Gutter Company Drainage and Water Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a downspout boot (elbow at the base)?
- To increase flow velocity
- To redirect the vertical downspout flow to a near-horizontal direction at the base (Correct answer)
- To seal the downspout from insects
- To secure the downspout to the wall at the top
Correct answer: To redirect the vertical downspout flow to a near-horizontal direction at the base
The bottom elbow (boot) turns the downspout from vertical to horizontal or angled, directing water away from the structure at grade level.
Question 2: What type of drainage system uses a buried pipe to carry downspout water to a daylight outlet or street?
- Curtain drain
- Underground solid pipe drainage (downspout to daylight system) (Correct answer)
- Riprap channel
- Bioswale
Correct answer: Underground solid pipe drainage (downspout to daylight system)
Underground solid pipe drainage connects downspouts to a pipe that terminates at a distant daylight outlet, moving water far from the foundation entirely underground.
Question 3: What is the recommended minimum slope for a buried downspout drainage pipe to ensure self-cleaning flow?
- Dead flat
- 1/8 inch per foot
- 1/4 inch per foot (Correct answer)
- 1 inch per foot
Correct answer: 1/4 inch per foot
A minimum slope of 1/4 inch per foot in the buried pipe ensures water flows under gravity and sediment does not accumulate and clog the pipe.
Question 4: What is a pop-up emitter and where is it installed in a downspout drainage system?
- A pressure relief valve installed at the downspout top
- A spring-loaded outlet at the end of an underground drain pipe that opens under water pressure and closes when dry (Correct answer)
- A decorative cap for the downspout opening
- An overflow device installed at the gutter outlet
Correct answer: A spring-loaded outlet at the end of an underground drain pipe that opens under water pressure and closes when dry
Pop-up emitters are installed at the end of buried drainage pipes; they open automatically when water flows through and close when dry to prevent pest entry.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a dry well (also called a seepage pit) connected to a downspout system?
- To store water for later pumping to a rain barrel
- To allow collected stormwater to percolate slowly into the surrounding soil (Correct answer)
- To hold water for firefighting purposes
- To filter sediment from downspout discharge before it enters the street
Correct answer: To allow collected stormwater to percolate slowly into the surrounding soil
A dry well is an underground perforated chamber surrounded by gravel that slowly releases collected stormwater into the soil, reducing surface runoff.
Question 6: What problem can result from downspout water being discharged too close to a neighbor's property line?
- Increased water bill
- Potential nuisance or trespass liability if the water damages the neighbor's property (Correct answer)
- Gutter warranty voiding
- Violation of EPA clean water rules for homeowners
Correct answer: Potential nuisance or trespass liability if the water damages the neighbor's property
Directing water onto a neighbor's property can result in civil liability for water damage, and local ordinances may also prohibit it.
Gutter Company Drainage and Water Management 2
What is the purpose of a downspout boot (elbow at the base)?