Plumbing is the system of pipes, fixtures and appliances that deliver water and remove waste in residential and commercial buildings. Plumbers install, repair and maintain these systems, ensuring safe, efficient operation.
Many of the components in a plumbing system are hidden from view, but understanding how they work can help prevent problems down the road. Visit https://www.castlerockplumbingllc.com/ to learn more.
While they look simple enough on the outside, water heaters are ingenious appliances with a lot going on inside. For example, they have a dip tube that feeds cold water into the bottom of the tank (generally in homes these are 50 gallons in capacity). Then there’s a heating element—either a flame or electric coil—that heats up when your hot-water tap is turned on. A thermostat keeps track of the temperature inside the storage tank, and when readings drop below a preset level, the heating mechanism kicks back in to warm things up.
These traditional heaters are powered by gas, electricity, or even propane and fuel oil. In some cases, there’s a pressure relief valve on the top of the tank that lets out steam and super-heated water when needed. A sturdy, heat-resistant drain pipe (typically copper, iron or steel) leads away from the tank to a safe location, often a drain pan in indoor environments.
There are also systems that don’t have a storage tank, but rather a heating chamber integrated directly into each faucet for “on demand” hot water. These are usually electric, and they don’t corrode like old tanks can. In areas with seismic activity, it’s recommended that these tanks be strapped to wood blocking strips secured against the wall.
Faucets
Faucets are more than a practical necessity, they’re also style-defining features in many bathrooms and kitchens. Whether you’re installing an entirely new system or upgrading an existing faucet, there are many different types to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Learn about the major faucet configurations (and how they work) to help you decide which one will suit your needs and preferences.
Screw Faucets
When you turn a screw faucet on, water molecules are pushed up against the stopper by a simple machine called the wedge. The screw helps reduce the force needed by converting torque into linear force. Explain this process by asking students to think of other ways they could use a simple machine, such as a wedge, to lift something.
Ceramic disc faucets, also known as disc faucets, are a modern design that uses two ceramic discs to control the temperature and flow of water. This simple, reliable system is durable and requires minimal maintenance. However, it may be more expensive upfront than other types.
Ball Faucets
Using a single handle, a ball faucet has a rotating metal or plastic ball with chambers and slots that regulate the flow of water. They’re relatively easy to use, but can be more prone to leaks than other types of faucets.
Diaphragm Faucets
Similar to a cartridge faucet, diaphragm faucets have a valve with a rubber-like disc that’s moved by an electric current to push or pull on the water spout. They’re more expensive than other types, but they’re known for their ease of operation and durability.
Toilets
Toilets are one of the most used plumbing fixtures in your home. Understanding how they work can help you troubleshoot when problems arise. Toilets have simple mechanical parts that work together when you flush them. The handle on the tank opens a valve, which fills the tank to a predetermined level. The flapper then lifts and water flows from the tank through rim holes into your toilet bowl to flush it. Waste is then carried away down the s-shaped trapway into your sewer system. Today, there are many toilet options available, including high-efficiency models that use less water per flush to reduce your utility bills.
Sinks
Most people don’t think about how their sinks work – they turn them on, get water and then drain it away. But behind the scenes are a lot of mechanisms that have to work together to make your sink function and stop it from malfunctioning or even failing.
Most kitchen sinks connect to both a home’s water supply for faucets and to the wastewater system through a sink drain-waste-vent pipe (DWV). This plumbing consists of pipes that carry freshwater in, and waste pipes that take it out. The plumbing systems under your sink also have a number of key parts that make sure you can get used water and wastewater out without problems.
These include a drain trap, tailpiece and sink drain. The trap, which sits underneath the sink, is a U-shaped curved pipe that keeps a small amount of water in it after your sink drains to block sewer gases and odors from entering your home. This water can be emptied or flushed by lifting the sink drain, which is attached to the trap by a long, straight section of pipe called the tailpiece. The tailpiece attaches to the drain fitting with a slip nut, which can be tightened and loosened with hand or channel-lock pliers. Underneath each of these couplings is a large rubber washer that provides a seal.
These parts work together to ensure your drains move waste away from your sink quickly and efficiently, but they don’t always do so perfectly. To prevent problems, it’s important to clear food bits and other debris from your drain strainer daily, keep grease out of your sink (it hardens in your pipes and can create tough clogs), and run cold water after every use to flush your drains. Good venting also plays a vital role, as it lets air into your drain system and stops vacuum effects that can slow or stop drains and allow sewer gases to rise back up into the home.
Sewers
Sewers are systems of pipes that transport wastewater from homes and businesses to sewage treatment plants. They consist of three distinct sets of pipes; sanitary sewers, storm sewers and combined sewers.
When you flush a toilet or wash dishes in your home the waste goes through relatively small pipes (called laterals) to a sewer main in the street, or to your own septic system. These laterals are not designed to remove non-biodegradable items that can interfere with the public wastewater system such as toilet paper and sanitary wipes. When non-biodegradable materials enter the public sewage system, it can cause a build up that could back up into homes and businesses, resulting in unsanitary conditions.
Sanitary sewers consist of a network of pipes that convey sewage from individual buildings to municipal wastewater treatment plants. The sanitary sewer system includes the lateral pipes on each property and the larger sewer mains that connect these properties. The sanitary sewer system relies on gravity to convey the wastewater, and is typically not pressurized. In flat areas, sewage may be pumped under pressure through force mains to overcome the effects of gravity.
In a storm sewer system, water or runoff from rainfall and melting snow is conveyed through a network of pipes and manholes to local rivers, streams and lakes without being treated. The purpose of the storm sewer system is to protect water quality and reduce flooding.
Lastly, a combined sewer is a large-diameter pipe that carries both wastewater and stormwater. During wet weather events, the combination of the two types of liquid wastes can overload the public wastewater treatment system, creating a potential threat to human health and the environment. During these events, the wastewater may spill out of the overburdened pipe and flow directly into inhabited buildings.