Downspout Diverters are used to direct water as far away as possible from the foundation of a home and to direct the water towards landscaped areas. Diverters fit easily on the existing downspout and don't normally have a long installation process.

Flexible Diverter

A flexible diverter is made of a small expandable plastic tubing. A diverter may expand up to 25 feet. There are two ways a person can choose to leave the diverter. It can be buried with the end uncovered or simple left laying on the ground.

Preparation

To prepare to install a diverter, remove the elbow off the bottom of the downspout. A large number of diverters have a curved section that leads back to the straight piece. Most downspout diverters are big and cumbersome. They can be seen from a distance, but there are some discrete ones that attach to the side of a home. Some are hand operated with a lever that allows the water to go back into the spouts when the rain barrels are full. Others are automatic and appears to be a better system. Directing the water back into the downspouts is one way to deal with excess rain water. Another way is to let the rain barrels over run onto a garden.

Mosquitoes

These bugs could be a huge problem. Some diverters are sealed between the downspout and the inlet eliminating this problem. This is the preferred solution because it is simple and effective. Some downspout diverters need barrels to be positions close to the base. This is also a way to hide the barrels. They can be placed in more discrete areas. Not all diverters will have the same sized inlet. Some have same size as the downspout and are designed to make sure that large amounts of rainwater is directed to the barrel. The diverter is becoming a top seller. Harvesting rainwater has become an epidemic.

With the decreasing amount of fresh water throughout the world more and more people are trying to cut back. By harvesting rainwater someone could water their garden, take a shower, wash the dishes and even cook with it. Diverters often have filters with them. This means that harvested rainwater can be filtered and used for drinking water. Not only is this a great way to recycle, but it saves people a large amount of money. All together, there are many various types, shapes and sizes of downspouts. They all work uniquely to achieve the common goal of harvesting rainwater. Each different kind suits different individuals and their lifestyle.