When you hear the word “plumbing”, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? If you’re like most people, plumbing means your toilet, or maybe your garbage disposal, shower, dishwasher. Plumbing actually entails a great deal more than that. There are several different kinds of plumbing systems, and each one does a particular job. If you own your own home, or if you’re renting but don’t want to have to ask the landlord for advice, knowing a few things about plumbing can be really helpful.
Knowing the basics of plumbing helps you make simple repairs to common plumbing problems, and it can help you determine when you need to hire a professional. In addition, knowing something about plumbing can help you avoid being overcharged by a plumber. It can also help you determine whether or not the plumber is working on something that doesn’t need to be worked on. Here are some important bits of information on plumbing that you may find useful.
The first kind of plumbing is your potable water supply plumbing, which provides all the running water in your home: the water in your toilet, the water that runs your dishwasher, the water that runs your washing machine, and the water that comes out of your faucets. Where the water comes from depends on where you live. In some cases, potable water comes from a regional water treatment facility; sometimes, it comes from wells. In both cases, your potable water system is connected to the water source by a series of underground pipes, which run from underground to within your walls, delivering water to your home when you need it. This may very well be the most important kind of plumbing found in your home.
The second kind of plumbing is the plumbing drainage venting system. Unlike the potable water system that delivers water to your home, the plumbing drainage venting system carries waste water away from it. This system includes your garbage disposal unit, your toilets, showers and drains. This system connects to either a septic system or a sewer system maintained by your city. Clogged drainage venting system pipes is a common problem, and issues with this system often require the help of a professional for it to be fixed.
You may also have to deal with the plumbing system that handles surface water drainage and rainwater run-off. Not all homes have this type of plumbing system. It depends on the type of land the house is on, and the climate in the area. A clogged pipe in this type of plumbing system is fairly easy to repair; it’s rare that you would need to call in a professional.
There are more kinds of plumbing, like the kind that water fountains utilize, but the three mentioned in the article are the ones that affect homeowners the most. Having basic knowledge about these three plumbing systems will assist you in making wise decisions regarding your home.