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How to install gutters: how to connect gutters and pipes. How to install plastic gutter systems Do I need to maintain the gutter system in winter

The greatest harm the walls and foundations of houses are subjected to uncontrolled flows of moisture flowing down from the roofs. Soft rainwater able to wash the most resistant Decoration Materials. For external thermal insulation made of mineral wool or basalt felt, even a small stream of water can be a death sentence. It is not difficult to prevent such problems if effective drainage systems and a drain are installed at the places where the water drains. Efficient - this means that in any weather and the most extreme rains and winds, the margin of safety and performance of the catchment and drainage system is enough for a normal flow of water from the roof without seething waterfalls.

What should be the system for collecting and draining water from roofs

Before embarking on the development and installation of your plastic gutter scheme, you should think twice and not reinvent the wheel, but buy a ready-made kit plastic pipes and gutters for the drain and from them to assemble the desired design.

The system of plastic drainage and water collection from roofs must meet several specific requirements:

  • The plastic construction of gutters and drains must be installed on a strong and rigid mount so that the weight of water or a mixture of ice, melting snow and water does not break off the system supports and cause the gutters to deflect;
  • Set the angles of inclination of the gutters of the drain, allowing the flow of water to drain quickly enough to the catchment funnel or snail, but at the same time there should not be shock tidal waves that can overflow over the edges of the collectors;
  • The joints of the gutters with a funnel, transitional elbows, drain pipes must have tightness, rigidity and a margin of safety, so that in the event of a break even one or two attachment points, the entire system retains its operability until the moment of repair.
  • All pipes and gutters of a plastic drain must be resistant to corrosion, frost, moisture and solar ultraviolet;

Important! The most common "ailment" of cheap plastic fakes of gutter options is the appearance of a huge number of cracks from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

The problem of fakes from well-known manufacturers very often confuses not only ordinary buyers, but even experts. Often a well-known company sells the right to manufacture its products to Chinese or Vietnamese factories. plastic fittings, subject to the sale of products only in the CIS countries. As a result, in Russia you can buy under the same brand both a high-quality drainage system and a fake from crumbling plastic recyclables.

Which plastic drain to choose and install on the roof of the house

Choice of the most effective system largely depends on financial capabilities and time. Most often, there is not enough money or time to make the right decision, so you have to choose:

  1. If you have enough funds and opportunities, you can simply buy the most sophisticated drainage system that the seller or “expert” in the salon will offer;
  2. You can do it easier - choose a popular brand, such as Döcke, RainWay, Profill or Eslon BV. It will be somewhat more expensive than buying on the market, and there is a chance to run into a fake, but in general, the plastic drain designs of these manufacturers have a good reputation, which is confirmed by available product reviews in the CIS;
  3. Use the products of Russian companies or enterprises with foreign capital that create a reputation for high quality products - Murol, Vinylon, Alta-Profile, Rohrfit.

Products Alta-Profile

The practice of working with the products of the companies listed in the last list shows that while any of them is in the stage of conquering the market, the quality of plastic roof drainage systems is maintained at the proper level, so do not be afraid to take risks and buy high-quality plastic products at an affordable price.

The Alta-Profile product list contains everything you need to assemble and install a roof drainage system. The company positions itself as a manufacturer of both individual components for the drain, and the branded roof drainage system "Alta-profile".

If desired, Alta-Profil specialists can help install gutters, subject to the purchase of systems for their development. The work of the installers Alta - Profile is estimated at about three hundred rubles per meter of the installed drain. That is, the price of the service of an Alta-Profile specialist to install a gutter will be equal to the cost of a meter of a plastic gutter from the same company. For those who wish, there is a special calculator on the site from Alta-Profil, which allows you to calculate material needs, estimate how much it costs to install a specific version of a plastic drain, and leave your feedback on the quality of a plastic drain.

It may be cheaper to simply buy the necessary gutter kit from plastic gutters, pipes and elbows, and install the gutter on your own:

  • Plastic drainage gutters of a special configuration.
  • Pipes and elbows for the formation of drainage outlets.
  • Drainage plastic funnel with rubber seals;
  • A socket for straightening the flow of water in the right direction, this will ensure proper drainage from the base of the foundation of the house;
  • A set of brackets and fasteners that allow you to fix the gutters on the roof and pipes on vertical walls Houses.

