A downspout, also referred to as a drain pipe is a type of pipe that is used to drain rainwater off the roof. Its purpose is to carry water off the roof onto the floor to lengthen the lifespan of a roof and prevent leaking. Without a downspout, many roofs would be subject to damage because of the rainwater remaining on the roof.
A downspout typically begins on the edge of the roof and is a vertical tube that is usually cylindrical that moves the water from the pipe through the rain gutter down to the floor. In many instances the water moves from the spout automatically to a sewer.
Downspouts have been used for centuries and are one of the primary reasons a property can remain intact after a significant period. Without a downspout water would remain on the roof, thereby causing significant damage to the integrity of the property. For this reason almost all properties have a downspout or some other similar mechanism that ensures the proper drainage of water from the roof to the ground.
