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Frequently Asked Qestions
Shipping
We use all major carriers, and local courier partners. You’ll be asked to select a delivery method during checkout.
What is the shipping policy?
After we receive your order, we will complete the product in 2 weeks and ship out from SEO Inc. located in Japan. The products will be air shipped and will be delivered to you in about 1 ~ 2 weeks for destinations in the USA, Canada, Australia or Taiwan. For other countries, the shipment will arrive in about two weeks as well. However, since the transaction is an export, the arrival may be delayed due to customs.
Do you ship overseas?
Yes, we ship all over the world.
I’ve learned that there are two main types of rain chains: ring-type and cup-type. Could youplease explain each type, including their attributes and characteristics?
Please visit this page for detailed explanations:
Ring-Type and Cup-Type Rainwater Chains: Which One is Right for You?
How heavy are the rain chains? Can I hang it directly from the roof gutter?
For standard length of 2.7 meters, it weighs about 2kg. When packaged, it is about 2.5kg. It varies among types and specs but weight should not be an issue when hanging the standard length rain chains.
Common chains sometimes freeze in cold regions, but would rain chains be alright?
Although icicles form onto the rain chains in Hokkaido and other cold regions in Japan, we have never received complaints about any damage. However, the ice may increase the total weight, so please strengthen the gutter and the connecting area when necessary.
I want to hang the rain chains from the 3rd floor, so can I customize the length?
Length can be customized to your preference on all of our rain chains. When ordering, please indicate the required spec and length. If you are using our order form, please state the required length in the memo section and for excel or email format, please indicate the length in the customer column. Please be aware that the pricings will adjust according to varying lengths.
When the rain flows along the rain chain, would rain water flow collectively to the ground without dispersing?
The cup shaped rain chains will guide water to the ground more collectively, but when there are strong winds or when there are excessive amount of rain flow, there will be some dispersing. As for the Hamon type with connected rings, the water will not follow down the chain as much and will be affected by wind more, so it is not recommended for areas where water dispersing is a problem.
My friend would like to purchase your rain chains but he lives outside of Japan. Do you deliver overseas?
We will ship to anywhere except South America and Africa. When shipping overseas, please provide name of the country, address, phone number and the recipient’s full name. As for payments, you may pay in advance or use credit card though PayPal for overseas customers.
Would rain chains sway or swing and damage buildings with strong winds?
Since the rain chains are made of metal, they have substantial weight, so they won’t swing excessively except during typhoons or other instances with exceptionally strong winds. However, if you are concerned, you may ground a spindle to stabilize the rain chain, or connect it to a structure below with a wire, spindle specifically made for rain chains to avoid unwanted swinging of the rain chain.
When the winds are exceptionally strong, would rain chains swing or make loud noises?
At our company, we have rain chains installed on our buildings for first-hand experience with our products, but we have never had any noise issues.
When the rain flows down the rain chain does it make loud noise?
There is a pleasant flowing or rustling sound but not too loud to be a bother.
Can I install the rain chain on my own?
We strongly recommend seeking a trained professional with roofing expertise for your safety since installation of rain chain requires working high above the ground. However, among the rain chains we sell, the Hamon, Migumo or Ajiro types are rather simple to install so as far as replacing an already existing rain chain, you may decide to do it at your own risk. Please refer to “How to Install” section for further details and make sound judgment whether to install it individually or not. Also, replacing a pipe type rain sprout is also possible but it requires metal processing, so again we recommend seeking a professional for installation.
How do I treat or manage the rain water?
There are two main ways to treat or manage the water. One is to let the ground absorb the water and the other is to construct a path for water drainage. Ground absorption type is built by installing a specific box to allow the ground to absorb the water. For building a water drainage path, you may insert the rain chain directly to the drain pipe. By inserting substantial length, you may reduce swaying of rain chian as well.
How can I stabilize the end of the rain chain?
Generally, a specific weight for rain chains that we sell are used. If you do not want to use the weight, depending on the ground condition directly beneath the rain chain, you may dig the anchor into the ground and tie a wire or you may use grating to tie the wires. If you would like for us to deliver the wires, please instruct us upon purchasing and we will ship the rain chain with the wire attached to it. As for the Hamon line, the surface area is minimal, so it will not sway much even with strong winds but if you are concerned, you may order longer rain chain than necessary and lay it on the ground, which will be effective in minimizing the sway as well.
How much rain water can be drained using the rain chains?
For details regarding the amount of water flow in time units, please refer to the “Drainage capacities” section on our website.
For the attachments that comes with the Ta-ke and Toh type rain chains, how large should the hole be to insert the standard size connecting metal fitting?
If you drill a hole of approximately 45mm in diameter, you will be able to insert it. For specific measurements regarding connecting metal fittings, please refer to our ”Drawings” section in our website. Please be warned that when connecting these types or rain chains, the weight is held by the outer periphery of the connecting fittings, so you cannot use them for half pipe type gutters, In order to connect these ypes of rain chains, design odifications will be necessary.
Please share your thoughts on where rain chains should be installed to getthe most out of them.
For a detailed discussion, please visit this page.
Rain chains have less drainage capacity thanregular downspouts, and they may not have enough drainage capacity for theoccasional heavy rainfall. What should be done in this situation?
Please visit this site for examples of how we
addressed such cases for your reference as one possible solution.
