country where the soil doesn't freeze, then it might be OK.  Otherwise, I'd stick to traditional gutter systems.

Hope this helps and thanks for writing.

Tom

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