For your information! According to the company, most plastic gutters have no round section, and a special profile in the form of a semi-ellipse. This increases the rigidity of the structure, and reduces the likelihood of overflowing the flow of water over the edges.

Alta-Profile experts guarantee stability plastic fittings frost and ultraviolet. Polyvinyl chloride, in addition to high resistance, has good resistance to erosive wear from sand and dust. That is, scratches and abrasions on the surface will appear, but it will be difficult to visually examine them due to staining. plastic wall reinforcement throughout the entire depth of the material.

For situations where the structure of the roof of the house does not allow installing a sufficient number of fasteners and supports for gutters on the roof or truss, the company suggests using reinforced gutters with special profiled walls and reinforced sides. Thanks to this, the plastic drain will not bend and lose the angle of water discharge.

Alta-Profil offers several options for colors and designs of gutters and pipes. For conventional drains, a gutter measuring 11.5 cm wide and a pipe 7.4 cm in diameter are offered. For roofs with a large roof area, you can order a structure with a 20% increased throughput.

How to install a plastic drain on your own

Almost all gutter systems sold under branded brands are designed for a simplified method of installing components. That is, it is possible to install gutters and pipes without the use of special devices for plastic welding. An exception is the system of supports and brackets. Before mounting, you need to establish their exact location on the roof or on the walls, subject to a few simple conditions:

  • Maintain the recommended angle of inclination of the catchment gutters to the place where the funnel is attached;
  • Set the distance of the drain pipe from the foundation at a distance of at least 400 mm.

At the first stage, the place of the gutter suspension and the line of inclination to the horizon are marked. The farthest point of the gutter system should be at the highest catchment point. At this point, it will be necessary to install a plug on one side of the gutter. The second side is directed to the place of collection of water. From fastening with the help of a building level and a long ruler, we mark the point where the next bracket is supposed to be installed. In this case, the attachment point of the next bracket must be set lower by a certain number of millimeters to maintain the angle of inclination.

After fixing all the brackets with dowels or self-tapping screws, you need to install plastic gutters and pipes. In the corporate version, they are assembled on rubber seals, snapping into the funnel and pipe clamps, as in a children's designer. In cheap versions of the drain, pipes and gutters can only be installed using sealant or branded glue.

Be sure to check the rigidity of the gutters. To do this, it is enough to install a load with a weight of 250-400 g in each span between the attachment points. This is the average load per meter of gutter during rain. After a couple of hours, it is necessary to set the level and check the degree of change in the position of the pipes and gutters relative to the original fastening. With high-quality fasteners, there should be no changes in the angle of inclination of the current.


What you need to pay attention to when installing a steel gutter.

Surely, all builders and engineers, as well as home owners who are convinced of the effectiveness, will unanimously agree with this. drainage system.

Firstly, water flowing freely from the roof eaves will fall on the walls of the house, any material will suffer from this, be it brick, concrete, wood or cement plaster.

Secondly, moisture will inevitably seep into the ground, which over time can lead to subsidence of the blind area and even the foundation of the house.

Thirdly, in the absence of high-quality waterproofing of the foundation, water will enter the underground premises of the house - the basement or underground, because of this, the structures will rot, and the microclimate will deteriorate in the house itself.


Finally, it is worth noting the decorative properties of the drain, the gutter and pipes are traditional architectural elements buildings, thanks to their presence, the house looks more aesthetically pleasing and thorough. If your home still doesn't have a gutter system, it's not too late to install one. You can do this yourself, but it is better to turn to professionals, they will calculate, based on the catchment area, the required number of gutters and pipes, as well as their diameter, select the necessary fasteners and parts that ensure structural rigidity.

For the production of drainage systems today use galvanized steel with polymer coated, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), copper and zinc-titanium alloy. Each of the materials has its own characteristics. The most common so far are steel gutters.


They are affordable, but when purchasing them, one must pay close attention to the thickness of the metal and the type of polymer coating, the latter largely determines the resistance to corrosion, mechanical stress, ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes. PVC gutter systems are quite actively used, they are inexpensive, not subject to corrosion, resistant to precipitation and UV radiation, as well as mechanical damage. Their weak side is the color that fades under the rays of the sun; after 2-3 years, plastic gutters lose their appearance.


Pipes and gutters made of copper and zinc-titanium look respectable, moreover, they are practically resistant to corrosion. However, the cost of such drains is quite high, and they require the most careful handling, since both copper and zinc are soft metals.


