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Forgive me if this subject has been broached before. When browsing the real estate property I have noticed that most houses have a chain link attached to the corner of the roof that appears to be anchored to the ground. Are we in tornado country? Is this to avoid unplanned trips back to Kansas? I tried searching the forum for roof chains but didn’t get any hits.
The chain is actually plastic and is used as a substitute for a downspout (conductor) for the rain gutters. The rainwater (well, most of it) runs down the chain to the catch basin. Just a little CR magical engineering! Fred
Historical Note: Rain chains were common in colonial America. The concept was probably brought from Britain with the colonists. They’re common, too, in Asia. They probably fell out of favor when inexpensive sheet metal (galvanzied steel, not copper) became available.
Actually, they are a great device. The water clings to the chain, as long as there is not too much of a breeze, and they do not get clogged with leaves. I’ve never seen them in the states, but they are simplicity at its finest.
The house we will build next year will have rain chains. I’ve admired them for years. You don’t see many in the US but several garden stores in my little town of 70K carry them. In the US, they are usually are copper or aluminum. Most of the ones I’ve seen in CR are iron, not plastic. You can anchor them at the drain on the ground, and you don’t have to worry about the wind. With an adequate drain, they work really well.
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