How Your Drainage System Handles Water Overflow
Rainwater that lands on roofs is normally captured by gutters and transported via the downpipes to either stormwater drains or rainwater tanks. Not everyone has space for rainwater tanks in their yard, and during heavy rain, the gutters can overflow quickly. This means all the water that would normally be safely diverted away instead quickly builds up in the gutters.
During periods of high rainfall intensity or sudden water surges, you run the risk of water overflow if your drainage system isn't capable of managing the water. This can lead to flooding in your home’s roof and damage to key areas like the fascia or flashing.
This will in turn weaken your property’s structure and cause further issues. If left untreated, you can end up paying for significant repairs later on.
Rainheads and sumps are fairly simple solutions that help to protect your roof and property from excess water. They are essential if you have a box gutter, trough gutter or other internal gutter system.
Upside Down is your team of local roofing experts. We’re here to ensure your gutters and drainage systems are ready to cope with any amount of rain. If that means the additional installation or maintenance of rainheads and sumps, call our team today and we will be at your door. Our experienced roofers will keep your home safe and sound all year long.
What are Sumps and RainHeads?
A rain head is an external box that sits outside the roof and gutter, and is either built onto the guttering itself or connected by a pipe through the flashing. The rain head features a drain filter connected to the downpipe, an opening high up on the outer face that allows excess storm water to flow freely out and away from the building. The rainhead overflow mechanism prevents buildup of water, preventing or reducing the likelihood of water damage to roofing.
Roof gutter sumps on the other hand are a form of water container reservoir set inside the guttering itself. The sump collects, filters, and diverts water into downpipes internally. The sump pit is a lowered "pit" section containing a filtered drain which leads to the downpipe. A second pipe is often installed with the purpose of capturing excess water overflow, which acts as a backup in the case of a blocked filter but also helps with higher volumes of water.
Rainhead and Sump Designs
Rainheads have existed for centuries, protecting roofs all over the world. Naturally they've seen plenty of change, and there are a wide variety of designs and colours to suit modern architecture.
If you're looking to achieve a particular aesthetic, you can easily find something to fit in. You can also call Upside Down to organise a visit from one of our local licensed roofers. We will inspect your gutters to advise the perfect solution based on the local climate, rainfall patterns and government/council regulations.
Some of the more common rainhead styles and designs include:
- Box rainheads – a standard and practical square or rectangular design
- Curved rainheads – a box with a curved bottom, water flows easily into the downpipe
- Round rainheads – cylindrical or conical shape,
- Segmented rainheads – more traditional and ornately designed
- Tapered rainheads – wide at the top and thin at the bottom, tapered for improved drainage
Sumps have less aesthetic versatility because they are built into the gutter itself and are often designed to cater to the specific needs of a gutter.
At Upside Down we use building materials that are designed for Australian conditions. You can be sure your rainheads and sumps have been manufactured from high quality steel by local brands, including COLORBOND® steel, BlueScope steel, and ZINCALUME® steel. We are proud to work with all major brands.
Finance Options** for Sump and Rainhead Installation
Rain heads are beneficial for any house and suitable for a variety of gutter systems. They are especially worth installing in areas with high rainfall intensity. If your house has a box gutter or internal gutter, then investing in quality rainheads or sumps is a must.
How do you know which one you should install though? You should get in touch with your local roofer or roof plumber to see what will work best for you. And at Upside Down, we can answer all of your burning questions. Our goal is to make sure your home is protected from heavy rainfall.
Rainheads are installed on the outside of the gutter and may require additional work depending on the installation location or rainhead style. You can count on our experts to get the job done efficiently no matter what.
Meanwhile, depending on the location, a box gutter sump can be much easier to install because they fit into the existing box gutter. When you employ the services of a licensed professional, you can rest assured everything is installed to the highest standard.
Upside Down offers a range of finance options** for eligible customers. Simply choose a plan with one of our finance providers – Zip or Humm. You can conveniently select between weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments, depending on your choice of provider. Some plans even accept a $0 deposit, so you pay nothing upfront.
Your technician can take you through the easy application process and approval usually takes only a few minutes. Then you can relax while an Upside Down roof plumber gets the job done.
We also accept payment by cash, cheque or credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express).
