We rely on our home plumbing system to keep our home supplied with clean water and remove wastewater. When our plumbing system fails, it has an immediate effect on our home comfort and many aspects of our regular routine. Cleaning, showering, laundry, and even watering the lawn are all impossible. Every homeowner should have a basic understanding of the three main aspects of their home plumbing system. This will be useful when you need to call a local professional plumber and explain the problem.
1. The Plumbing Pipes and Fittings
There is an entire network of plumbing pipes and connected fittings throughout your home. The pipes carry the water into your home from a main line or a well and then transport it to the fixture. The fittings hold the pipes together with angles and joints to shape the pipe network to make the most of the space. Plumbing pipes can be found behind walls, in ceilings, and under the floors. Many modern plumbing systems have two systems for cold and hot water. Most homes have plumbing pipes and fixtures made from brass, copper, and PVC. Some homes still have plumbing pipes made from toxic lead, and replacing these should be a priority.
2. Plumbing Fixtures
The plumbing fixtures are the ultimate destination for the water that comes into your home. These fixtures include kitchen sinks, shower stalls, tubs, outdoor taps, and bathroom sinks. Other destinations include water using appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, expensive coffee makers, and other devices. Most fixtures draw upon the water as it’s needed, and others draw the water when a button is pressed or if a handle is turned.
3. The Drainage System
The water that comes into our homes needs someplace to go when we’re done with it. If your drainage system fails, your home will be flooded with wastewater. Every fixture mentioned above is connected to the main drain line that leads out of your home. This is how the wastewater is moved to the main drain line and from there to the city sewer system. As you might imagine, the drain lines can be a real problem if they become clogged. The water cannot flow past the blockage, and it could flow back into your home. This is very messy because the wastewater will contain nasty waste that was present in the drain line. It’s a good idea to schedule a regular inspection and maintenance for your drains to prevent these types of problems.
Those are the three main aspects of a home plumbing system, and they all need to work in harmony. A failure in any of the broad plumbing areas mentioned above will affect the others in some way. Each aspect of your plumbing contains pipes, fixtures, and parts that need to be regularly maintained to prevent a number of problems.
If you want to schedule an inspection or some maintenance for your home plumbing system, contact your local certified plumber today.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
