Sleeping peacefully through the night is already a challenge for most of us. Between the stress of our everyday lives, the distraction of social media, and the noise around us, sleep can be difficult. While some of those other issues may take a lot of time and dedication to alleviate, quieting your noisy gutters and downspouts is often a one-and-done task.
In this article, you’ll learn how to quiet gutters and downspouts so you no longer have to sit through noisy plinking, rattling, or dripping noises.
DIY Method: Tighten Loose Fixtures
If your gutter has any loose parts, they are bound to rattle during high winds or a rainstorm. If your gutter is rattling, whatever room it’s affixed to will be able to hear everything loud and clear, which is understandably annoying.
If your gutter is rattling, inspect it for any loose parts. There may be a loose screw throughout the length of your gutter or a loose bracket that can be easily tightened, solving the issues. This is the cheapest DIY method as you’ll only need a ladder and screwdriver to take care of the problem.
DIY Method: Caulk & Rope Trick
One of the best DIY methods for quieting gutters and downspouts is with two materials you likely already have on hand: caulk and rope.
We recommend choosing a nylon rope about three-eighths of an inch thick in diameter for this job. Simply squirt seaming caulk around the drain opening of your gutter. Leave a one-fourth-inch gap.
Next, use more caulking material to attach the nylon rope beside the gap. Drop the rope down the gutter so it falls out the opening. Then, use more caulk to connect it to the bend in the gutter’s elbow.
This solves noisy water falling through your gutter system by directing the water down the rope, rather than noisy water hitting the gutter’s elbow.
DIY Method: Rain Chain
Arguably the easiest way to quiet a noisy downspout or gutter is to attach a rain chain. Rain chains are common alternatives to downspouts in Japan because they are quiet and decorative.
For this option, remove your gutter downspout completely and install a beautiful rain chain. The rain chain will hang from your gutter, allowing water to flow and move down the length of the rain chain. Any noise produced will sound like steady rainfall rather than an irritating rattling or dripping noise.
DIY Method: Sponge
A common hack for quieting your gutters is stuffing a large sponge at the bottom of the downspout to absorb water as it falls through the drain. While this can be a great, temporary fix, the problem is the sponge will eventually grow mold.
As the water falls through the sponge, it becomes stagnant, increasing the risk of mold, which is a health hazard to you and your family. We recommend only using this as a quick, overnight fix while you address the greater problem.
Replace Your Gutter Entirely
If you live in an area with high winds and heavy rains, or even frequent hurricanes, such as along the Atlantic coast or the Gulf of Mexico, you may need a stronger gutter to handle heavy rainfall. Look for a gutter with a higher capacity for heavy rain and large roofs, or check out our guide on how to prepare your gutters for hurricanes and other heavy storms.
You may simply have a gutter that is too weak to handle the amount of rain your home receives.
Regardless of where you live, you may also want to consider replacing the metal elbow near the bottom of the downspout. Replace it with a lighter material, like plastic tubing or vinyl. These are typically inexpensive choices and can eliminate that aggravating “plinking” noise that water makes against metal. Seamless gutter installation may also reduce the noise of your gutter and prevent water damage from runoff pooling near your home.
Consider reaching out to your local gutter professionals to get a quote for how much it would cost to replace your gutters or the metal elbow for a quieter experience. If your area has heavy rainfall or high winds, a home improvement professional’s opinion can be beneficial since you may need a more specific, heavy-duty gutter installed to eliminate the noise. If the cost of hiring a professional is offputting, take a look at our DIY guide for installing or replacing gutters.
Final Thoughts
Nobody wants to listen to a rattling noise while trying to relax at night. We hope this piece gave you some great ideas for different steps you can take to silence your gutters and downspouts once and for all. If all else fails, reach out to a professional in your area for advice on your gutter problem. They may be able to help with a simple fix by adjusting the gutter so it’s more securely fixed to your home or replacing the downspout with one made with a less noisy material than metal.
