Flex Grate White Downspout Filter

I installed this on 4 downspouts and evaluated during a heavy rainstorm. 2 of them are working fine because those downspouts do not get a huge amount of water based on what they are draining. However the other 2 of them get a large amount of water due to large roof area feeding into them, and on those, the majority of water coming down the spout was falling out the front of the product. Partially due to blockage, but even when blockage was cleared. So i cut clear plexiglass appx 4.125” x 6” and inserted it between the downspout and the FlexGrate. It fits snug, is removable, allows me to see the filter and can be removed so that i can clear the filter.

Used this product to filter gutter runoff into a rain barrel. I'll give you a hint: cut the gutter at an angle to fit the angle of the filter! (bonus tip: use tin snips, unless you don't mind breaking your scissors like I did) How to nail this project: - Track down a (chemical-free) rain barrel online for no more than $25 (FB/CL) - Have all the materials and tools ready to go (see photos). If you can borrow from a neighbor or get stuff for free, all the cheaper for you. You can construct your platform with any material, but this is what I used. And while the picture only shows 4 cinders, it now has 12. I was still in the development stages when I took this picture, but the higher you get it, the better (gravity-fed). Things I wish Home Depot carried, but don’t, so to complete the project, you’ll have to purchase elsewhere (*nudge nudge* HD): - RAINPAL F075LFLH Brass 3/4" Female Bulkhead Fitting (for overflow outlet) - Twinkle Star 3/4” Garden Hose Fitting Quick Connector Male and Female Set - RAINPAL RBS024 V2 Brass Rain Barrel Spigot So, Instructions: 1. Build platform. With tin snips, remove as much gutter as needed to build platform. 2. Reuse gutter elbow if possible, or purchase. Using tin snips, cut elbow to accommodate downspout filter’s angle. 3. Fit downspout filter into downspout elbow. 4. Drill 4” hole on top of barrel. (FYI- I cut out one of the bung holes, and put screen netting over the other.) 5. Fit downspout filter into 4” hole. 6. Put barrel on platform, and approximate where to cut in relation to where it will go into the elbow (You can accidentally overcut here, so go slow and recut as necessary). 7. Loosely assemble downspout to rain barrel, and center rain barrel on platform. 8. With 1 1/4” hole saw, drill where you’d like the spigot and overflow outlet to go. (Overflow outlet goes ~ 1/3 of the way down, or 2/3 of the way up) 9. Disassemble rain barrel from downspout. 10. Attach spigot and overflow outlet. 11. Reassemble rain barrel to downspout. 12. Decorate as desired! We're going to keep it blue, but paint on a fence on it with flowers growing through the painted-on fence. The cinders will be painted white. Hope this helps you to become a little more self-sufficient at your home(stead).

A large volume of the water exits the front opening. Seems like a good idea but doesn't really work.

I picked these units up in store and installed them on the downspouts of my home as part of the summer task of cleaning gutters and settling the gutter guard mesh back in place prior to winter rains. We live in a rural setting surrounded by evergreens (Douglas Firs and Cedars) and maples. I had just completed the cleanup, hosed down the gutters and reinstalled the downspouts (yuck). Then we had some heavy rain.. There is always a burden of dry needles falling from the Firs onto our roof and then getting through the wire mesh above the gutters. It was my hope that the Flex Grates would spit out that burden of junk. But - just to be sure - I made insert screens from plastic mesh (1/4 inch grid size) to fit above the angled grid of the InvisaFlow units. The photos show the screens that I added. The system is extremely effective. It filters out the dreaded evergreen needles. It also filters and spits off the composted material that collects in places along the gutter system. See photos. This looks ideal to deliver clean water into the drainage system - even to collect as drinking water without further worry. And all I have to do when hosing down the gutters next year is place a flat piece of metal or plastic above the grate/mesh to deflect dirty water and junk away. No more taking off the downspouts. Of course I am very pleased !!!

The concept appeared to be effective. It does screen out the debris; however, once two or three leaves collect on the grate they cause the water splash out the side opening. A redesign is needed.

Great idea but has it's flaws. The spaces in the grate are large enough to let pine needles through so a finer screen needs to be attached over it. Works fine for normal rain fall. The problem is with heavier rain, water just pours out of the opening. I cut a 4x6 inch piece of plexiglass and slid it between the downspout and the top of this unit so as to cover the front opening. Stays in place and keeps almost all of the water from spilling out the front. Defeats the purpose of the "auto" clean feature but it's easy to just slide the plexiglass out and clean the debris manually. The clear plexiglass lets you see when it needs cleaning. Beats having to get out a ladder to clean a filer that sits in the gutter. If they could make my modifications to this product I would give it a 5 easily.

The drain adapter works as advertised. I preferred this one that has the open slot with a leaf grate because of the trees that fill my gutters with leaves. I purchased four of these one for each downspout. I did add, as suggested by another person, an additional wire mesh to stop the small debris from entering the UG drainage system. I also went a step further and added a wire lanyard attached to a screw to prevent the grate from slipping down into the drain pipe. The inside edge lip that holds the grate is not that reliable. With a hard rain and lot of water coming down the downspout some water will spill out. Something u have to over look if you want to keep trash out of the drain system. However I may add a small moveable metal cover to block some of this water escaping but still be able to clean the trash from the grate. Not shown, I later added at ground level, a gutter downspout slash block. Picture is attached.

Perfect, with the shown recommended modification. The product reviews on Home Depot.com were very helpful in making this product work for me. Note the photo showing a wire mesh attached to the filter with small plastic zip ties, and the lower lip of the opening cut away to help prevent debris from slipping through the filter. Very satisfied - as far as I know, there's nothing else like it on the market.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

If you have a down spout, this is a must have. I have purchased 6