This gives you more flexibility when setting up your system. There is usually a switch in the Y, which allows you to choose which direction the rainwater will flow through the diverter. Y-shaped rainwater diverters are almost always made out of metal and thus are more durable. Some wintering tees have built-in filters.

In winter, the flap is closed, so no water enters your rainwater harvesting system. The plunger can be set, so all water from your gutters goes directly into your rainwater barrels. The tee has a plunger used to close off one of the outlets. You replace one section of pipe with a 3-way tee (usually made out of PVC). This is a very basic way to set up a rainwater harvesting system. You won’t need an exit port on your rain barrels. It also allows for a completely closed system: once the rain barrel is full, the water will back up into the hose and drain back into the downspout. The funnel catches water through the downspout and channels it through a hose into your rainwater barrels.īecause the funnel doesn’t completely block the downspout, debris can still flow through. They have a partial funnel inside of them. These are the most popular type of downspout diverters. Types of Downspout Diverters Hose Diverters You’ll probably be better off setting up a system where the gutters flow directly into the rain barrels. However, inefficiency can be a significant issue if you must harvest large amounts of water and live somewhere with infrequent rains. However, this usually isn’t an issue for people with small rainwater harvesting systems.Įven if the diverter only catches 20% of the rain, it will still be able to fill up a 55-gallon barrel during a 1″ shower (see our rainwater harvesting calculator here). Cons of Downspout Divertersīecause downspout diverters allow much of the rain to flow down the middle, they are very inefficient. This helps keep debris out of your rain barrels, so they stay clean. Debris continues to flow through downspout:ĭownspout diverters do not entirely block off the downspouts, so debris from your gutters can still pass through. This system doesn’t have a downspout diverter, and the overflow could cause water damage. During heavy storms, the water might not be able to exit the port fast enough and can cause the barrel to overflow and damage your property. Unfortunately, sizing overflow ports can be tricky. Without a downspout diverter, you need an overflow port on your rain barrels. This ensures that the barrels don’t overflow and damage your home’s foundation. Most downspout diverters have overflow protection: when the rain barrel is full, the rainwater will fall through the main gutter. *Note that not all types of downspout diverters create a closed system. This means there are fewer places for mosquitoes and other pests to enter your barrels and fewer places for leaks. Hose-type downspout diverters create a closed system: the hose is connected directly to the barrel, and there’s no need for an overflow port. Benefits of Using a Downspout Diverter Closed system:

However, there are many benefits to using a downspout diverter. You do not need to use a downspout diverter for rainwater harvesting if you set up your system, so the gutter empties directly into the rain barrel. The exit (such as a hose) is connected to your rainwater barrels. They have switches or funnels which allow some or all of the water flowing through the downspout to go through a separate exit instead. Downspout diverters attach to your downspouts.

Rain spout diverter home depot