Why should underground gutter drainage use solid pipe?
Short answer: Solid pipe is designed to convey collected roof water without intentionally releasing it into the surrounding soil along the route.
Solid pipe and perforated pipe do opposite jobs, and mixing them up is a common mistake. Perforated pipe is made to leak — it collects groundwater along its length, which is exactly what a French drain is supposed to do. But a downspout line is supposed to convey water, not collect it. Run roof runoff through perforated pipe and it seeps out all along the route, soaking the soil beside the house instead of carrying the water away from it.
That matters more here than in most places, because Kingwood’s clay holds water instead of draining it. Roof water leaking out of a perforated line next to the foundation sits in that clay and keeps the soil wet right where you least want it. Solid pipe keeps the full volume contained until it reaches the outlet, and with cleanouts at the turns it can be serviced when silt or debris builds up. Perforated pipe belongs in a French drain; a gutter line gets solid pipe, every time.
What we check in New Caney
When we come out to a home in New Caney, we look at this up close — the gutter run, the downspouts, the fascia behind it, and where the water actually goes when it rains. If it ties into the rest of the system, we check that too, so we are not fixing one piece while the next piece sends the water right back. See our Drainage Solutions page for what that system looks like when it is done right — and if the fix is really a drainage question, our Drainage Solutions page covers that side of it.
Related reading: Seamless Gutters · Drainage Solutions · All questions · Contact us
Learn more: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Green Infrastructure Practices white paper
Frequently asked questions
How do I know where my downspout water should go? It should be carried away from the foundation to a place that can actually take the water and move it on. If it is dumping right beside the house or washing out the yard, the discharge point needs to be reworked.
Do I need a professional to look at it? If you are seeing the signs described above, yes — it is worth having someone look at it in person before it turns into fascia damage, erosion, or water where it should not be. Call or text Orion’s Rain at (281) 504-9998 and we will tell you what we find.
Do you serve New Caney? Yes. Orion’s Rain serves Kingwood and the Lake Houston area — Kingwood, Atascocita, Porter, Humble, New Caney, Summerwood, Fall Creek, Huffman, and Eagle Springs. Call or text (281) 504-9998, 24 hours a day.
Related questions
- Why does my underground downspout pipe overflow during heavy rain?
- Why should an underground downspout system have cleanouts?
- Why shouldn’t my downspout discharge onto my driveway?
Get it looked at
If this sounds like your yard in New Caney, call or text Orion’s Rain at (281) 504-9998 — 24 hours a day. We will test the system and tell you what is actually wrong, and what it will take to fix it the right way.
Orion’s Rain Smartscapes and Exteriors — (281) 504-9998 — LI0029444