History
Rain chains (‘kusari doi’ in Japanese) in concept are not a new idea. For hundreds of years, the Japanese have used the roof of their homes to collect water, transporting it downward with chains and finally depositing the rain water into large barrels for household water usage. Japanese temples often incorporate  quite ornate and large rain chains into their design. Rain chains have been spotted in South America, where chain is easier to obtain that machined downspouts.

RainChains.com has taken the original concept and expanded it into a broad line of products, incorporating both cup, link and even hybrid styles into their offerings. Using pure copper, brass and even aluminum for materials, our company has created a wide range of both styles and prices.

Styles
Link designs are the closest to the original form. They tend to splash more than cup styles, and this may be important when they are considered for areas that are near doors, windows or walkways. From plain link chain (#3131) to more fancy combinations of shapes, link chains offer the most open, airy look and clean lines. They are often used with modern architectural designs, but also look appropriate in rustic settings like cabins and log homes. The Zen Loops (#6886) and Double Loops (#3130) chains have the strongest Asian design influence.

Cup designs are an improvement over links chains in performance and efficiency. With open bottoms, they act as funnels, focusing the water from one cup down into the next one. Even in heavy rainfall, cup styles splash very little, so they can be placed anywhere. Cups come in many shapes and sizes, from the cute 2” Fluted Cups (#3103-A) to the massive XL Scallop Cup (#3104), the largest cup style available. RainChains.com also has themed chains that include the popular Hummingbird (#2940) rain chain.

Installation
Installation is usually straight forward and simple. Rain chains hang from the hole where the downspout was, using the gutter attachment piece provided. When there is a mismatch because the hole is larger than the chain, a separate Installation Kit (RCR-1) is used to reduce the hole and focus water downward onto (or into) the chain. The Installation Kit also provides an outlet tube, preventing water from creeping along the underside of the gutter and dripping off.

RainChains.com sells our cup chains in both standard lengths and by the foot. All link designs are sold by the foot. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, FREE shipping on every order, every day, and we happily accomodate International orders.

At the Bottom
The Japanese often put a ceramic or stoneware pot beneath the chain which fills with water, so that when it rains, the water drips from the chain into the pot, creating a beautiful display.

You can make a square out of redwood or cedar beneath the chains and fill it with small pebbles. If it is damp regularly, moss will grow between the pebbles. You can also place a single paver tile or a few medium size stones under the chain to break the fall of the water.

Your local nursery may have a ceramic bowl or saucer that will make a good catch basin. We offer hand-hammered copper dishes and bowls in varied sizes and designs.

We hope this has helped answer the question "What is a rain chain?"

Learning more about rain chains:

Our rain chain FAQ page
Our rain chain Resources page (including helpful videos)

Or email, or just call us -- toll free!