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| Rain Chain (Photo: M.Price) |
Rain chains are a great, decorative alternative to
traditional downspouts. They are linked chains that visibly transport water from
your roof gutter to the ground. They are a beautiful addition to any home or
building and can contribute to runoff reduction through evaporation and
spillage as well as reduce soil erosion. Rain chains have been used for centuries
on homes and temples in Japan to transport and collect water in large barrels
or ceramic pots.
There are two main rain chain designs that are commercially
available – cup designs and link designs. The cups have open bottoms and act as
funnels, draining water from one cup to the next. Cup designs are more efficient
than the traditional link designs that tend to splash more in heavy rains. Both links and
cups emit pleasing sounds when water cascades down the chains.
Rain chains are easy to install. They hang from the hole in
your gutter where the downspout would connect and often come with simple installation guidelines. You can order rain chains online, find them in stores like Lee Valley Tools or you
can make your own!
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| Photo: www.ecofriend.com |
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| Photo: www.apartmenttherapy.com |
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| Photo: www.altollmfg.com |
Although rain chains are traditionally found in Japanese homes, their weird yet useful cups are also suitable for any kind of house. If I had one of those, I would put it near our patio. So that when it rains, I would just spend my time sitting there while looking how they collect the water.
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