Quick verdict
A 12 inch square low-profile basin that sits under a downspout at ground level, with a flexible pipe that stretches from 2.5 to 8 feet to carry water away from the foundation. No trench: the basin and pipe sit on the surface and hide under mulch. Two drain holes let one basin feed pipes in two directions. It is the step between a splash block and a buried drain, for people who need roof water moved but will not dig.
Strengths
- No digging; sits on the surface under mulch
- Flexible pipe extends from 2.5 to 8 feet
- Twin drain holes serve two directions or one
- Low profile stays hidden in a bed
- Polypropylene resists UV and frost
Weaknesses
- Surface pipe is visible on a lawn and in the way of mowing
- Eight feet is the limit; longer runs need buried pipe
- Flexible corrugated pipe collects debris
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Roof Water, Moved Without a Shovel
A downspout dumps hundreds of gallons at the foundation in a storm, and the simple fix, a buried drain line, means a trench. NAACOO’s kit avoids the trench: a 12 inch low-profile basin sits under the downspout at grade and a flexible pipe stretches up to 8 feet to carry water away across a bed, hidden under mulch. Two outlet holes let one basin feed pipes in two directions.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how surface-mounted downspout extensions perform generally. We have not installed this kit ourselves.
How It Works
Set the basin so the downspout discharges onto its grate, pull the pipe out to the length you need and lay it with a gentle slope to where the water can soak away or run off. Cover both with mulch or decorative stone. Water drops into the basin, runs along the pipe and discharges 8 feet from the wall. Installation is ten minutes and needs no tools.
Two Outlets
A downspout on a corner can send water both ways by cutting the pipe in two and using both holes. For a single run, plug one hole. That flexibility is what distinguishes this from a plain roll-out extension.
Limits
Surface pipe is for beds and mulch, not lawn, where it is visible and in the mower’s way. Eight feet is the maximum, which suits most houses but not a flat clay yard that needs water carried 20 feet. Corrugated pipe collects grit, so flush it from the basin end each spring. For a permanent, invisible solution, bury solid pipe; for everything short of that, this works.
Durability
Polypropylene resists sun and frost. Slope the pipe so it empties; a pipe full of standing water freezes and may split.
Who Should Buy It
- Homeowners with a damp basement corner under a downspout.
- Anyone with a bed or mulch strip along the house.
- Renters and people who will not dig.
Common Owner Complaints
Pipe on show in lawns and debris in the corrugations. Keep it in beds and flush it yearly.
Setup Tips
Lay the pipe on a slight continuous fall and avoid any dip where water can sit. Where the pipe ends, spread a few inches of gravel so the discharge soaks in rather than cutting a channel in the mulch. Check the basin grate after storms for leaves and lift the pipe end once a season to flush grit back out of the corrugations.
Alternatives to Consider
A roll-out or hinged downspout extension is cheaper and less tidy. A buried 4 inch line to a pop-up emitter is the permanent fix. A rain barrel captures the water instead of moving it.
Verdict
For moving roof water away from the foundation without a trench, this basin and stretch pipe does the job in minutes and vanishes under mulch. Slope it, flush it each spring and keep it out of the lawn.
Full specifications
NAACOO 12 x 12 Inch Low-Profile Catch Basin with Extendable Downspout Drain Pipe FAQs
At least 4 to 6 feet from the foundation, further on flat clay sites. The 8 foot stretch covers most houses.
Cut the pipe in two and run water both ways from a corner downspout, or plug one hole and use a single 8 foot run.
The basin is designed to sit on the surface under mulch. For a buried line use solid pipe and a conventional basin.
Polypropylene tolerates frost. Keep the pipe sloped so water drains out rather than sitting and freezing solid.
