This beautiful garden element is right as rain
A rain chain is a beautiful alternative to a traditional downspout and makes for a tranquil water feature in any garden. Rain chains function similarly to how downspouts work, guiding rainwater from your gutters and away from your home’s foundation—sometimes into a pot, rain barrel, or garden bed.
Here are nine steps to install a rain chain on your property.
Rain chains come in various styles, from decorative copper designs to simple brass chains. But before you buy your rain chain kit, calculate the distance from your gutter to the ground to figure out how long it needs to be.
Rain chains make a pleasant “tinkle” sound when the water hits them, so you may want to hang them near a window, patio, or deck. You’ll also need to decide what should be at the bottom of the rain chain to catch the rainwater. Some ideas include:
A stone-filled ceramic or terracotta pot
A planter pot with water-loving plants (you will need to adapt to ensure plenty of drainage)
A rain barrel
An existing garden bed with water-loving plants that is sloped away from the house
Remove the downspout from the gutter and place the rain chain into the opening. If you decide to install the chain where there isn’t already a hole, you’ll need to drill one. Follow the rain chain’s manufacturer’s instructions for how large a hole it requires (it will vary from kit to kit).
Measure the distance from the hole to the ground. Most rain chain kits have an adjustable length. You will have estimated this length before buying it based on the height of your roofline.
You can buy a rain chain kit at most garden centers, home improvement stores, or your local hardware shop. While there are a variety of styles, each kit should contain lengths of chain and small cups to slow the water down as it leaves the gutter. Check the measurements of your rain chain against the distance to the gutter, as each type of gutter is different. Once you’ve assembled the rain chain, set it aside temporarily.
Now that you know where your rain chain will hang, dig a hole that is a few inches wider than the pot or rain barrel’s width and about six inches deep.
Regardless of whether you’re putting it in a planter, a type of rain barrel, or a pot of stones, fill the hole with small pebbles or 3/4 inch stone.
Be sure any pot you use has plenty of drainage holes. Fill the pot three-quarters full of the same pebbles or stones you placed in the hole.
Pro tip: If you plan to plant water-loving plants, fill the pot with about one-quarter full of stones, but don’t add soil or plants yet.
Safely climb your ladder and hang the rain chain. Your kit will have either a gutter bracket or V-hook designed to fill the hole and allow you to attach the chain.
Your next goal is to center the chain in your container and anchor it with more stones. Here’s how:
Direct the chain to the center of the pot and fill the pot the rest of the way with pebbles.
Add larger, heavier stones on top to anchor everything in place.
If you are planting water-loving plants, instead of adding rocks to the top:
Direct the chain toward the center of the pot, and add a few stones to hold it in place.
Add potting soil to fill the pot three-quarters full. Keep the soil level lower than you would otherwise to avoid it all flooding back out.
Add your plants.
A gutter is a shallow trough that is attached under the edge of a roof to direct water away from the home. Meanwhile, a rain chain is composed of several decorative cups or small basins strung together to guide water from the roof to the ground in a cascading fashion. While a rain chain can be a great way to divert water from your home's foundation when looking for gutter alternatives, it won't always be the best solution. In some cases, a rain chain works better as a supplemental feature. People love rain chains because they are easy to install, provide aesthetic value, and offer an eco-friendly method of rainwater management that allows you to reuse water. However, rain chains do have their downsides.
In areas of high rain, gutters can be better than rain chains because they have much higher water capacity. A rain chain is more likely to overflow during an intense storm. Additionally, rain chains have more issues with splashing compared to traditional gutter systems with controlled and rigid downspouts. As a rain chain allows water to flow downward freely, water buildup can splash onto decks, siding, sidewalks, and other areas that can suffer from water damage.
A gutter system may be better in cold climates. Rain chains can underperform in areas with icing and freezing. Water that freezes while traveling down the chain can weigh down and break the chain.
In areas with high rain, a gutter can provide better stability. Strong winds have the potential to blow water off of the chain system. Additionally, the soothing sound of rain going down a rain chain during winds and heavy rains can actually be disturbing for some people compared to the more subdued sound of water rushing down a gutter.
While both gutters and rain chains require regular maintenance and cleaning, handling rain chains can be a more time-consuming task. In most cases, cleaning gutters with a pressure washer will be enough to keep gutters in top shape by clearing out debris. Rain chains require a slightly more personal approach that involves wiping every inch down by hand due to their delicate nature.
Installing a rain chain is a relatively straightforward project, as most rain chain installation kits come with everything you need. However, it almost always involves climbing a ladder. If this is not something you’re comfortable with, consider hiring a local handyperson to take care of it for you. Expect to pay about $50 per hour for a handyperson. You’ll want to buy the rain chain kit yourself in advance. Kits cost an average of $100 but can range from $50 to $150 or more.
Yes, there are several downsides to installing rain chains. For one, rain chains have a lower flow capacity than a typical gutter and downspout system. This means that if there is a rainstorm, the rain chain can stop working completely. Rain chains also cannot redirect rainwater away from your house. In homes with a sloped yard, this could cause water damage in your foundation or basement.
Yes, you can. If you have installed a rain barrel, follow steps one through five above, including adding the pebbles in the hole to ensure good drainage.
Be sure to account for the length of the rain barrel when calculating the length of your chain.
Install your rain chain, but direct it into the opening of your rain barrel instead of into a pot.
On average, rain barrels cost $75 to $175.
Unless it only rains once in a blue moon where you live, you’re going to want water-loving plants in your garden bed or pot. A few ideas for plants that aren’t super fast-growing (meaning they’re good in pots or near foundations) and can handle a lot of standing water include:
Acorus (Sweet flag)
Colocasia esculenta (Taro or elephant ear): In many climates, these are annuals, making them less desirable because you need to adjust the chain again after each replant.
Equisetum scirpoides (Dwarf horsetail rush): non-dwarf varieties of horsetail are fast growers and can take over quickly.
Juncus effusus (Curly rush)
Osmunda regalis (Royal fern): Royal fern can grow quickly but can also handle being crowded, making them good container plants.
