Stopping Downpipe Drops

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E3xtc

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#220393 9-Aug-2017 07:07

Hello,

Does anyone have any ideas around how best to stop the dripping noise from a downpipe?

Scenario:

2 story house on polls, with vertical downpipe running from top roof to bottom of house. Bedroom on top level has the downpipe outside and you can hear quite intense dripping, presumably from when water free falls from the top to the bottom (where it bends and goes under the house). There is no access (ability to scale the wall to do something creative) on that side of the house (without setting up scaffold), and the drop is about 3 stories from top to bottom, due to the lay of the land. The gutters are plastic and I think the downpipes might be metal (ie same as roofing).

I have read some idea which has a length of rope glued to the top and left to dangle all the way to the bottom; so that the water dribbles down the rope rather than free falls...this seems an easy enough idea to "try"...

Any other ideas?

Cheers

timmmay

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#1841537 9-Aug-2017 07:16

Could you modify the downpipe so it's on an angle, rather than straight?

Coil

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#1841538 9-Aug-2017 07:18

Just change the angle of the downpipe if you can, Shift it to the left or right so the water is more likely to run down a single side than drip from top to bottom. Would need an image to give a clear idea of what to do.
Can try the rope or chain idea.
Does it have an elbow at the top to bring it in from the gutter under the soffit then down?

E3xtc

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#1841540 9-Aug-2017 07:26

Yes there is an elbow at the top to take it under the soffit.

I did think about the idea of making it not vertical - but it is hooked up to a bunch of pipes under the house that go into grey water tanks, so would require rejigging of those too (ie recutting angles, remounting brackets, etc)....argh...haha fun and games....water torture :D

Coil

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#1841542 9-Aug-2017 07:29

E3xtc:

Yes there is an elbow at the top to take it under the soffit.

I did think about the idea of making it not vertical - but it is hooked up to a bunch of pipes under the house that go into grey water tanks, so would require rejigging of those too (ie recutting angles, remounting brackets, etc)....argh...haha fun and games....water torture :D

As long as the top edge lines up vertically or overlaps the bottom opposite edge there is no way the water can freefall, Should only need to move it around 20MM-30MM if it drops 3 stories, Have done similar by putting a cynderblock against the bottom of a downpipe forcing it to the side a little but not breaking it.

richms

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#1841545 9-Aug-2017 07:33

Mine did that because the spouting had shifted and was ending over the middle of the pipe instead of over the ramp part of the head at the top.

Richard rich.ms

E3xtc

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#1841546 9-Aug-2017 07:34

Coil:

As long as the top edge lines up vertically or overlaps the bottom opposite edge there is no way the water can freefall, Should only need to move it around 20MM-30MM if it drops 3 stories, Have done similar by putting a cynderblock against the bottom of a downpipe forcing it to the side a little but not breaking it.

Yeah I had thought it would be easy too because of the distance traveled and the movement needed being small, but also (its all coming back to me now) the downpipe is held in place with brackets up the side of the house which stop the needed movement (not sure if the metal downpipe also make this move troublesome).

I might need to revisit things - and just remove all the brackets under the house (for the water tank hook ups), and if I can reach any up the side of the house...and see how much I can get it to move...this feels familiar territory though :\

But thanks all for the ideas/comments. :)

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jaymz

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#1841629 9-Aug-2017 09:52

Used to have the same issue, fall from gutter was about 1.5 storeys and was a metal downpipe.

Problem was when it got to .5m from the ground it had a nasty near 90degree bend in it.

Solution:

Dig up the ground to where the downpipe went into the stormwater drain, install 2 new 45degree bends with plastic pipe. No more horrible sound of water!

pedrogarcia

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#1841638 9-Aug-2017 10:06

I have this exact issue with brand new downpipes. They are right by the wall with my bed on the other side and it is SO ANNOYING.

Bung

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#1841663 9-Aug-2017 10:30

Those rainwater diverters that can be inserted into a vertical section work because normally water runs down the wall of the pipe rather than free falling down the centre. If it is dripping there's a point somewhere maybe leaves etc that takes the water out from the edge of the outlet. Maybe try a bit of hedgehog over the outlet.