| KNOW YOUR PLUMBING | | | | operations, with no overlapping between them. There |
| Top 10 Plumbing supplies: | | | | are bridges between the two, however, and the |
| Here are some of the most used plumbing supplies in | | | | bridges are what make the plumbing system worth |
| the industry: | | | | having. In plumbing jargon, any bridge between the |
| 1. Toilet Auger | | | | supply and drainage systems is a fixture. |
| 2. Drain Camera | | | | Toilets, sinks, and tubs are fixtures. In addition, an |
| 3. Faucet Seat Wrench | | | | outside faucet is a fixture and so is a washing |
| 4. Sink Auger | | | | machine. All devices that draw freshwater and |
| 5. Standard Plunger | | | | discharge wastewater are fixtures, and all are |
| 6. Plumber's Tape | | | | designed to keep the supply and drainage systems |
| 7. Rubber Washer's | | | | strictly segregated. |
| 8. Copper Cutters | | | | Some fixtures have individual supply shutoff valves |
| 9. Flange Auger | | | | so you don't need to close the main shutoff to repair |
| 10. Adjustable Pipe Wrench | | | | them. It's a good idea to make sure everyone in the |
| PLUMBING BASICS: | | | | family knows the location of the main shutoff valve |
| Plumbing follows the basic laws gravity, pressure, | | | | in your house as well as how to use it. You may |
| water seeking its own level. Knowing this, you can | | | | want to tag the main shutoff valve so anyone can |
| understand its mysteries and make dozens of fixes | | | | easily find it. |
| to your home's plumbing system. | | | | Before you embark on any plumbing repairs, always |
| The plumbing system in your home is composed of | | | | turn off the water supply to the fixture or the main |
| two separate subsystems. One subsystem brings | | | | shutoff. In addition, check with your local plumbing |
| freshwater in, and the other takes waste water out. | | | | code official before you add or change any pipe in |
| The water that comes into your home is under | | | | your house. You will learn what is allowed and what is |
| pressure. It enters your home under enough pressure | | | | prohibited and whether or not a homeowner is |
| to allow it to travel upstairs, around corners, or | | | | allowed to do his or her own work. If you get the |
| wherever else it's needed. As water comes into your | | | | green light, you can save yourself a lot of money by |
| home, it passes through a meter that registers the | | | | doing your own repairs. |
| amount you use. The main water shutoff, or stop, | | | | Know Your Plumbing Pipes: |
| valve is typically located close to the meter. In a | | | | As you may know, there are different types of |
| plumbing emergency, it's vital that you quickly close | | | | pipes used in plumbing. To an average homeowner, it |
| the main shutoff valve. Otherwise, when a pipe | | | | may seem unnecessary to know what exactly those |
| bursts, it can flood your house in no time. If the | | | | types are. However, each pipe has its own purpose |
| emergency is confined to a sink, tub, or toilet, | | | | and learning about them can help you find out which |
| however, you may not want to turn off your entire | | | | type will best prevent pipe bursts water damage. |
| water supply. Therefore, most fixtures should have | | | | First off, plumbing pipes fall into two main kinds - |
| individual stop valves. | | | | metal and plastic. Below are some of the specific |
| Water from the main supply is immediately ready for | | | | types of metal and plastic pipes that are commonly |
| your cold water needs. The hot water supply, | | | | used for plumbing. |
| however, requires another step. One pipe carries | | | | Metal Pipes: |
| water from the cold water system to your water | | | | These are made of heavy metal and have been used |
| heater. From the heater, a hot water line carries the | | | | in plumbing for many decades now to carry both hot |
| heated water to all the fixtures, out-lets, and | | | | and cold water to homes and more commonly, they |
| appliances that require hot water. | | | | are buried underground to supply water outside the |
| A thermostat on the heater maintains the | | | | house. Today, though, galvanized pipes are usually |
| temperature you select by turning the device's | | | | replaced by simpler pipes made of heavy plastic. With |
| heating elements on and off as required. | | | | its galvanized coating, these pipes are naturally |
| - The normal temperature setting for a home water | | | | resistant to corrosion but they are not entirely rust |
| heater is between 140 degrees F and 160 degrees F, | | | | proof. The threaded pipe ends where the coating has |
| but 120 degrees F is usually adequate and is also | | | | been removed are susceptible to rusting. |
| more economical. | | | | These pipes are perhaps the most widely-used today |
| - Some automatic dishwashers require higher | | | | for water supply lines running through the walls of |