What you need to pay attention to when installing a steel gutter.

First, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the material. During installation and during operation, steel gutters and pipes are relatively easy to scratch and bend. In most cases, the original appearance of bent parts can no longer be returned, they must be replaced. Deep scratches must be coated with polymer paint to prevent rust.

How do plastic drainage systems behave during installation and operation?

Gutter systems made of PVC have proven themselves well. They, in comparison with steel, are not subject to corrosion, they make much less noise during rain. In addition, plastic has “shape memory”, that is, it is able to take on its original configuration after deforming loads. The presence of plasticizing additives allows PVC gutters to maintain high impact resistance even at low temperatures. but weaknesses plastic gutters also have.

The main disadvantage is a significant change in size with temperature changes (the change in length is approximately 0.7 mm per 1 linear meter with a temperature fluctuation of 10 ° C).

To level it, special compensatory elements and constructive measures are needed. A minus that is not so serious, but unpleasant for the owners, is the loss of the original color of the plastic parts (the side of the gutters and pipes facing the sun acquires an ashy hue over time). The more expensive the drain, the higher its color fastness, cheap products lose their appearance after 2-3 years.

What is the best drain for composite shingles?

Metal, especially copper or zinc-titanium (zinc alloy with a small amount of copper and titanium), will be most harmoniously combined with composite tiles. These materials are distinguished by a noble appearance, over time they become covered with a patina, but often they are already sold “aged”. Copper and zinc-titanium are practically resistant to corrosion, but copper, compared to steel, has a higher thermal expansion, which must be compensated for by structural measures, such as the use of special brackets. Often in the assortment of parts for such systems there are special fasteners with seals. Transportation and installation of gutters made of copper and zinc-titanium must be carried out with great care - if the parts are bent, it will be very difficult for them to return to their previous shape due to the softness of the material.

The drainage system includes a whole set of elements, primarily gutters and pipes, as well as mounting brackets, connecting parts, plugs, corners, elbows, funnels, overflow restrictors, drains, mounting clamps, etc. As a rule, there are gutters with a diameter of 125, 132, 150, 170, 180 mm and pipes - 82, 87, 90, 100,110 mm. The most common length of gutters and pipes is up to 4 m.

As for the other parts, their availability in the kit depends on the manufacturer. The wider the range, the easier it will be to arrange a gutter system on the roof of a complex configuration. When purchasing brackets, be sure to ask what type of installation they are designed for and whether they are suitable for you - you often come across those that can only be used for attaching to the cornice overhang or only to the first row of the crate.

Pay attention to additional accessories, they will make the drain more reliable. So, a special mesh insert that protects against fallen leaves will prevent clogging of the pipe. When drawing up an estimate, consider all the elements you need - the total price of fasteners may be higher than the cost of pipes and gutters.


Details of the drainage system: 1-8 - gutter holders; 9.11 - gutters; 10 - gutter connector; 12 - plug; 13 - connector bracket; 14 - funnel; 15.16 - gutter corners; 17.19 - elbows, 18 - branch pipe; 20-collector pipe with spout; 21,22 - limiters of the overflow of the gutter; 23.24 - pipe clamps. 25 - pipe; 26 - tee; 27 - coupling; 28 - universal adapter; 29.32 - drainage trawls; 30 - clamp bracket; 31 - drain elbow.

How to determine the size and number of gutters and pipes?

When planning a drainage system, one should focus mainly on the catchment area. This is understood as either the area of ​​​​the roof slope, or the projection of the slope onto a horizontal surface. Any serious company has technical documentation containing information on what catchment area pipes and gutters of certain diameters are designed for. Thus, German companies, in accordance with the DIN 18460 standard, determine the number of parts as follows:

from a roof with a slope projection area of ​​​​not more than 150 m2, water can be drained through one pipe with a diameter of 100 mm with a gutter with a diameter of 150 mm. It should also be taken into account that the throughput of the pipe depends on the diameter, length and number of gutters that it serves. There are other factors that affect the capacity of the gutter system, such as roof configuration, length and slope of the slope.

It is recommended to install a gutter system in two stages: hang gutters during roofing work, and install pipes after finishing the walls.

The first stage (installation of gutters).

