Residential Plumbing System and How it Operates

Residential Plumbing System and How it Operates

Ever wondered how your home plumbing system worked? Because your plumbing system is hidden inside walls and floors, it may seem to be a complex maze of pipes and fittings. Contrary to popular belief, home plumbing is really simple and straightforward. Understanding how it works is the first step in doing your own routine maintenance and saving money on sometimes costly repairs. A standard home plumbing system contains three basic parts, a water supply system, a fixture and appliance set of lines, and a drain system. That's all there is to it.

First, fresh water enters the home via a main supply line. Fresh water will generally come from one of two sources, either a municipality or a private well. If the water is supplied by a municipality, there will usually be a meter between the street and the house. A typical family of four will use approximately 400 gallons of fresh water per day.

Immediately after the main supply line enters the home, it branches off to the water heater. From there, it runs parallel with the cold water line and brings water to the fixtures and appliances throughout the house. Fixtures include sinks, showers, bathtubs and laundry areas. Appliances include water heaters, dishwashers, clothes washers and water softeners. Fixtures only requiring cold water supply lines are toilets and exterior sill cocks.

Faucets and valves regulate water supplies to fixtures and appliances. Because faucets and valves have moving parts, expect them to wear out over time, but usually they are pretty easy to fix or replace.

After fresh water is used, waste water then enters the drain system. Waste water will pass through a drain trap, a U-shaped pipe that holds standing water and stops sewer gasses from entering the home. Every fixture in the house requires a trap. The drain system is driven by 100% gravity, allowing waste water to flow downhill through a series of gradually increasing sets of pipes.The drain pipes are connected to a series of vent pipes. The vent pipes supply fresh air to the drain system, thus preventing any suction that would slow or even stop drain water from flowing freely. Vent pipes can usually be seen exiting the house at a roof vent.

All waste water eventually reaches a main waste line that curves to form a sewer line. The sewer line will exit the house very close to the foundation. With a municipal system, the sewer line will join a main sewer line at the street. In rural areas where there is no waste system, waste water will empty into a septic system.

POST COMMENT

Why Real Estate Investors Rely On Hard Money Financing How To Make Successful Real Estate Investments Tips On How To Find A Trash Can For The Kitchen Organizing Your Clutter To Improve Your Home How To Have Home Equity Lines Of Credits Remodel Your Kitchen With A Great Plan Doorstep Loans UK– Handy aid for Any Need Bathroom Rugs Matter In Your Daily Life? The Three Things To Avoid When Applying For A Home Loan Treating Shingles at Home Effective Feng Shui Hints For Staging For Sale Real Estate Tips For Saving Money On Remodeling How To Make Cheap Home Loans Happen