Running water and flushing toilets seem like such a luxury, but they’re actually essential. Understanding your plumbing system is important for maintaining your home and preventing problems.
Your home’s plumbing consists of two separate subsystems that bring freshwater in and drain wastewater out: the water supply system and the sewage system. This guide will explain both systems in straightforward terms, so you can understand how your home works.
Kitchen
Plumbing systems might seem complex and intimidating when you look at the winding pipes beneath your kitchen sink, but they’re actually quite simple. The plumbing network carries freshwater under pressure and drains wastewater out using gravity.
Water supply lines bring water into your home from the public water system or well, which then goes to your faucets and appliances. The plumbing system also includes a hot water heater that might be gas or electric.
If you add a new appliance to your kitchen that requires a water hookup, like a refrigerator with an ice maker or dishwasher, a plumber will need to install the line. It’s best to hire a professional for this task, as incorrectly connecting your appliances can lead to leaky pipes and expensive repair bills down the road.
Finally, the drain-waste-vent system carries waste from your home’s toilets, showers, sinks, and other fixtures into a sewer or septic tank, depending on your home’s design.
Bathroom
Plumbing in bathrooms requires a complex network of supply lines to deliver clean, temperature-controlled water and drain systems to whisk away waste. Understanding how these systems work can help you save money and avoid common problems like dripping faucets and toilets.
For instance, a sink has both a supply line that delivers hot and cold water and a drain pipe that removes wastewater. The supply line runs up through the bathroom floor and wall studs, while the drain pipe runs vertically down into the main sewer line. For safety and efficiency, the drain pipe should have a P-trap that retains a small amount of water to prevent backflow and protect the trap seal from debris.
Each bathroom fixture also needs to be vented, and the venting system may run through a wall or roof. The vent is especially important for toilets, as it helps keep the air in the room fresh and sanitary. Depending on your county’s regulations, you may need to submit plumbing plans and diagrams for permit approval before starting the rough-in.
Basement
Plumbing problems in the basement often occur from groundwater seepage or sewer backups. These issues are typically addressed by a perimeter foundation drain system connected to a sump pump. This is an effective way to remove excess water and prevent floods in your basement.
If you’re planning to add a basement bathroom, it’s important to properly identify rough-in plumbing. This involves locating existing pipes, drains and cleanouts before installing new fixtures.
This step can be difficult since it requires a lot of digging and sometimes breaking up concrete floors. It also requires knowledge and expertise that the average homeowner typically doesn’t possess. You can consult a professional plumber from Melbourne who should be able to help.
A trap is a vital component of any plumbing system. It acts as a barrier to prevent deadly sewer gases from entering the house. It retains a small amount of water at its lowest point, which creates a seal that keeps gases from escaping. Every fixture in your basement, including toilets, sinks and showers, should have a trap.
Roof
You might notice a lot of pipes and vents sticking out of your roof, and while they might be an eyesore to some, they are very important to making sure different systems function properly. The plumbing vent stacks you see, for example, provide two vital things: They give sewer gases somewhere to escape, and they bring in oxygen. Without them, your drains would just become full of sewage and require constant manual cleaning. Also, they prevent the vacuum effect that causes water to back up into your sinks by letting air pass freely through the pipes. The s-shaped pipe you see under every sink is the drain trap, which functions in the same way.
