The Fun & Clever Old Shoe Hack That Helps Your Downspout Drain Properly

There's no question that an abundance of work goes into owning a house. Fortunately, a home is usually set up so that different areas can run smoothly without requiring much thought or effort. Take your downspouts, for example. Although many people would love to hide the eyesore of downspouts, they perform a crucial job behind the scenes that protects a home's foundation from water. However, a downspout won't be able to operate correctly if it's missing an important piece. If you find yourself in a jam where your downspout is without an elbow at the bottom, simply grab an old rain boot instead. It's a type of shoe that can cleverly step in when drainage assistance is needed.

A downspout is a lifesaver on rainy days, as it helps water captured in a gutter exit to the ground. The system ensures rainwater doesn't stay on the roof nor ruin your home's structure as the elbow piece at the end guides it away from the foundation. Without the elbow, the water will shoot straight down and possibly pool by your home's exterior wall and cause damage. Occasionally, other problems might arise like having to unclog a downspout. But if the issue is that the bottom elbow came off and needs replacing, a rain boot, which has a similar shape, can be what directs the water away for a quick solution.

Whether you call them rain boots, gummies, or muck boots, they all protect your feet from getting wet with their rubbery material. This fun hack puts a reverse on the idea, since this time, water will actually go inside the boot. To have one replace the elbow piece at the bottom of your downspout, cut off the boot's entire toe with a tool sharp enough to cut through the rubber or PVC it's made of. Keep in mind that you want a hole that's big enough for a large stream of water, not just a trickle. Slip the boot onto the downspout through its top opening. The water should now flow down the pipe, through the boot, and out of the toe hole, away from the foundation. Problem solved!

This trick has the potential to protect your home's foundation if you don't have other means to replace the elbow piece available. It might have you chuckling a little bit, too. After all, how often do you see a downspout wearing a shoe? Just imagine the face of anyone who spots it! With this hack, rain boots can be handy when the forecast calls for rain in more ways than one. To try and avoid issues in the first place, clean out your gutters and the downspout on a regular basis. You should also inspect them occasionally to make sure nothing is leaking and that everything is draining as it should. The boot will simply be your backup.