Back To School: Learning About Your Plumbing

August is here! And many families are starting to prepare for the back to school season. It’s time to dust off the books, sharpen your pencils, and get some extra storage space on the laptops. In the spirit of learning, it’s time to go back to basics and take a comprehensive look at your plumbing system.

While plumbing may not be a basic part of the curriculum for most, we thought it would be a good idea to school our readers about the importance of their plumbing. In this article, we will give you an overview of how your plumbing system works, and the importance of the system.

Your Piping System

Your piping system is made up of two different systems or subsystems. You have one system that delivers your freshwater, and one that removes dirty water and waste. These two systems allow you to have fresh water when you turn on your kitchen sink and have fresh water again when you flush the toilet.

Generally, your plumbing pipes are made up of cast iron, copper, PVC, and PEX. While many believe that the material you choose will determine how well your plumbing works, it is actually not true.

How well your plumbing works is based on how it was originally designed. For instance, plumbing is designed with natural laws in mind; including pressure and gravity. Pressure is going to push your freshwater through your pipes and out your faucet. Gravity is going to help waste and dirty water be eliminated.

If, for example, you have a pipe that is on an incline that is too much for gravity, you may end up with clogs. When planning for a plumbing overhaul, or new construction plumbing, the layout and design you choose will be imperative for your plumbings well being.

Your Kitchen's Plumbing

Your piping system is not only going to feed your faucets and toilets, but also your water-fed appliances such as your dishwasher, garbage disposal, and ice maker. The plumbing in your kitchen is intricate as it includes both subsystems as well as gas lines (when you have natural gas).

Your kitchen will have the main water feed line which will run to your faucet, dishwasher, and icemaker/water cabinet. You will also have a drain line where all dirty water will be washed away. If you have natural gas, you will also have a line for gas that will direct to your stove. Another appliance that works with your piping system is your hot water heater.

This appliance is mandatory for having hot water throughout your home. In a standard water heater with a tank, there is going to be a cold water pipe where the cold water deposited in the tank. There will also be a gas pipe which is how the water is heated. There will also be a hot water pipe that then carries the water throughout your home.

Your Drainage

Your home’s drainage system or drain-waste-vent (DWV) is equally as important as the freshwater subsystem. Your drainage system is how all the dirty water and waste is removed from your home and brought to a septic tank or public sewer.

Your vent system is also a portion of your DWV, but is not as well known. The vent system is what allows any gas build-up from your septic tank or sewer to be released safely. The vent system is also helpful for building up the correct amount of pressure to move the waste to where it needs to go.

Remember Your Teachings

Both subsystems are equally important within your plumbing. Both of these work to give you clean water to use while also safely removing the waste from your home. Without these systems, we would not have the modern conveniences we often take for granted.

If you are experiencing any problems with your plumbing, or you are contemplating a remodel, call Allens Plumbing today! Our knowledgeable technicians are standing by and ready to assist you. Give us a call today at (808) 877-6370. We are looking forward to your call!