Quick verdict
A PVC and aluminium downpipe kit that fits the integral gutter on a standard aluminium greenhouse and carries roof water down to a water butt or to ground instead of letting it pour off the gutter end. Greenhouse roofs shed a surprising volume of soft rainwater, and a butt beside the greenhouse is the best water a greenhouse can use. The kit suits common aluminium frame gutters; measure the gutter profile before buying, since manufacturers differ.
Strengths
- Captures greenhouse roof water for a water butt
- Fits the integral gutter of common aluminium greenhouses
- PVC and aluminium parts resist weather
- Stops water pouring off the gutter end onto the base
- Simple to fit with basic tools
Weaknesses
- Gutter profiles vary by greenhouse maker; check fit
- Short run; a tall greenhouse or raised butt may need more pipe
- Generic brand with limited instructions
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Water Falling Off the Greenhouse
An aluminium greenhouse has a gutter built into the eave and, as sold, that gutter ends in mid-air, pouring roof water onto the base in every shower. A downpipe kit turns that into a water supply. Atyhao’s is a set of PVC and aluminium fittings that clip to the gutter end and carry the water down to a water butt or to ground.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how greenhouse downpipe kits are fitted generally. We have not used this kit ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Why Bother
Rainwater is soft and free and arrives at the temperature of the greenhouse, which plants prefer to cold tap water. A 6 by 8 foot greenhouse roof sheds about 30 gallons from an inch of rain, half a water butt, from each side. A butt beside the door is the most convenient water in the garden.
Fitting
The outlet piece clips onto the end of the integral gutter and the pipe runs down to the butt. Set the butt on a base so a can fits under the tap, cut the pipe to length and fit an overflow from the butt so a full one spills away from the greenhouse base rather than into it. A square of mesh at the outlet keeps leaves out. Basic tools, an hour.
Fit
Aluminium greenhouse makers use similar but not identical gutter profiles. Measure the channel at the gutter end and compare with the listing; a kit that does not clip properly leaks at the junction. Owners report most common frames fit and a few need a bead of sealant.
Materials
PVC pipe and aluminium fittings handle sun and frost. Empty the butt before deep winter or leave the tap cracked so ice does not split it.
Who Should Buy It
- Owners of aluminium greenhouses with open gutter ends.
- Gardeners who want rainwater beside the plants.
- Anyone whose greenhouse base floods from the gutter.
Common Owner Complaints
Fit on unusual gutters and thin instructions. Measure first; the layout is self-evident.
Technique Tips
Clean the gutter channel of moss and old sealant before fitting so the outlet seats flat, and run a hose into the gutter to check the flow reaches the pipe without pooling. Fit the butt lid tightly to keep mosquitoes out, and add a simple diverter or valve so the downpipe can send water to ground when the butt is full in a wet spell.
Alternatives to Consider
Brand downpipe kits from the greenhouse maker fit exactly at a higher price. A length of standard mini guttering and downpipe can be adapted. A diverter on the house downspout fills a butt elsewhere.
Verdict
For a few dollars, this kit turns a greenhouse gutter from a nuisance into a water supply. Check the gutter profile, fit an overflow and the butt will fill from the first shower.
Full specifications
Atyhao Greenhouse Rainwater Gutter Downpipe Kit with PVC and Aluminium Fittings FAQs
It is soft, free, at the right temperature and right beside the plants that need it. A small greenhouse roof fills a water butt from a modest shower.
It is made for the integral gutter channel on common aluminium frames. Measure your gutter end and compare; some makers use their own fittings.
Run the downpipe into the butt lid or a diverter. Stand the butt on a base so a can fits under its tap and fit an overflow so a full butt spills away from the base.
A small mesh over the gutter outlet or in the butt lid keeps debris out of the water.
