In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva teaches host Kevin O’Connor what he needs to know about gutter downspouts, including how they work and the different types of downspouts on the market.

SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse.

Kevin O'Connor learns about gutter downspouts from general contractor Tom Silva. Tom teaches Kevin what he needs to know, from the different types of elbows and outlets and a few tips on how to get that water away from the home.

Gutters collect the water from our roofing systems, and they shuttle it away from the house to protect our foundations. But, to get that water from the gutter to the ground requires a downspout. There are a lot of different downspouts and fittings to consider to move that rainwater far enough away from the home.

Where to find it?
Tom Silva explains the options available for gutter downspouts to divert water away from a home’s foundation.

Tom recommends sealing any drilled holes with butyl caulking because it seals well to aluminum.

Tom explains that gutter elbows are the best way to divert gutters and they come in a variety of options to accommodate the needs of any homeowner. A few examples of gutter elbows include:

A-style elbows [https://homedepot.sjv.io/75aLEy]: bend front to back. Typically a good choice for getting the downspout to connect smoothly from the gutter outlet to the side of the house.

B-style elbows [https://homedepot.sjv.io/DKyAYn]: bend side to side. Typically a good choice to divert water away from the house towards the side yard instead of either the front or the back.

Flexible elbows [https://homedepot.sjv.io/5g5mWL]: bend in any direction and can help in unique situations. However, because of all the ridges in them, they’re more likely to get clogged than fixed elbows.

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/st...

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

Follow This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG

Understanding Gutter Downspouts | Ask This Old House
   / thisoldhouse