Rain Chains - Copper Rain Chains - Rainchains

“Rainchains are a growing product line,” says Mike Milliman of GutterSupply. com, a materials supplier and online retailer based in Lake Bluff, Ill.

“Rainchains have been used in Japan for more than a hundred years, and now rainchains have been introduced to the United States.” The metal, usually copper, rainchains can replace a conventional downspout, as rain water cascades down a vertical series of cups or links. In addition to the visual display of cascading water, the action can produce a pleasant tinkling sound — compared to the clunky noise that emanates from enclosed downspouts.

Sales growth in rainchains, suggests Milliman, dovetails with rising interest in Eastern concepts such as feng shui (literally “wind and water”) or the ancient practice of placing objects and arranging space in harmony with the environment. Yet rainchains also offer some pragmatic benefits as well to both installers and homeowners.

Rainchains retail at about $8 to $20 per linear foot, reports Milliman, or up to $50 for intricate handcrafted products. “Installers should think about adding rainchains to their product lines,” he recommends. Many homeowners are interested in unique gutter solutions but don’t yet know about rainchains, and so you can introduce them to the product. Rainchains are unique, which means higher margins for the installer. And the product’s uniqueness helps set you apart from other contractors.”

Simple Installation

The rainchains are easy to install. A simple wire clip sits in the gutter over the downspout hole. The center portion of the clip is bent in a V-shape to extend below the hole, which helps direct water flow down onto the rainchain. The rain chain itself attaches to the bottom point of the “V.” Though installation may require some bending of the attachment so it sits correctly in the gutter, adds Milliman, “They’re a fairly simple element to install.”

Moreover, if the clip is copper and the gutter aluminum, to prevent electrolysis, “You could put a piece of plastic on each side of the outlet hole underneath the gutter attachment piece, or place a barrier such as ice-and-water shield between the two metals. As long as there’s no direct contact between both raw metals, you shouldn’t have a problem,” Milliman points out.

At ground level, anchoring the rainchains should be considered. “They can drain into a variety of receptacles like basins, bowls, saucers, or pebbles,” Milliman says. His company also sells hammered copper bowls and dishes, which anchor the rainchain, provide drainage, and enhance aesthetics. “The manufacturers say that rainchains maintain their tension by weight and gravity,” he notes, “but I also recommend tying them down so they won’t sway in the wind.”

GutterSupply.com sells approximately 25 designs. Cup-style rainchains can offer the appearance of a rain chain of lilies, star flowers, scallops, or bells. Both round and square cups rainchains are available. Link-style rain chains can feature single loops, double loops, chain link, or a combination of loops and links. Milliman’s company even offers “theme” rain chains crafted in such motifs as grape-and leaf, wave-and-dolphin, hummingbird, and pineapple.

“Rain chains aren’t a complete replacement for downspouts,” advises Milliman, “but they’re an aesthetic alternative, possibly for high-visibility places like a front entrance where a conventional downspout may look obtrusive.”

Rain Chains vs. Downspouts

At a manufacturer and distributor based in Erie, Pa., Larry Marie agrees that “a rainchain adds expression and character to a gutter system.” From the growing number of rainchain designs now available, he suggests, “It seems like there’s a big and growing market for rain chains.

”Marie concurs that rain chains cannot replace conventional downspouts in every situation. “It’s recommended that you keep the rainchains away from the wall of your house,” he explains. “A three-foot overhang is what people advise. But not every homeowner has eaves that overhang far enough. ”Nevertheless, he adds, “I’ve seen some people use an elbow system to move the rain chain further away from the wall.”

As for the performance of rainchain, Marie readily admits the products “are not downspouts; they splash around and so they’re not ideal for capturing and draining water.”

In selling rain chains to homeowners, Milliman reports that installers can expect to hear some common questions. “People ask about the functionality of rainchains and whether they can handle a large volume of water,” he says, and suggests a good rule of thumb in high rainfall-density areas is not to exceed more than 25 to 30 feet of gutter draining into one rain chain.

Homeowners also may worry about ice forming on the rainchain. “We sell a lot of rain chain to the Northeast,” responds Milliman, “and haven’t heard of icing problems.“  He says the rainchains also function properly in icy conditions, since the metal of the chain creates ice crystals and water is then attracted to the ice.

Another question Milliman encounters from consumers is how the appearance of rain chains may become altered through age and weathering. “This depends on where you live,” he answers, “and how acidic the rain is. Brass darkens with age, taking on rich bronze or brown tones. Copper also darkens with age and tends to take on more of the familiar green patina effect. None of our rain chains are finished with lacquer, so they all undergo a natural aging process.”

Traditional Charm of a Rain Chain

In the Japanese language, rainchains are usually called kusari doi, which Marie relates, “have been around for some odd centuries.” In Japan, he says that the rainchains are seen as the “kinetic sculptures, which creates a very peaceful and tranquil sound, and it has a fountain effect which will and can enhance both home and gardens. In fact, a lot of people are starting to install rain chains just for their garden areas alone.”

Over the recent centuries, rain chain in Japan have often been a real part of a rainwater harvesting system, it becomes a runoff from the roof and is transported by the rain chains into large barrels that is for domestic water supply or usage. Ceremonial temples and shrines in Japan have frequently boast large and ornately crafted rainchains to better their part for a more traditional architecture.

In todays rain chain link designs are the closest in form to the traditional Japanese originals rain chains, while loop designs can also reflect Asian influence. By contrast, the cup-style rain chains have been highly developed because they allow less splashing when rain chains are installed near windows, doors, and walkways. The cup style rain chain can also provide greater efficiency for transporting water from the gutter and away from the house. For the funnel shape of each cup, but together with the hole at the bottom, the channels rainwater from one cup to the next in the rainchain.

Underneath the rainchains, the Japanese homeowners often place a stoneware or ceramic pot for stability. In the United States, some of the homeowners construct a square cedar or redwood box and then fill it with pebbles to make it a more scentic look, or simply put some stones or even a paver under the rain chain to dissipate falling rainwater from the rainchains. Ceramic saucers and bowls are highly available at all home and garden centers that are provided in your area, while companies such as GutterSupply.com sell hammered copper bowls and dishes. “The effect, “Marie states, “of the rain chains are really a mesmerizing and beautiful thing to witness.”