1. Attach the first gutter holder so that the outer edge of the gutter is 30 mm below the roof slope (support wedges are used to compensate for the slope of the windboard).

2. Set the last holder to the water level 20 mm lower than the first one (total length of the gutter is 6 m).

3. Pull the cord between the shelves of the outer holders and, guided by it, screw the remaining holders.

4. Make a markup, cut a hole for the water intake funnel with a hacksaw.

5. Glue the funnel and gutter plugs with dichloroethane adhesive.

6. Install the chute by snapping it into the holders one by one.

The second stage (pipe fixing).

7. Drill holes in the walls, screw the brackets with screws 120 mm long and 6 mm in diameter, attach pipes to them with clamps.

8. From two elbows and a branch pipe, assemble a “swan neck”. Use glue to attach the drain elbow.

Water should be diverted from the house by at least 3-4 m. In no case should it be left to drain onto the blind area, then it will inevitably seep into the basement and into the foundation. Therefore, the drainage device will not bring the desired benefit. In addition to the drainage system itself, it is necessary to provide for a water drainage system. The easiest option is to arrange surface drainage along the blind area. This will require ready-made drainage channels with protective gratings made of corrosion-resistant materials (polymer concrete, plastic). If ground water on the site lie high, a closed drainage system is preferable (to drain the soil around the house) with point surface receivers under the spouts of the pipes roof drain. Drainage systems allow you to direct water into roadside ditches or into a receiving well on the site.

Do I need maintenance of the gutter system in the winter?

In winter, the drainage system is subjected to heavy loads. Snow sliding down the slope of the roof accumulates in the gutters. The water formed during the melting of snow flows there and forms ice. Icicles hanging from the gutters can eventually lead to deformation of the structure. The optimal solution to the problem is the installation of an anti-icing system consisting of heating cables. They are allowed along the edge of the roof, gutters and downpipes. But such a system is quite expensive, and it also requires certain energy costs. Therefore, it will be cheaper and easier to adhere to certain rules.

The first is to competently insulate the roof, ensuring ventilation of the under-roof space.

The second is to place the fasteners for gutters and pipes in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

An additional, but by no means superfluous measure is to install snow-retaining bumpers along the edges of the slopes.


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The gutter is an integral element of the roof, the main task of which is the collection and removal of rainfall. There are the most different materials manufacturing structures, but recently plastic gutters have begun to gain popularity. And we'll tell you why.

The main advantages of the plastic gutters system

To begin with, it should be noted the high reliability of plastic products. This factor is one of the most important, because even with the minimum cost of the entire system, its installation and repair can be quite difficult. Judging by this criterion, galvanized steel gutters are no longer so attractive, and plastic, on the contrary, has all the necessary qualities. For example, the service life of such products reaches an average of 20-25 years, while during the entire period of operation, all parts of the structure retain their characteristics with minimal maintenance.

The second important advantage is climate resilience. If we talk about metal, then, being exposed to water and air, it begins to rust over time - steel products are protected from the appearance of red spots by a thin layer of a special coating. In the presence of cracks and scratches, the coating loses its protective properties, and the entire drain is covered with rust from the inside. Plastic gutters do not require any protection and do not lose their properties even in a wide temperature range (from -40°C to +50°C).

Also an important feature of modern plastic pipes for drains is resistance to ultraviolet radiation, which adversely affects most synthetic materials. Another plus is that plastic has low adhesive properties, and therefore ice will not accumulate in such a drain. Plastic gutters can also have a variety of appearance. This question is very relevant because they are important element decoration of the building and can not only decorate the facade, but also spoil it.

Plastic products open up the widest possibilities for designers, since you can easily choose not only the color, but also the shape of the products.

The fourth and rather important advantage of the plastic roof drainage system is that they are extremely light in weight - it makes no sense to compare them with metal systems. In addition, the low weight of the products greatly facilitates their installation. So, in order to correctly assemble and install the system, you do not need to have specialized knowledge and equipment - even a non-specialist will cope with the work, and this will not affect the service life of the pipes in any way.

Are there any disadvantages of plastic products?

Plastic gutters have not only visible advantages, but also disadvantages, which also need to be remembered when choosing a material. The main disadvantages include the following:


Stages of installation of a plastic drain

Plastic gutters are installed in several stages. First of all, you need to determine the installation locations of the funnels, after which the length and the required number of gutters and the pipes themselves are calculated.

