Understanding the basics of plumbing
Your plumbing system plays an important role in your home. It is responsible for water supply, including water for cooking and drinking, as well as removing waste.
Your water supply comes from a main line that pulls from the municipal water source (city, well). It travels under pressure through supply pipes.
Water Pressure
Your plumbing system's water pressure is an important component. It has an impact on everything, from the quality and cost of your shower to your utility bills.
Most residential areas get water from a municipal provider. They may use groundwater sources or water from the surface – rivers, lakes, and reservoirs – to supply water. This is usually pumped into treatment facilities and then to the pressure tanks located at high points within the distribution area. Some communities use tall water towers.
Water pressure is determined by the tank's height relative the building. It is usually between 30 to 80 pounds per square inch (psi). Too much pressure can cause water to dribble from your fixtures. Too little will cause damage to pipes, joints, faucets, and joints.
Water Flow
Water flow refers to the rate at which water flows through your plumbing system. It is measured in gallons/minute (gpm). Water flow is affected primarily by the pipe diameter and the pressure that is pushing through them.
It is also important to consider the length of the pipe runs. A shorter length of pipe is more effective at supplying water than a longer one.
Your tap connection is another important factor. This is the section of your water service that connects your home to the public main. A small tap connection can significantly reduce the amount water that reaches your home.
It is important that you understand that water pressure, water flow, and water flow are not the same thing. These are separate issues that can impact your plumbing system. We recommend calling a professional plumber if you experience poor water pressure, or bad water flow.
Drainage System
Drainage or DWV is the plumbing part that drains water from fixtures, and then sends it away to a municipal or septic tanks. Its main purpose, however, is to safely remove any waste from buildings and not pollute clean water or leak sewage into the surrounding environment.
Drainage systems don't rely on pressure to move wastewater, but instead rely on gravity to pull the waste from your home and to the municipal sewer line. This is why all pipes within your home pitch downwards and towards the sewer.
This system includes drain pipes as well as traps and vents. Each trap is usually a U- or Pshaped piece of pipe and seals the house against sewer gases.
These traps surround a series of pipes that act as a vent to allow fresh air to enter the system. This helps to maintain water flow and equalizes pressure in the pipes. The whole system is called a DWV system (drain-waste vent) and it's important to ensure it's functioning properly.
Fixtures
Fixtures are devices that are permanently attached to the plumbing system to provide water or drain wastewater. These include, among other things, toilets, bathtubs, showers, and kitchen sinks.
Fixture flow is dependent on the fixture being used. Lavatories and water closets have a small flow, while bathtubs or showers have a large stream. Small flows tend not to stick to the sides of pipes, while larger flows form a slug of soil as they fall down the soilpipe.
As the slugs of waste fall down the pipe, it creates backpressure in the soil pipe. This creates a trap seal which pushes the pipe into a fixture.
This prevents soil and water waste from entering the soil pipes again. This also prevents odors from accumulating in drain systems. These odors can get into the house if the vent stack or trap are not installed correctly.
Your plumbing system plays an important role in your home. It is responsible for water supply, including water for cooking and drinking, as well as removing waste. Your water supply comes from a main line that pulls from the municipal water source (city, well). It travels under pressure through supply pipes. Water Pressure Your plumbing…