At the functional level rain chains are a replacement for the downspout from your gutters.
Do you need gutters to have a rain chain.
As long as you re up around the gutters it s a good time to inspect them clear debris and replace any broken or damaged sections.
But all situations are different and for a rain chain to work without a gutter the water would have to come down from the roof in a vertical manner to a point such as a corner or valley of a house.
However i think rain chains are so much more than just a replacement for a downspout.
Since there are many different situations that might use a rain chain without a gutter there is no standard recommended installation method.
Dig a hole slightly wider than the width of your pot and at least 6 deep directly underneath the downspout outlet.
Then it runs down the chain and into whatever you are using to collect or redirect the water.
This rain chain is designed with a length that is slightly less than six feet so if you have a high gutter you may need to attach more than one chain together.
The simple answer is in most cases they can be used.
Decide where the rain chain will be hung and install a downspout outlet in the gutter in the desired location.
Fill the hole with the stone.
Flip the pot upside down and drill a few drainage holes with a masonry drill.
The water flows from the gutter through the hole where the downspout used to be and onto the chain.
Install a rain chain.
Since roof slopes will vary from home to home so will the trajectory of the water that streams from a roof through a crevice or crease during a storm.
This causes your carefully sloped landscape to wear down allowing runoff to flow toward your home instead of away from it.
Study your roof and how it expels rain water before you install your gutterless rain chain.
Most sloping roofs can accommodate a rain chain even without a gutter.
Eventually the water will make its way from the roof to the ground without flooding your home.
If rain flows off your roof because you have no gutters the water causes massive erosion washing away more and more soil each time it rains.
Rain chains are a popular japanese alternative to gutters or downspouts.
Divert rainwater without gutters or downspouts with a rain chain.
When it comes to customizing your rain chain to meet the needs of your home the possibilities are endless.
They protect your home from water building up by pushing the fluid through a series of stacking chains or cups.
Installing rain chains is quite easy although if you re not comfortable working on your roof you may want to hire a handyman for help.