If you use a funnel as a supporting structural element, then you first need to install it. Otherwise, you can not do without mounting brackets for fixing the gutter on the frontal board. By the way, the brackets can be adjusted during fastening, making it easy to achieve the required slope of the gutter (about 3-5%). The distance between the brackets should not be less than 0.5 m, while they must be in contact with the gutter.

The installation of the gutter itself starts from the receiving funnel, and all elements of the system are fastened together either with couplings or with special glue. The next step is the installation of downpipes and their fixation to the wall using couplings. Do not forget to protect the gutter from debris, for which you need to use a mesh that is inserted inside the gutter and fixed with plastic clips.

An unusual solution - installing a drain from plastic bottles

A drainage system for a roof made of plastic products is a rather original option that can be used for various outbuildings on the site, sheds, outbuildings or. Main condition - a large number of plastic bottles. The required amount can be quite simply calculated, since to equip the system we need only the central part of the container, the length of which is on average 20 cm - what will be the length of the pipe, take as many bottles.

Since in the system water exits the pipes under the influence of gravity, experts recommend taking bottles whose central part does not have protrusions or other obstacles for water. Otherwise, in winter, a layer of ice crust will begin to accumulate inside the drain, which can cause the destruction of the system. PET bottles with a cylindrical middle part are best suited. It is desirable to choose a dark color so that small debris and smudges inside the pipe are not visible. For implementation

We also need a construction stapler, with which we will connect the elements of our structure, wire to attach the structure itself to the roof. And, of course, scissors and a knife - these tools will be needed to cut plastic containers. We will use a flat cylindrical part as a horizontal gutter, and instead of plugs that will not allow water to pass further, it is best to take bottles with the back part saved.

How to install a drain from plastic bottles - step by step diagram

Step 1: Preparatory Stage

We measure the length of the pipe and create a simple drawing of the future design. Despite the fact that the drain will be located almost under the roof, you need to put all the bottles in order - clean them of dirt and wash off the labels, for which just soak the container for 1-2 hours in warm soapy water. Cut off the bottom and neck of each container. To get a part of the gutter, cut one of the resulting cylinders along the seam - you should end up with a folded plastic rectangle.

Step 2: Connecting the parts and installing the drain

We connect all the details of our design with an overlap construction stapler so that the double strip is at least 1 cm. For reliability, several holes can be made in the overlap strip by stitching it with wire. If you are afraid that water will ooze through them, for the first time you can cover them with plasticine - after a while everything will become overgrown with dirt, forming a natural insulation.

Next we attach the drain to the roof. We make holes in the slate and in the gutter through an equal distance, using a soldering iron for this. The main thing is that the holes are located opposite each other. In them we thread the wire and twist it well. Thus, the entire drain will be held on the wire retainer.

Step 3: Create a branch

To prevent water from flowing down the walls, you can not do without a drain. To do this, cut off the neck of one of the bottles, and make a cylinder from the second (remove the bottom and neck). The bottles need to be connected, while from the first it is necessary to cut a hole of the same diameter as the rest of the containers - the edge of the gutter will enter there.


Building a drainage system scheme is a task that can be solved independently if the roof structure is simple: two- or four-slope, without complex geometry. Taking into account the fact that factory polymer and metal-plastic systems are produced in all sizes and are equipped with a set of auxiliary parts, installation will take a minimum of time. Important questions worth studying:

  • How to connect drains so that the system remains airtight and does not deform during operation even in difficult meteorological conditions.
  • How to install assembled gutters and pipes.

Complete set of factory drainage systems

Building a diagram and calculating the number of parts

The roofing part of the drain consists of storm trays mounted on special brackets around the perimeter of the roof. From the horizontal roof lines, a branch is carried out to vertically installed drainpipes. The transition is performed using the knees and connecting pipes. The outlet is completed with a funnel.

Connecting a funnel to a drainpipe

Drainage schemes for different roof structures

Main planning tasks:

  1. The choice of the diameter of pipes and drain storm trays, the material of manufacture.
  1. Calculation of the footage of molded products, the number of connections for horizontal and vertical lines (couplings for connecting gutters and pipes), corner adapters, fasteners: brackets and holders for pipes.

Drawing up a diagram begins with marking the main lines for collecting rainwater and determining the installation points for drains.

