Replace Your Ugly Gutters with Rain Chains

Sometimes old, tried and true methods of dealing with problems are rediscovered and found to be superior to newer technology. This is what has happened with the ancient Japanese method of collecting rainwater from home roofs. Instead of using a downspout attached to the gutter on the roof, a rain chain, or kusar doi in Japanese, is installed. A rain chain can be as simple as a metal chain that allows the rain water to gently travel down its length and into a collection area or it can be a very large, ornate rain chain installed on a Japanese temple. Rain chains have also been found in other parts of the world, especially where the cost of manufactured downspouts is cost-prohibitive.

There are many advantages to using a rain chain. Splashing is eliminated and the house exterior is protected from mud deposits because the water flows down a rain chain rather than gushing from a downspout. Basements are better protected from rainwater seeping in if a rain chain is used to collect the water into a basin or barrel. Erosion can also be controlled by using a rain chain. Cement walks and patios can be protected from excess water causing deterioration.

Aesthetically, rain chains outshine gutters because they offer the sound of gurgling, running water to the environment, and when a breeze moves the rain chain when it isn't raining, a pleasant, tinkling sound occurs. The rain chain becomes a Zen-like element in the landscape, adding life to an otherwise static downspout.

The most popular material used to make rain chains is copper. When a copper rain chain is covered with shellac, its coppery shine is preserved and it sparkles in the sunlight, adding another dimension to its aesthetic appeal. If not shellacked, the copper gradually acquires a bluish-green patina, called verdigris, which is a highly prized property of copper.

Not all rain chains are made to only look like a chain, however. Some are cup-shaped, others bowl-shaped, and many are shaped like flowers or birds. The cup- and bowl-shaped chains have holes pierced in each cup or bowl so that the rainwater can flow from one to the next down the chain, as if the cups and bowls were funnels. Though most are made of copper, aluminum, brass and plastic are also used to make rain chains. Should your rain chain need to be placed near a window or door, a cup or bowl version will not splash as much as a traditional chain will. The latter will prevent rainwater from splashing into the house.

Catch basins can be as simple as a wooden box frame filled with pebbles, a ceramic bowl or jug, a wooden barrel, or a copper vessel. The water collected can be used to water flowers or gardens, therefore saving water.