These rain chains are very fun LOOKING. I would be interested to hear if they really replace the down spouts most home have attached to their gutters. Do they keep basements safe from filling up?

Good question! I'm sure you would still have to divert the water away from the house or into a rain barrel.

rain chains just break up the flow of water so it doesn't wash away the soil under the downspout; you can put a diverter at the bottom to carry the water away.

We get so much rain here that my cement driveway is pocked where the rain came off the un-guttered roof. We've added gutters and pipes that make a waterfall into a fishpond.

You're making me very, very Jealous! We are in an historic drought and have water restrictions, with a $500 fine for every time you break the rules.

Scarlett,
I lived in California for...um...decades. I feel your pain, and am very happy I moved to a rain zone--170" of rain a year. People talk about a "dry spell" when it goes three days without rain during the day. Night rain doesn't count, I guess.

And we're on rainwater catchment--our only water supply is what falls on our roof and is caught in a big tank out back--so no water bills, and I CAN FLUSH ANY TIME I WANT!

Aw, was that mean of me to tell you that?

This post was edited by steiconi on Fri, Aug 29, 14 at 0:18

No water bills here either--private well. Yesterday we got much needed rain. I watched my gutters over flow and the down spouts gush. I just cannot see how a rain chain would be of any help, heck the gutters were of minimal help!! They are nice to look at but I think this is one sort of garden decoration that will not adorn my home. Scarlette, I have heard of States where they feel the government OWNS the rain. CRAZY!! I would hate to give up my rain barrel but I could not stand to live where someone tells me where the rain can or cannot flow!!