Freshwater comes in, wastewater goes out. Plumbing is all about the pipes, drains, and fixtures that make your house feel like home.
The main water line into your house is controlled by a shut-off valve, usually located near the water meter. Turning this off prevents disastrous flooding in the event of a pipe burst.
Supply Pipes
The plumbing pipes that bring freshwater in and take wastewater out are the lifeline of your house. They must be properly sized and supported to avoid sagging or stress on the joints. Use a fixture unit rating to determine the proper pipe size for each location in your home.
You’ll most likely find copper, PVC, and PEX pipes in modern homes. These pipes are durable and can withstand high temperatures, water pressure, and corrosion. They come in long sections for running lines behind walls, and with fittings to connect them at 90-degree angles, T connections, and more.
You might also have cast iron or galvanized steel pipes in older homes. These pipes are heavy, hardy, and can last for decades if they’re well-maintained. Knowing your plumbing type helps you plan for upgrades, prevent corrosion, and conserve water.
Drain Pipes
Drain pipes carry wastewater and solid wastes away from fixtures such as sinks, toilets and tubs. They also transport sewage to the septic tank or sewer system. The plumbing system’s drain pipe size, slope and venting play a role in determining how well it functions. Incorrect sizing can result in drainage problems that necessitate drain pipe repair or even replacement.
Homeowners should familiarize themselves with the different types of drain pipes so they can make informed decisions when it comes to selecting a new drainage solution or making repairs. They should also be aware of common signs that indicate a drain pipe issue such as odors (indicating bacteria) and wet spots in the yard.
Regular maintenance and proper care can help extend the life of drain pipes in a house. These include regular cleaning, use of strainers to catch hair and other debris that can clog drains, and scheduling inspections with a plumber to ensure pipes are functioning correctly.
Fixtures
A plumbing system may seem complicated, but it’s actually based on simple principles. Clean water enters the pipe system at 50 – 60 psi and gravity pushes it down to fixtures like sinks, showers, and toilets. Vents allow air to blow through the pipes and keep them clear of debris.
The types of fixtures you use will depend on the type of house you have. For example, if you live in an older home, you may have copper pipes while newer homes will have PVC or PEX pipes.
Choosing the right fixtures for your home is important to ensure functionality and style. From the affordability of Home Depot’s builder grade selections to curated quality options from Ferguson, choosing the right fixtures can make or break your overall home design. Metal fixtures tend to have a more premium look and feel. They also offer better durability and performance than plastic fixtures. Be careful about buying fixtures that appear to be black because many of them are actually oil rubbed bronze or antique bronze.
Valves
Valves are a vital part of plumbing systems, serving to modify the flow of liquids or gases through pipes, control pressure levels & isolate sections for maintenance & repair. They can be found in both residential & commercial settings. They come in various designs & styles, with each type serving a distinct purpose. Some of the most common types include gate valves, ball valves, butterfly valves & check valves.
A gate valve operates using a twisting knob or hand-wheel that when turned, raises or lowers a wedge-shaped metal gate inside the valve body, opening or closing it as needed. This is a fairly inexpensive, but durable metal valve that you can find near sink faucets & toilets in your home. A straight fixture shutoff valve, on the other hand, works much like a gate valve but is instead typically used where a water pipe needs to go up rather than out from a wall. It also acts as a backflow preventer to stop water from flowing in the opposite direction from where it was supposed to be moving. For more information, visit sites like https://www.fixitrightplumbing.com.au/plumber-abbotsford/ near Melbourne, VIC which will have a lot of plumbing services available.
