Guttering - help solve a really stupid disagreement

[CaptainDarling]

Me and my Dad get into loads of discussions about all sorts of DIY things, usually ending up in a heated debate and a telling off from my OH.

House is a trad victorian end terrace. Joining neighbours was built at the same time and we share guttering.
At the rear, the gutters run towards each other, the downpipe is in the center line of the property, at the front its one long run, all the way to one end then down.
My Dads argument is that the guttering at the front is more efficient, the rear less, i dont think it make a difference!

Opinions please, the loser get to dig the fence post holes tomorrow

 

[Inky Pete]

The guttering at the end of the run at the front will be handling all of the run-off from the whole row - and so will be more likely to overflow.

 

[Zeberdee]

If both front and back guttering WORK, Then IMO it makes no difference.

Both, Front and back are fitted to suit the water flow, IE...The guttering at the back may only be able to be run away freely by making it run to the centre of the houses, However the circumstances at the front may make ity easier to make the flow of water run to one end.

Simple really.

 

[Mw Roofline]

The less distance the water has to travel before falling down a pipe, the more efficient the guttering.

 

[RedHerring2]

The less distance the water has to travel before falling down a pipe, the more efficient the guttering.

Aren't you confusing "effective" with "efficient"?

How can you determine the efficiency of guttering?
Surely you'd have to measure how fast it is capable of transferring water.
The faster the better, but that must be down to the surface tension of the guttering and the shape of it. Moreover the slope would have an effect.

Effective? Now that's easy, it works or it doesn't.

But, if you measure efficiency by amount of gutter/downpipe material required to dispose of the water, then the guttering at the front is more efficient. ie. it uses less material to dispose of the same amount of water.

Happy digging!

 

[Mw Roofline]

The less distance the water has to travel before falling down a pipe, the more efficient the guttering.

Aren't you confusing "effective" with "efficient"?

How can you determine the efficiency of guttering?
Surely you'd have to measure how fast it is capable of transferring water.
The faster the better, but that must be down to the surface tension of the guttering and the shape of it. Moreover the slope would have an effect.

Effective? Now that's easy, it works or it doesn't.

But, if you measure efficiency by amount of gutter/downpipe material required to dispose of the water, then the guttering at the front is more efficient. ie. it uses less material to dispose of the same amount of water.

Happy digging!

Yes I meant effective!

 

[RedHerring2]

I think Captain Darling, (not Captain, darling,) still has a way out of digging, simply ask his Father, how he defines efficiency.
If he defines it has I have done, in relationship to material used, including downpipes, get digging.
But if his Father has difficulty in defining his term "efficiency" then argue that the guttering, assuming it's the same make/model must have the same efficiency, depending on the slope. ie. the rate at which water travels along it. Pass the spade.

If, however, his Father has confused the term efficiency with effectiveness, then so has he, take it in turns with the spade.

 

[theoldun]

Briefly rain intensity x catchment area= size of gutter =flow velocity=.outlet size & outlet position.

A 12metre run of gutter with a stop end each end and a centre outlet whether laid level or at a fall, will drain twice as fast as a 12metre run of gutter with a stop end at one end and stop end outlet at other end.

A centre outlet drains both sides with a weir action into the down pipe and is more efficient.
oldun

 

[RedHerring2]

Sorry, old 'un. I respect you for being a font of knowledge and your detailed posts, but I think you've also confused efficiency with effectiveness.
The gutter with the central downpipe can be more effective, I agree, but how can efficiency be applied to a gutter?

Surely efficiency is a relationship between the energy being put in and the power released. e.g an internal combustion engine can have an efficiency rating of something like 40%.

How can energy be put into a gutter in order to for it to achieve its purpose?, i.e. have an output?

Edit; Just googled efficiency and first up was this link to Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficiency

 

[CaptainDarling]

Firstly, amazed/chuffed with the response cheers guys

I volunteered and ended up digging the holes, went well until i hit a layer of sandstone

Back on subject, regarding one long run of guttering (draining down on our side) is it considered poor practice to put a mesh stopper on the dividing line. My neighbours never do any property maintainance and im sick of the gutters blocking because of thier lazyness.

 

[ladylola]

I'd side with those that say the rear gutter with a central downpipe is the more effective.
Looking at it another way, if the downpipe is on your neighbours side then it becomes more efficient in terms of maintainance as there is less for you to do and also if there is ever a problem such as a blockage or overflow it's nearly always at the lower end

 

[Muzz]

i've been looking into guttering for my house and read some manufacturer stuff.

As has been said, a central down pipe can drain off a greater roof area (therefore higher volume of water) than a single pipe at one end.

common sense really as with the single pipe water has less to travel before exiting via the downpipe.

Here's some evidence, always good when proving a point!
http://www.marleyplumbinganddrainage.com/diyer/content/2/161/design.html