Ready-made drainage calculation schemes for different types roofs

After the formation of the primary scheme, determine required diameter products. To select the size you need to know the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe roof. Sum the area of ​​all slopes. The diameter is selected separately for gutters and gutters.

If the value obtained is up to 70 sq. m, then choose parts with a cross section of 75 to 90 mm. With a total area of ​​up to 100 sq. m - products must be with a diameter of 90 to 120 mm. For roofs larger than 100 sq. m, use gutters with a diameter of up to 150 mm.

Choice of material: PVC or metal

For roofs with small area choose gutter systems made of PVC - a polymeric material. Plastic products will last up to 25 years in favorable conditions. Advantages:

  • There are no problems with connecting gutters made of plastic - ready-made couplings are used.
  • Light weight - easy and convenient installation.
  • Ease of processing and quick installation of fasteners.

Plastic - optimal choice for a drain of a garage, a bath, outbuildings, low buildings.

Plastic and metal-polymer systems are produced in a wide range of shades

For the organization of drainage systems of cottages, houses with a large roof area or a roof of complex shape, it is preferable to use metal-polymer structures. The material is multi-layered: several protective polymer layers are applied to the metal base to protect against moisture. Products are not subject to temperature deformation, installation with an increased step between fasteners is allowed.

Installation of the system is quite laborious due to the complexity of cutting, processing the material and the heavy weight of the structures.

Calculation of fittings and system elements

System details: pipes, trays and couplings

Calculation of molded parts - gutters and downpipes:

  • The standard length of storm trays is 300 cm. Calculation: the perimeter of the roof (the length of all horizontal lines) in meters divided by 3. It is worth adding 10% of the margin to the resulting number so as not to join short segments.

Planning the installation of one-piece parts and joining segments

  • General rule: one drain point is enough for a straight section up to 10 m long. If the length exceeds 10 - 12 m, 2 outlets are installed. The total number of gutters is calculated from the number of straight horizontal lines.

Installation of gutters on straight sections

Auxiliary elements - brackets, couplings, with the help of which the gutters and pipes are connected.

Brackets are mounted every 40 - 90 cm: plastic systems require a step of 40 - 60 cm, for metal-plastic lines, the distance between the fasteners is increased to 60 - 90 cm. The number of couplings for straight segments is calculated by the number of junction points of the sections. Corner connectors: internal - by the number of internal turns, external - by the number of turns at the outer corners. The number of funnels is equal to the number of drains.

Connectors and accessories for gutters

Installation of plastic and metal-plastic drains

After purchasing the parts, proceed to the installation. The first stage is preparation. To connect and fix the gutters you will need the following tools:

  • Ruler (water level), twine or fishing line, marker.
  • Screws of different lengths.
  • Screwdriver, hacksaw for cutting plastic and metal.
  • Sealant.

Double slope on a long stretch

The first stage of installation is the installation of fasteners. Brackets are attached to the rafters or frontal board for installing the gutter. The optimal distance between adjacent hooks is up to 60 cm. The extreme elements should be 10–15 cm from the edge of the roof slope. When marking the installation line, a slope of up to 2 - 3 mm per meter is necessarily formed.

Gutter connection methods

There are three ways to securely connect the gutters of the drain:

  • Glue. A special lockable coupling, made of the same material as the gutter, is supplied with a gasket. For a strong fixation, the place where the tray is attached to the gasket is treated with an adhesive sealant. It is applied to connection of the products which are not subject to strong temperature deformation.

Adhesive connector

  • Beskleyeva. To connect the gutters, use couplings with a strong sealing seal. Connectors with gaskets are used to fix elements of plastic and metal gutters. Suitable for polymer gutters subject to expansion when heated.

  • Soldering. Used only for professional connection of expensive copper gutters and coated steel alloy gutters. Requires perfect processing of edges and cutting parts with millimeter accuracy.

Choose the drain connection method recommended by the manufacturer. When designing system connectors, engineers take material characteristics into account. The factory kits provide all the connecting and auxiliary materials for assembling a home system. If the manufacturer recommends an adhesive fixation method, be sure to choose a sealant that is suitable for a particular material. To connect the gutters at an angle along the edges of the roof, use corner adapters with seals.

Connection locks: glueless connection method

Details for adhesive and sealing joining of horizontal sections differ in length: sealing connectors are long, locks for adhesive joining are short. The size of the connectors is selected according to the diameter of the trays, the number is calculated according to the planned connection points. In reserve, it is enough to buy 2 - 3 parts.

