Gutter downpipe

TheProfessional

Hi all, another question!

I have a conservatory roof and gutter. There seems to be two downpipes. On one side it drains into a drain and the other it just drains on to the floor. I think maybe the previous owner collected the water in a water butt or something as there isn't a drain that I can see there as the pipe is loose and ill fitting also

If I block that particular downpipe, what are the chances the water will all drain into the other downspout?

I've added pictures to.better understand

Pic 1 the loose downpipe on right of structure

Pic 2 downpipe that goes into drain on left of structure
Pic 3 the area that the loose drainpipe drains but I cannot see a drain, just a wet sludgy area

Pic 4 the structure 
Pic 5 close up of the downspout on the left which does drain into a drain

Thanks, I do in my head think as long there is one functioning downspout the water would just shuffle around to that point to drain?
The alternative is to get someone to make me a drain and attach to rest of drainage system 

Jeepers_Creepers

That left-hand DP (last pic) where does that go at the top where it disappears? Are you sure it serves the actual connie?

To answer your Q, tho', a connie of that size needs only a single DP, so if you find that one IS the connie's and it feeds into a drain, then blocking the other one shouldn't cause an issue (unless the gutter has been installed at a very poor slope).

Alter_ego

Water will only flow downhill

TheProfessional

JC I'm quite sure it serves it. I shuffled in to take these pics

Regarding the slope, it seems very level as it is fixed to the structure with no brackets that I can see the same height all the way round. I do wonder if you can affix something inside the gutter to provide slope

TheProfessional

Although now I look at the pic it looks a bit bodgy (like much of the house) I think I need to pour some water in the gutter there to confirm 

Jeepers_Creepers

Thanks - good photos.

It's a weird system I haven't seen before - the gutters appear integrated into the connie?

That's pretty neat, but the DPs do both seem bodged! The one on the right is just fitted through a cut hole and sealed!

In theory, the one you don't want can be removed and the hole covered up. One DP should be enough.

I don't see any water stains on the wall under the LH outlet, so the bodge seems to be doing its job

TheProfessional

Yes it's a bit of a weird set up. I'm going to temporarily block the right side hole and experiment to see what happens when it next rains. Fingers crossed it will drain in the left side downpipe and not leave too much standing water!

I also expected to see some water damage from the left side but but nothing so water must be leaving fine. I'll hope that increasing that flow/volume isn't going to overload that side!

FreeBear

TheProfessional said: I'll hope that increasing that flow/volume isn't going to overload that side!

If the downpipe can't cope with the extra flow, there is plenty of scope for the overflow to get in to the roof space and cavity.

That roof should be sloping down away from the house and the downpipes fitted at the external corners. Alternatively, a deep flow gutter and a single downpipe on the full height wall.

I can see why the previous owner has done it the way it is, but concealed gutters are and endless source of problems if not done right.

TheProfessional

Slightly worried now. The conservatory roof is a normal 4 corner pitch (like a pyramid?)

So actually yes, if unbeknownst to me the water doesn't drain down the single downpipe quick enough it can spill into the conservatory roof space. I suppose I would only know that if I saw a leak inside.

Other option rather than digging the loose drainless side and attaching to a drain is to take the water away from the house and soakaway to the middle of the garden but do I then risk flooding the garden?

FreeBear

TheProfessional said: Other option rather than digging the loose drainless side and attaching to a drain is to take the water away from the house and soakaway to the middle of the garden but do I then risk flooding the garden?

If you ever get sufficient water coming off a relatively small roof to cause flooding in the garden, trust me, there will be a much greater flood heading your way from the road at the front.

The roof is small, so you won't need much in the way of a soakaway - If you are on sand, you'd get away with a tiny hole. On clay, perhaps as big as a cubic metre. A percolation test would help you decide what the optimum size would be.

Apodemus

What is the history of that structure?  It looks to me as if it has been re-roofed above the original roof-line, which is why the gutter is recessed and hidden.  Why are there two courses of newer/different bricks on the top of the left wall?  Both pipes look like they were added as an afterthought?   The term we would use around here to describe what you have is "burach"!