| temperature water, though many of these have a | | | | houses. They feature high resistance to corrosion and |
| water heater within them that boosts the | | | | high heat tolerance so they can be used for both |
| temperature another 20 degrees F. | | | | cold and hot water supply. Also, copper pipes are |
| DRAINAGE SYSTEMS: | | | | very stable because soldered fittings are used to |
| Whether your home is on a sewer or septic system, | | | | connect them. The obvious downside to this option, |
| the systems within your home are essentially the | | | | however, is that they are pricey. |
| same. Drainage systems do not depend on pressure, | | | | This type of pipe is highly resistant to corrosion and |
| as supply systems do. Instead, waste matter leaves | | | | would be the ideal pipe to use if you live somewhere |
| your house because the drainage pipes all pitch, or | | | | where there are corrosive elements present such as |
| angle, downward. Gravity pulls the waste along. The | | | | near the beach. However, stainless steel pipes are |
| sewer line continues this downward flow to a | | | | also expensive and are not easily available. |
| sewage treatment facility or a septic tank. | | | | Plastic Pipes: |
| While the system sounds simple, there's more to it, | | | | PVC pipes are the standard water pipes used in most |
| including vents, traps, and clean outs. The vents | | | | homes. The most common PVC pipe used is the |
| sticking up from the roof of your house allow air to | | | | thick white one called Schedule 40, which has a |
| enter the drainpipes. If there were no air supply | | | | slightly more durable version called the Schedule 80. |
| coming from the vents, wastewater would not flow | | | | There is also a thinner and lighter PVC pipe called the |
| out properly and the water in the traps would need | | | | thin wall. PVC pipes are not built to work with hot |
| to be siphoned away. | | | | temperature so they are used only for cold water |
| Traps are vital components of the drainage system. | | | | supply. |
| You can see a trap under every sink. It is the curved | | | | As its name indicates, CPVC pipes underwent an |
| or S-shape section of pipe under a drain. Water flows | | | | extra process of chlorination compared to PVC pipes. |
| from the basin with enough force to go through the | | | | It has good flexibility and although its walls are thinner |
| trap and out through the drainpipe, but enough water | | | | than the standard PVC pipe, it is more heat-resistant |
| stays in the trap afterward to form a seal that | | | | and, therefore, more ideal for hot water supply. |
| prevents sewer gas from backing up into your home. | | | | These cross-linked pipes are made of polyethylene |
| Every fixture must have a trap. Toilets are | | | | plastic. They are flexible and can be used to supply |
| self-trapped and don't require an additional trap at the | | | | both hot and cold water to a home. Because it is |
| drain. Bathtubs frequently have drum traps, not only | | | | extra resistant to heat, this pipe is commonly used |
| to form a seal against sewer gas but also to collect | | | | for water-based (hydroponic) floor heating systems |
| hair and dirt in order to prevent clogged drains. Some | | | | in modern homes. It has the same outer diameter as |
| kitchen sinks have grease traps to collect grease that | | | | CPVC pipes and copper pipes so it is also used as |
| might otherwise cause clogging. Because grease and | | | | cheaper replacement for either pipes. |
| hair are generally the causes of drain clogs, traps | | | | This thick, high pressure, black pipe is extremely |
| often have clean-out plugs that give you easier | | | | durable and typically used outdoors for one purpose |
| access to remove or break up any blockage. | | | | only - as the residential main water supply pipe. It is |
| Since a drainage system involves all of these | | | | buried deep underground to prevent the pipe from |
| components, it is usually referred to as the DWV: the | | | | freezing during wintertime. Different places have |
| drain-waste-vent system. If water is to flow out | | | | different standards as to the burial depth of the pipe. |
| freely and waste is to exit properly, all components | | | | While there is no single pipe that can be used for all |
| of the DWV must be present and in good working | | | | applications that is impervious to damage, with basic |
| order. Examine the pipes in the basement or crawl | | | | knowledge of these pipes, you'll be able to tell which |
| space under your house to help you understand the | | | | pipes in your home are more prone to corrosion or |
| system better. | | | | freezing so you can take necessary plumbing |
| SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE SUBSYSTEMS: | | | | maintenance and preventive action. |
| The supply and drainage subsystems are two distinct | | | | |