Coupling with locks for glueless connection

Glueless products cannot be reinstalled: if a mistake is made during the initial installation, the connector will have to be replaced.

Before connecting the gutters, it is worth checking how far from the fastening hooks the edge of the connector will be: the minimum indent from each edge is 2 cm. The seal is inspected: the rubber must be uniform in color, dense and elastic. If possible, couplings with gaskets made of modified rubber are chosen - the material is more durable.

Distance from the fastener to the edge of the coupling

When connecting to the sealant, a gap is left between the edges of the gutter in the coupling - for free play when the plastic expands under the influence of temperature. The minimum distance is 5 - 6 cm.

The gutter is cut to the required length. Before fixing in the coupling, the cut edges must be processed: the cut must be sanded to a smooth, even state. If notches remain on the plastic, when the gutter expands, the edge may damage the seal.

Some connectors are internally marked with a temperature scale. The edge of the tray is installed in the sleeve at a mark corresponding to the air temperature on the day of installation.

Docking of rectangular sections

The rear edge of the gutter is inserted into the groove of the coupling, the tray is tilted and fixed in the connector by sliding the flange under the groove, or by clamping the factory mechanical lock. The second joint element is also fixed. Connections can be installed without the use of sealant while laying the gutters on the brackets.

Benefits of a glueless joint:

  • Reliability and durability.
  • Protection of the line from deformation - free play inside the coupling compensates for the increase in length when heated.
  • Easy installation.

Installing Sealed Connectors

When choosing an adhesive connection method, it must be remembered that the sealant does not have sufficient elasticity. If you fix the part (plastic) motionlessly, then with a strong expansion there will be a risk of deformation or a breakdown in the connection. For this reason, rigid adhesive fixation is performed only in systems that have greater temperature stability: metal-polymer or metal.

Applying sealant to the connector seal

Cutting is performed with special scissors or a hacksaw; you cannot cut the pipe with a grinder. Under the influence of temperature, the top layer of plastic can melt and flake off the steel.

It is impossible to cut metal with a polymer coating grinder

Sealant is applied to the rubber seal. Two lines - along the edges, indented from the edge of the coupling by a few millimeters, the third - exactly in the center of the connector. Connect the gutters of the drain with the coupling and press. A minimum gap of 2 mm is left in the center. The glue that has come out on the inner surface is removed.

Short connection installation

If the connection is made on the ground, then the installation of the structure on the hooks is carried out only after the sealant has set.

Adhesive fixation of parts: scheme

The advantage of adhesive bonding is absolute tightness: tight rubber gasket with additional adhesive fixation. The disadvantage is the fragility.

Corner joints: arrangement of internal and external corners

How to connect drains at an angle when you need to go around a ledge, or form a drain on intricate roof? Corner connectors are selected with different angles and directions:

  • Internal connectors.

  • External couplings.

Outside Corner Short Edge

Installation is carried out in the same way as when connecting parts in straight sections. In the corners, an indent from the wall of the house is additionally calculated.

Installation of outdoor corner connection with additional bracket

If the swivel connector is with long edges, you need to install additional brackets to fix the part in correct position. Installation of short corners is carried out without fastening on hooks.

Instead of glue - sealed gaskets

The difficulty of joining lines in a turn lies in the fact that the connection has to be made at a height. To avoid mistakes, the edges of the gutters must be cut and processed in advance. It is easier to connect corners with gutters using the glueless method. If a part with short edges is used, the junction of the gutter with the corner is sealed with glue.

Connecting the gutter with a funnel: instructions

2 types of factory funnels for draining water from the gutter into drainpipe:

  • Funnels with preparation for installation in a horizontal section - with edges equipped with gaskets.

Funnel for connection with gutters

  • Funnels with locks that are put on the tray from the outside.

Metal part with lock

Installation of products of type 1 is simple. At the point of the planned withdrawal, 2 straight segments are connected to the funnel. Connection type 2 requires preparation.

At the junction of the gutter with the funnel, it is necessary to cut a hole for the drain. When cutting, you should study the instructions: the hole can be provided in the form of a cone or a circle.

Conical funnel hole

Some manufacturers offer ready-made gutters with markings for a funnel. The edges of the cut hole are cleaned. They put on a funnel and fix the part with locks to the gutter.

