How Does Plumbing Work?
As a homeowner, you need to take good care of the plumbing system in your kitchen, bathroom, or water supply. You may not understand the components of your home plumbing system and that’s why you ought to work with the experts.
In this write-up, we give you a closer look at the components that make the plumbing system work the way it does. With this knowledge, you will be able to know how to properly care for and maintain your plumbing system.
In every home, the plumbing system consists of the following components:
Plumbing Venting
Although relatively misunderstood, the venting system plays a key role. In fact, you wouldn’t have a plumbing system without it. No matter how big your house is, the water supply and drain systems should never mix to prevent water contamination.
There are ‘bridges’ between the supply and drain systems. These bridges are usually vented to release air into the pipes so as to prevent sewer gases from entering the water supply. The air, essentially, ensures the drain traps remain shut thus ensuring the plumbing system is never contaminated. When a vent becomes clogged by nesting animals or is damaged, your plumbing system is likely to get contaminated.
Plumbing Supply
It is the supply system that delivers water wherever it is needed in the home. That includes the sinks, toilets, appliances, and showers. Essentially, the hot and cold water pipes in the plumbing supply should be separated.
The equipment used to deliver the water in the home include pipes, valves, faucets, and fittings. The pipes and fittings are likely to be made of galvanized iron, copper, and plastic. The diameter of the pipes could be anything between ½ inch and 4 inches.
Plumbing Drainage
The system which deals with wastewater is the plumbing drainage. It essentially carries water away from your home through drainage pipes connected to the toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and other appliances. The pipes deliver the wastewater to the septic tank or sewer line.
How Does Water Travel In And Out Of Your Home?
The movement of water in and out of your home largely depends on two forces: pressure and gravity. The water entering your home has sufficient pressure to enable it to move around pipes, uphill, and so on. It usually comes in as cold water which is ready for use. For it to be heated, it has to move through pipes to the hot water heater. This generates hot water for use around the house.
The drainage system, on the other hand, relies on gravity to push the wastewater out of your home. To ensure the gravity has its way, the pipes are designed to take onto a downward trend before meeting the septic tank or municipal sewer lines.
The type of plumbing system you have in your home will greatly determine how safe the water is. You need to work with a professional plumber during the installation and maintenance of the plumbing system.
Contact Burlington City Plumbers for more information on plumbing system installation and repair in Burlington and the surrounding areas.