Why would downpipe be capped?

[sum1989]

Hi I just wanted to know what could be the reason for this down pipe to be capped? Its been like that for many years and I just found out today. 

  

[JacobZ]

Hi @sum1989,

If you give it a gentle shake, does it feel like it is full of water?

Are there any holes drilled in the underside of the pipe?

If there are holes in the underside of the pipe, I suspect this was the easiest way for the installer to direct the water into that channel beneath instead of having it flow freely out onto the rest of the gutter.

Have you noticed any issues stemming from it, or are you just curious? If there aren't any issues, I'd just leave it as is.

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @Noyade to see what they think.

Jacob

[Nailbag]

Hi @sum1989 

@JacobZ is spot on with his comments. There will definitely be holes on the underside to direct rainwater directly into the roof channel and away from the top of the flashing. This is very common practice. 

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @sum1989 

@JacobZ and @Nailbag  have it in one, there will be holes on the underside to dissapate the water and the cap is there to stop the water rushing straight out against the edge. I remember seeing a T junction on my grandmas tin roofing doing the same job. I think its a brilliant bit of enginering with outside the box solution really

The end cap may pop off for cleaning leaves and such if you have a gentle twist/wiggle of it.

Dave