Pipe installation and fastening to the gutter

From the lower edge of the funnel, a transition is made to the vertical section of the drain. Under standard conditions, 2 elbows with an angle of 40 ° are sufficient. The knee with an inward turn from the roof to the wall is connected to the funnel. The second turn is taken away from the pipe. Measure the distance between the edges of the parts. Cut off a piece of pipe. Connect with knees.

Branch from gutter to pipe: connection

Connect the vertical drain with special couplings with seals. When docked, a free play of a few millimeters is left. Top part the pipe is inserted into the wide edge of the coupling until it stops against the seal, then it is pulled out in the opposite direction.

Along the lower edge of the drain, a bend is also installed in the form of a knee to drain water into the storm water inlet.

Even the installation of an easy-to-install plastic drain can take time. Complex metal systems It is better not to assemble by hand. In addition, you will have to work at height, constantly holding heavy gutters on weight, saving on professional installation highly doubtful.

Quite often, when choosing a drainage system, the question arises of which one to install - plastic or metal. Very often, one of the reasons for refusing plastic gutters is that they burst in winter.


Let's see if this is true and why it happens.


We note right away: indeed, sometimes plastic gutters burst, but this does not mean at all that they are of poor quality or worse than metal ones.


Any material shrinks or expands when the temperature changes. For example, frozen water turns into ice and increases in volume. The same thing happens with drains, only without changing the state of aggregation - they change sizes. The coefficient of linear expansion of plastic is much greater than that of steel, that is, the plastic drain changes its dimensions depending on the temperature difference environment more than steel. The coefficient of linear expansion is an important parameter that must be taken into account when installing and operating a drain.


Different manufacturers of plastic systems have different mounting technology: some use adhesive bonding, while others use joints with rubber seals. In the first case, all elements are rigidly fixed to each other with glue, which prevents the system from “walking”. When installing such a drainage system, it is imperative to install special elements that will compensate for these expansions. In the second case, the role of expansion elements is performed by connecting elements with rubber seals, which exclude leaks at the junctions and at the same time maintain the mobility of the system.



To increase the service life of rubber seals, manufacturers recommend using silicone, it prevents premature aging of rubber seals and ensures free sliding of elements during expansion. It is important to clarify that you need to use silicone paste, it acts as a lubricant for rubber bands, and not silicone sealant which hardens after some time.


Let's deal with a real situation: we install a gutter on the eaves of a house 10 m long in the summer at a temperature of 20 ° C. The coefficient of linear expansion of plastic (polyvinyl chloride) 70 * 10 -6 ° C -1. In winter, the temperature drops to -20 ° C, i.e. the temperature difference was 40 °С. With such a change in temperature, the change in the length of a 10-meter plastic gutter will be (10 m * 40 ° C * 70 * 10 -6 ° C -1) 28 mm!



Under the same conditions, the change in the length of the metal chute will be only 4.8 mm (Coefficient of linear expansion of steel 12 * 10 -6 ° C -1).


This is theory, but what about practice? In practice, when a plastic drain has nowhere to expand or narrow, it does it anyway, as a result of which the most loaded elements burst, for example, the corners of the gutters.



During operation, it is imperative to maintain drainage systems: remove foliage accumulated in pipes and gutters. If this is not done, foliage and any other debris prevent the movement of rainwater that accumulates in the elements of the drainage system, and when it freezes, it all turns into ice, which, as already mentioned, expands in volume, which is why deformation occurs, and elements are broken.



Expansions also occur in steel drains, but due to the fact that they are not so significant, and steel is stronger than plastic, the elements of the drain do not burst.


So, we figured out the two main reasons why plastic drains burst in the winter:


1. The inability of the drain to expand linearly with temperature changes;


2. "Garbage" in the system that prevents the drainage of water from the drain.


To avoid such problems, in the first case, it is enough to follow the installation instructions of a particular manufacturer: use expansion elements; apply adhesives and sealants only to those elements for which such a need is indicated. In the second case, it is obligatory to carry out an audit and maintenance of gutters 2 times a year - in spring and autumn before the onset of frost.


We hope that our article will help you choose a drainage system and avoid problems with its operation in the future.


Author: Ruslan Bakhmat
Number of impressions: 1424
Creation date: 10/30/2017 04:19:49 PM
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