When it comes to your home, you probably care more about how clean and well-maintained it is than anything else. After all, this is where you spend most of your time. As such, it’s no wonder that residential plumbing needs top attention from the get-go. If you want to keep your home as efficient as possible, then understanding how residential plumbing works is an absolute must.
After all, whether you’re aware of it or not, everything inside your house relies on plumbing for support. There are a wide variety of different residential plumbing fixtures and systems available that work together with other parts of the home to provide the final result: a home that’s functional, comfortable and hygienic.
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What is Residential Plumbing?
Residential plumbing is the set of fixtures and systems used to get water from the source to the places in your home where you use it. In most houses, this involves a water-distribution system that brings water from the main water supply to the fixtures inside your house. If you’re curious about how all of this works, you’ll find that residential plumbing is an extremely fascinating and complex subject that touches many different aspects of home life.
As such, you’ll find this article a great source for learning more about the topic. We’ll begin by covering what residential plumbing is and how it works, before moving on to discuss some of the most common residential plumbing fixtures in use today. From there, we’ll quickly cover specialized residential plumbing fixtures, before moving on to discuss the most common plumbing systems and fixtures available. Finally, we’ll wrap things up by discussing how the plumbing system works and what you need to do to keep everything running smoothly.
Installing Residential Plumbing
Installing residential plumbing is a fairly straightforward process that doesn’t change much over the years. Generally, your house’s plumber will provide you with a plan that shows you where the pipes and fixtures are located. In some cases, your plumber may also provide you with a rough cutout of the pipes and the new locations.
This is to ensure that you don’t accidentally hit any fixtures or pipes that are located in a place that’s not ideal for them. Once you have a plan and rough cutout, you’re ready to begin installing the new plumbing. Depending on the type of plumbing you’re installing, this process may take a few hours or take longer, and you may need to enlist the help of a few other individuals.
The most common residential plumbing fixtures
You’ll find that the most common residential plumbing fixtures are the same as those found in other types of houses. These include a main water line that brings water to your home, a water meter to measure the water usage, a water heater (if you have one), a water meter that controls the water heater and a main drain that takes rainwater and sewage away from your home. There are many other less common residential plumbing fixtures that you may find in older houses, but these are the most common.
A few other common residential plumbing fixtures
- Toilets: One of the most common residential plumbing fixtures, toilets are used to get rid of waste. In most cases, you’ll have a single toilet for the entire home. There are sometimes two toilets in a house, but those are usually shared between two bathrooms.
- Sinks: Another common residential plumbing fixture is the sink. Sinks are typically used for washing dishes and washing vegetables and fruit, among other things.
- Showers: The final residential plumbing fixture that we’ll discuss is the shower. Showers are typically used for getting clean as well as for rinsing off dirt and grime after working outside.
Specialized Residential Plumbing Fixtures
In addition to the types of residential plumbing fixtures discussed above, you may also find some specialized residential plumbing fixtures in older houses. These include a water softener, a well and a septic system. It’s important to note that the majority of residential plumbing fixtures can be used to water lawns, but you may need one or two that are designed for supplying potable water.
Most of the time, these specialized fixtures are included in the purchase of a single residential plumbing system. If you decide to purchase a new home that comes with a system, however, these fixtures are sometimes optional.
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Installing a new sink or faucet
When you’re installing a new sink or faucet, you’ll need to connect the sink or faucet to the water line, connect the water line to the water meter and connect the water meter to the main drain. Once you’re done, you’ll have a functioning faucet or sink.
In many cases, installing a sink or faucet is a fairly easy process. However, you’ll find that the installation of some fixtures, such as those that require heavy lifting, is particularly challenging. If you don’t have the necessary experience, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional to help you out.
Toilet installation and repair
Installing a new toilet is a fairly straightforward process, although you should be aware of the installation requirements for your local building codes. These will usually be written on a sign next to the toilet, although you may need to ask for written confirmation.
The most important thing to remember when installing a new toilet is to make sure that the water supply pipe isn’t below the finished floor. If it is, you’ll need to extend it up to the required height before you install the new toilet.
Faucet disconnection and repair
A faucet could also break and need repair, but this is less common. You may experience this if you leave the faucet on while not using it. If this happens, you may notice that the handle will drip. Generally, this is a fairly minor issue and can be fixed by replacing a faucet gasket or by adjusting the valve. If you notice that a faucet is leaking, however, you should replace it immediately.
When you’re replacing your home’s plumbing system
For all new plumbing systems, you’ll also need to install all new pipes, fixtures and valves. Depending on the type of system you’re installing, this may also require the use of a new digging permit. In most cases, your new plumbing system will include a single-piece toilet, a single-piece sink and a single-piece faucet. New plumbing systems may also include a garbage disposal, depending on the model.
The final words
If you’ve ever wondered what goes inside your home’s plumbing system, you’ll find that it’s an incredibly interesting topic. From a plumbing standpoint, your house is mostly just a giant vessel made of pipes and fixtures, so understanding how they work is a great way to appreciate your home.