When was the last time you gave your stormwater some thought? Have you just had a downpour and now there’s water all over the place? Over time, standing water can lead not only to a mess and health problems but erosion that can affect and even destroy your home’s very foundations. You also have responsibilities to your community, with local Queensland councils prepared to act if your stormwater is not up to scratch or causing a nuisance. That’s why today we’re answering the common question: Do downpipes have to be connected to stormwater?
Although your only real responsibility is to ensure your stormwater is effectively controlled, the best way to ensure that – of course – is with the most efficient network of gutters, downpipes and stormwater drainage connections. Almost all Queensland councils require you to:
- Keep your roof, pipes, gutters, downpipes & pits in good working order
- Implement ongoing maintenance to the parts of your home’s approved stormwater system
- Ensure your stormwater connections are compliant.
Do downpipes have to be connected to stormwater QLD?
If your gutters feed efficiently into your downpipes, and those downpipes are plumbed or connected directly to the stormwater system, you’re giving yourself the best protection against:
- Local drainage issues at home
- Neighbour complaints
- Disputes, fines & council/civil action.
Want to ensure you’re connecting the downpipe to stormwater correctly? Here’s how:
1. No gaps
Even a slight gap or hole will result in leaks – and just about as big of a drainage problem as you had in the first place.
2. 12 metres only
Just like you can only drink water at a certain speed before it starts spilling down your t-shirt, the same is true for how much your downpipes can take from those gutters. The best rule is to implement 1 downpipe per 12 metres of gutter.
3. Secure the downpipes
Similarly, downpipes will only work reliably without causing bigger problems like blockages and leaks down the line if they are securely properly to your home. Make sure the attachments or brackets you use are suitable when the wind is high and the downpipes are full of gushing water.
4. Valley gutters
In addition to your actual gutters, your roof features shallow built-in gutters called valley gutters that collect and channel water between two distinct roof slopes. These feed into the actual gutters, so position your downpipes close to the valley gutter outlets for ideal drainage.
5. Gooseneck?
In all likelihood, you’ll be connecting to stormwater with a configuration known in the industry as ‘gooseneck’ – for obvious visual reasons. That’s because the downpipe runs down the wall and then juts out near the bottom at the stormwater connection in a shape resembling a goose’s neck.
6. Open connection
The beauty of a gooseneck connection is that there will be no spillage, which is great for patios or other alfresco areas you’re going to use a lot. If the downpipe is tucked further away from your home’s action, however, an open connection feeding into a grate may be easier and even more attractive – and there will be less for your toddlers to trip on, either!
Get pro help for connecting downpipe to stormwater
Do you have any more practical or compliance questions about connecting downpipe to stormwater? The friendly and fully licensed team of gutter and stormwater specialists at Gutter Replacement Brisbane would be delighted to help! We’ve implemented customised solutions to literally hundreds of stormwater system setups all over Brisbane and beyond – and we always guarantee the quality of our workmanship for life.
For all of your roof, stormwater and ongoing maintenance needs, give Gutter Replacement Brisbane a call today.
