What is Downspout Disconnection and Why Do It?
Areas of Canada like Toronto and Mississauga have serious flooding issues. Hence, to mitigate the flood damage, the local government has taken various measures, one of which is the downspout disconnection from sewers and storm drains. Even though the benefits of such disconnection is unclear but yet it is wise to do so. In this article you will understand what precisely is a downspout disconnection and why should you do it?
WHAT IS DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION?
You install gutters in your home to manage the flow of water down your roof. Your eavestroughs of the house are connected to downspouts, and this downspout channels the water off your roof. There are downspouts in some homes that release the water into the ground while there are some downspouts that discharge water to local storm drains or sewers.
The process where you disconnect downspout from a municipal wastewater drainage systems is known as downspout disconnection. This process is nothing but disconnecting the downspout from the pipe that runs into the ground.
WHY IS DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION NECESSARY?
Firstly, like already discussed that it is necessary as it is a program that has been run by the government and anyone who doesn’t follow will be subjected to a fine. So All the houses need to comply with this program, exceptions are always there.
IMPORTANCE OF DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION
The process of downspout disconnection has been identified as one of the most essential measures to prevent flood damage. It saves the local drainage system, if you allow it to drain into the local waterways, then it can expose your house as well as neighborhood to basement flooding. Further contaminating the local streams, river, and lakes.
The local sewer and drains can handle only a certain amount of water. Times when you encounter heavy rain and snow melting, the local sewer and drainage get overwhelmed with a lot of water. This overflow can drain people’s homes and mix contaminated water with domestic water.
Hence the connection of downspouts leads to such problems. But if you disconnect the downspout, then you will be able to take some stress off the drainage system and direct the water towards the ground where it is absorbed by the local water table.
THE ACTUAL PLACE TO RELEASE WATER
Once the downspout disconnection takes place, you have to direct the water away from your house to protect it from water damage. So with utmost care attach an elbow as well as an extension that steers the water away from your home. The length of the extension is about six feet. However, in all this do notice that the water is not emptying into your neighbor’s property. If it does then, it may cause havoc in the entire neighborhood.
Downspout disconnection is not a very costly affair, but it depends on the work needed. Some may need less work while some needs more work. In case you are hiring a professional, make sure that they are licensed one and abide by the professional standard of work.