What is a Rain Chain?

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

01 Apr 2008 02:24 AM

Rain chains are getting very popular these days and are springing up around homes all over the country. The trendy design shows are featuring them, and I even saw one that was built for Designed to Sell, a television show where the players help homeowners fix up a home before putting it out on the real estate market.

Rain chains have been traditionally used in Japan to elegantly funnel water down from a roof. While in North America, many of these rain chains are often attached to gutters, they are mainly used for decoration. You can even create a fountain using a rain chain. But, if you want to make a statement and be practical, you can use a rain chain in place of an unsightly gutter down spout.

Rain chains come in traditional designs of a chain, as well as in bucket or combination designs. The easiest way to have a rain chain is to purchase one. Don't forget to purchase installation hardware for your chain if it isn't included. Check at your local garden center, home improvement store or online. The above images of rain chains feature some of the products that can be purchased at Kinetic Fountains (http://www.kineticfountains.com/rain-chains.asp).

Another way to have a rain chain is to make one yourself. This gives you the most flexibility as far as length and look. There are two ways of going about creating your own rain chain. You can purchase large chain at the store and turn it into a rain chain, or you can purchase soft copper tubing that you can bend into a chain. The nice thing about using copper tubing is that you can vary the design within the rain chain, interspersing smaller loops with larger, for example.

Don't forget to include an attractive container to catch the rain that falls down the rain chain. Use the collected water to irrigate your garden.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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