A RAIN WHAT?????  That was my first reaction when I was contacted by the Scott Blevins from RainChainsDirect.com concerning using a rain chain as a contest prize. But after doing a little research, I was surprised to find that rain chains are an interesting and functional exterior decor item.

Simply, a rain chain is a decorative replacement for the typical gutter's downspout. Though they have not been widely used in the United States (so far), they have been widely used in Japan for hundreds of years to guide roof water to collection barrels.

How do they work? Water tends to cling to objects as it flows over them. This is called the principle of surface tension, the same principle that makes solid gutter covers so effective. Once the rain chain is installed, water from the gutter follows the path of the chain till it reaches the ground, rain barrel, or other water dispersal device such as a splash block or even a pipe to divert the flow at the ground.

The best thing about rain chains is that you don't have to use simple chains.  There are a wide variety of fancy chains incorporating cups, buckets and floral designs.  Plain chains are quiet, while the more decorative designs "sing" gently as water flows through them. Ohmmmmmmmmm...

I couldn't think of a better way to show a rain chain in action than to present this short video, courtesy Home and Garden Television (HGTV), showing a gutter installation and a creative way to use rain chain to replace a really ugly downspout and still divert the water into an existing pipe system!!

So that, in a nutshell, is the rain chain story. There will be much more written as people experiment with different installations in different climates and home designs. There is more information at the RainChainsDirect.com website to see if a rain chain is right for you and your home.

Almost forgot! We've got two (2) $80 gift certificates available. Good luck!!

THIS CONTEST HAS CLOSED... WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED!!