How are your connections? Are you well-networked? No, we’re not talking about your business; we’re talking about the flow of water around your home. If your gutters and downspouts and even your roof don’t connect properly, then you can have a lot of leaks and problems with your water management systems around your home. What is a gutter downspout connector, and why is it crucial to the overall wellbeing of your home?

The Gutter Downspout Connector

Your gutters run horizontally across the edge of your home. Your downspout runs vertically, ferrying water from the gutters down to the ground. You need a piece to connect the two; that’s the downspout connector. This allows you to relatively seamlessly connect the two pieces of metal with a minimum number of cuts and no leaking over time. You will need to add a new downspout if the old one is damaged, if you’re adding new gutters, or if you don’t have enough downspouts for your current gutters.

Installing Your Downspout

According to Hunker, when you install your downspout, you should start by measuring at least four inches in from the edge of the gutter. You don’t want to place your downspout too close to the end of the gutter. It needs to be stable.

• Next, use a saw attachment to drill a 1-inch hole in the gutter at that four-inch mark. This gives you a place to begin cutting into the gutter so that you can attach the connector. Place the hole in the middle of the connector and trace around the connector so that you know where to cut.
• Use sheet metal cutters to cut around the area where you drew the lines to trace the connector. Clean off the edges so that they won’t scrape you or your connector, then slip the connector into the hole so that the top of the connector sits inside the gutter.
• Go underneath the gutter and send 3/8-inch sheet metal screws upward into the edges of the connector to permanently connect the two pieces.
• Use sealant on the inside of the gutter to prevent leaks, rusting, and warping. Use a caulking gun to do this.

 Adding More Pieces to Your Gutter Connector

Once you have the connector in place, it’s time to start adding your gutter. However, you will likely need to put on an elbow first, a piece that curves the gutter and lets it sit more flush to the house. Since downspouts are straight, adding an elbow or two allows you to get the curve that you need to place your downspout in the right position. Connect the elbows to the gutter connector with a sheet metal screw. After that, you can continue to attach the downspout by cutting off a piece of the downspout and attaching it to the rest of your structure with sheet metal screws.

Are you looking for gutter advice?  Contact us. At Lednor Home Solutions, we’re your gutter and roofing experts. Talk with us today to learn more about your gutters and to schedule a free estimate.