Plumbing 101

In most cases, plumbing refers to the installation and maintenance of the water system in a building. It also refers to drainage and the pipes via which waste water leaves. Plumbers may be called on the work with pipes that carry gas as well. In most cases, the basic concepts remain the same and therefore the knowledge needed about pipes and fittings will be applicable for most types of plumbing projects.

The basics of plumbing
Water enters the home under pressure through a line before being split into 2 separate lines for hot and cold water. This line will usually have at least one place where the flow can be stopped. The valve where the water to a building can be shut off should be located and the water turned off before any extensive work starts. Usually sinks and toilets will have their own individual valves to shut off water, so if the work is limited to those particular items then it may be possible to turn the water off there without affecting water supply to the rest of the building. A professional plumber will be required to have a thorough understanding of pipes, fittings, and properties of the different materials that are used to make them.

Pipes
In most cases, pipes are made of one of 3 materials: copper, galvanized steel, and PVC. Because water enters under pressure and drains under the power of gravity, the requirements for the pipes bringing in water and the pipes letting water out are different. Pipes that bring water in need to be able to withstand the forces exerted by the force of the water coming in while the water being drained does not. Steel pipes are rarely used these days because they rust and can be expensive. Copper is the best, most durable type of pipe for water supply, but is expensive, often prohibitively so. PVC is more affordable but not all building codes permit it.