In the battle of rain diverters vs gutters, which one is the best choice for your home? Some people are happy to have a rain diverter installed on their homes.
Others are not happy to have a rain diverter, preferring instead the traditional installation of gutters and downspouts running from their roof to drainage channels below.
In what situations should you choose gutter or rain diverter? And which type would be more cost-effective? We’ll compare the two methods so you can make the best decision for your home.
For starters, a good overview of each option would help decide which is right for you.
What are Rain Diverters?
Rain Diverters: A typical setup involves installing a large metal box that looks like an oversized drain, with small openings at the top that allow water to funnel into it when it rains.
The downspouts are fed into the diverter, and the water is then pumped through underground pipes to a centralized drain.
Pros of Rain Diverters: A rain diverter can be installed near your foundation with little damage to your grass, and most types can be installed within days. They were also not very expensive.
Installing a rain diverter doesn’t need any digging up of your grass or soil, which is one of the main reasons many homeowners choose them over gutters.
Cons of Rain Diverters: The main criticism aimed at rain diverters is that they clog because the water flows into them too for them to handle it all. When it rains the water coming in through the openings has nowhere to go, and so it combines and creates a build-up.
Another problem is that when you have a rain diverter installed, there’s nowhere for the water to drain.
This can cause damage to your home foundation, causing leaks, or worse yet mold problems. The water doesn’t sit in there; it pools on the ground or runs into your yard.
What are Gutter Systems?
Gutter: Guttering is a piece of material designed to collect and direct runoff from your roof down into a gutters system.
Gutters are installed on each side of your house, with one gutter for each downspout. A gutter system can be made out of metal or plastic and is put over a channel that runs between the foundation of your house and the rooftop.
Pros of Gutter Systems: The main benefit to gutters is that they allow you to create an underground channel designed to hold water.
Since they are designed to prevent water from flowing all at once, they’re able to handle frequent breaks in the rain without flooding your yard or damaging your home’s foundation.
Cons of Gutter Systems: Gutters collect runoff during all types of weather, not during a rainstorm. This means you have to clean them or risk mold buildup, staining, dirt clogs, and other problems. Gutters also need installation, and often, the damage to your grass will be extensive.
Comparing Gutters and Rain diverters
Cost
The first thing you may notice when comparing gutters vs rain diverters is that the cost of both types of systems is significantly different.
Rain diverters run roughly $190, while gutter systems generally cost $1000-$5000. It’s also important to note that gutters have a lifetime warranty and rain diverters do not.
Install Time
Rain diverters are installed in hours, rarely taking more than a few days to install. Most models can be installed within a day by two people. Since gutters must be sized and measured to the home in advance of the installation, they take longer to install.
You shouldn’t expect that your gutters will be up and running in less than a week. Most homeowners spend an entire weekend installing their gutters or contracting an outside service to do it for them.
Maintenance
Both rain diverters and gutter systems need regular maintenance. Since rain diverters are installed on your home’s foundation, you are required to clean them to prevent backups. This is a simple process using nothing more than a hose and bucket.
Gutter systems need more dedication to maintain; carrying a hose up each downspout will not only be time-consuming but also damage your grass, causing the aesthetic part of your landscaping to suffer as well.
You will be required to clean your gutters either with a ladder or by leaning over and reaching in. Either way, you’ll likely have to do this every three months or so throughout the year.
Options Available
When comparing gutters vs rain diverters, it’s important to realize that both systems have many options you can choose from.
Besides, the normal systems, gutters also include gutter covers and extended gutter systems available. Rain diverters are also available with extra add-ons such as rain sensors and pumps for easier installation and use.
Aesthetics
Both gutters and rain diverters play a role in the aesthetic appeal of your home’s exterior design. Rain diverters can be installed on any part of the building that you’d like, as opposed to gutter systems that are designed around one specific area.
Also, rain diverters can be placed anywhere in your home. Whereas gutter systems must be installed in the area where your downspouts connect to your house.
When deciding between gutters vs rain diverters, you should also consider the main job that each system is designed to do.
Rain diverters are designed to handle extra water runoff during heavy rains. Gutters are designed to redirect water from your roof throughout the year.
If you have a big family or live in an area with frequent thunderstorms, installing a rain diverter may not be enough to help your home stay dry during the rainy season. This is especially true if it seems like your roof leaks when it rains even if you had it repaired.
Grading
Gutter systems need a more rigorous creation of the channel between the foundation of your house and the rooftop. The size and shape of this channel should mimic the shape and form of your house’s foundation to prevent flow issues.
This is accomplished by installing a wood mold, which will be either made from lumber or plastic to fit inside your gutter system.
A guide for buying Rain diverters
If you are planning to buy a Rain diverter, the first thing to do is check on the kind of rain that is likely to fall in your area. This will help you decide whether a rain diverter should be installed or not.
Then, you have to find out if there is any need for diverting other kinds of water as well at the same time. It’s also necessary for you to know how much it will cost per month so that you can budget.
If you are planning to buy a rain diverter to clean your gutters, you need to find out which one is right for your house. Only then will you be able to decide the best rain diverter for your home.
In summary, there are obvious benefits and drawbacks of each option. But both gutters and rain diverters are effective in their way. Choosing which one would work best for you is a matter of preference that you will have to decide on your own.
A guide for buying Gutters
If you are planning to buy a Gutter, it’s also necessary for you to know how much it will cost per month so that you can budget. Determining the size and shape of the gutter is essential at this point.
Make sure your gutter is enough to handle the volume of water that falls in a day or week in your locality. It’s also necessary for you to know the type of soil you have so that you can choose the best possible gutter material.
Finally, check if there are any special codes and rules in place about the installation or maintenance of gutters. Also, ensure that your contractor complies with all.
Final Verdict
Rain diverters are the less expensive alternative. This is why they are usually the first choice for homeowners. Rain diverters might not be as effective as a gutter system. But they’re great at preventing flooding in your home’s foundation.
Gutters do an excellent job of handling water runoff, but they can get clogged and need to be cleaned.
This can be an inconvenience if the homeowner isn’t prepared to prep their backyard for cleanup or hire someone else to do it for them.
Since gutters need maintenance to protect your home’s foundation, you must install them. Otherwise, you’ll be left with an inefficient system that could end up damaging your property.
It’s unlikely that a rain diverter will impact your home’s foundation if installed.
Putting it all together: It comes down to determining if you have the time, energy, and resources to maintain a gutter system. If so, gutters are a great choice because they do so much more than rain diverters.
If not, the cost of installation and maintenance may not be worth it when comparing gutters vs rain diverters.