Rainwater Conductor : Word of the Week

Rainwater Conductor – This is a little man in the clouds with a railroad hat and a baton. With a flick of the wrist and a wave of the hand, he tells the rain where and when to fall. This, of course, is fantasy. If there was such a being, the US government would have employed him by now to help out California, and drown our enemies.

A rainwater conductor is something much simpler. Think of the rain gutter that runs along the edge of the roof. As the rain falls, it collects in the gutter, which is slightly pitched to a gathering point. At that low point, the rain water is directed downward where it can be expelled, dispersed, or collected at the bottom of the house. This pipe that runs vertically from the gutter to the ground is the rainwater conductor. It also goes by other names that you may have heard before, like downspout, leader, or downpipe.

The main purpose of the gutter system is to protect a building’s foundation by channeling the rainwater away from its base. It also reduces erosion, protects painted and finished surfaces of the house, and prevents leaks in the basement or crawlspace. Sometimes the rainwater conductor leads into a barrel or cistern to collect the water. This water can then be used for other purposes like plant irrigation.

I hope this information is helpful to you. You might want to get yourself a copy of my best-seller, Designing Your Perfect House. It is chockfull of valuable tips and advice that will save you many times the cost of the book on your house building or remodeling project. You might also like The Well-Centered Home: Simple Steps to Increase Mindfulness, Self-Awareness, and Happiness Where You Live. It will show you how to make your home a happy place.