Q: We clean our open rain gutters at least five times a year but they still overflow in heavy rains. I’m baffled and am wondering if gutters are really necessary. I have seen homes without th… ...

Downspouts and downspout drains must lead to a well-drained hard surface such as a driveway or patio. It is very important to extend the drains at least 5 feet from the foundation.

The downspout then conveys overflow to his rain garden full of native plants. Most other barrels will have the overflow on the side of the barrel.

The downspout is plumbed to the barrel with a watertight connection. The other thing you'll need to consider is overflow. Once the container is full, incoming water has to go somewhere.

Home Fix: Dwight Barnett answers home-improvement questions. This week's topic is on pop-up gutter drains and how to keep house gutters from overflowing.

Too few downspouts will tend to make the gutters overflow during a heavy rain. Next is the size of the gutter itself. A 5-inch gutter is typical, but 6-inch gutters are also available.

Spring melt brings downspout concerns Spring melt brings downspout concerns Homeowners often ask what they can do with their own property in order to be part of the greater solution and not the ...

Jim Hurtado, owner of Danisa’s Group, LLC, a design/build company based in Fanwood, has been granted a patent (US7,919,002 B1, April 5, 2011) for a debris trap, which is an easy-to-use and ...