Column: Water Energy Nexus

Rain chains an attractive option

By: Doug Pushard
Published online: Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Appeared in: Home, Santa Fe Real Estate Guide
Edition: January 2012 Vol. 14 No. 10

Though few would argue that downspouts effectively direct water from the gutter to the collecting tank, we would probably also agree that they do not add aesthetic appeal to the house. Fortunately, for people who wish to transcend function for form, there is another option. Rain chains offer a highly attractive and unique alternative to traditional downspouts. They are hung from the corners of your roof or canale to guide the flow of water into large barrels to catch the water from the roof for household purposes and gardening. They have been used for hundreds of years in Japan (where they’re called kusari doi) and are a perfect expression of the Japanese knack for combining aesthetics and practicality.

The principle is simple: rain chains do exactly what downspouts do, but they do it in a way that brings visual pleasure and delight. Rain swirls and flows down, creating a mesmerizing sense of motion and tranquility right outside your window. And they are beautiful on dry days too, especially the copper chains that develop a rich blue-green patina over time.

Rain chains make an attractive and functional addition to any rainwater- capture system, regardless if it is above or below ground. Although downspouts allow far more capture, chains are still more efficient than just letting rain fall from canales and drop to the ground. Falling water, even without wind, will splash onto walls and the surrounding areas and be lost. Water follows the path of least resistance and a rain chain directs the water to where you want t o capture or store it.

Rain chains may not be quite as efficient as gutters, especially in areas prone to heavy downpours, but they do offer a great alternative in areas where aesthetics are crucial.

At my home, I have chains installed on the front of the house and downspouts on the back. Both direct rain to an underground storage tank. In the summer, the water winding its way down the chain adds a calming visual effect right out my office window, while in the winter the ice formations are truly unique. Some folks take their chains down in the winter, but I leave mine up to allow these beautiful ice sculptures to form as the snow melts.

A variety of chains are available and the Japanese often put a ceramic or stoneware pot beneath the chain, adding to the beauty of the display. Rain chains can also be dropped into traditional rain barrels or tied into underground pipes that are part of rainwater-catchment systems. They are easy to install and can be a great addition to a rainwater harvesting system, passive or active.

The award-winning Emerald Home offers a beautiful local example of rain chains. The canales off the front of the house lead to an underground passive irrigation system, while the chains on the side and the back of the house lead to an active rainwater harvesting system. The chains have been left up since the house opened in 2009 and offer visual appeal in summer and winter. The Emerald Home is now the Unicopia Center, with ongoing tours, workshops and conferences on sustainability issues. Tours can be arranged through faren@unicopia.org.

Doug Pushard, the founder of the website www.HarvestH2o.com, has designed and installed residential rainwater systems for 12 years. A member of Santa Fe Water Conservation Committee and a board member of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, he can be reached at Doug@HarvestH2o.com.