Having a properly working plumbing system in your home is essential. But have you ever wondered how it works? Since it’s hidden in your walls and floors, it can seem like a confusing maze of pipes and thingamabobs. As a homeowner, it’s important to know the basics of how your plumbing system works so you can take better care of it and prevent expensive breakdowns. Here are the 3 major categories of your home’s plumbing system you should know.
3 Major Categories of Your Home’s Plumbing System:
Pipes & Fittings
Pipes are essentially the skeleton of the plumbing system. They transport clean water from the main city line or well to and throughout your home. Fittings connect pipes together and allow them to change angles and fit inside your walls, floor, and ceiling. There are usually two sets of pipes and fittings, one for cold water and one for hot, and are designed to withstand either high or low temperatures with ease.
Fixtures
Water is carried by the pipes to your house and needs a place to go. That’s where fixtures come in. These are your bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, showers, bathtubs, washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, water softeners, or any other appliance in your home that requires water. Faucets and valves regulate the water supplies to those fixtures.
Drain System
Drain systems are a crucial part of your home’s plumbing system, and every home has one in place. If it didn’t, your house would quickly get flooded after a few showers!
After the water comes out of a fixture, it will then enter the drain system. Each fixture has its own drain that connects to the main drain line where excess water and waste eventually go to the city sewer or your own septic system. Taking proper care of your drainage is essential. If you don’t and it gets backed up, it could overflow and become a messy (and smelly) problem.
Why You Should Know This
You probably figured this out, but your plumbing is far more complicated than what’s explained here. However, with these basics in mind, you can understand your plumbing system better. When you understand your system, then you’re able to identify where a potential problem could occur. Staying on top of your plumbing system’s health is important for the wellbeing of your home.
But knowing when you’ve got a plumbing problem and fixing the problem yourself are two different things. Never do the plumbing work on your own if you lack experience doing it. Many people try to do the job themselves and end up damaging the plumbing system even more, which leads to them paying more than intended. When you identify a problem, call Wyman Plumbing & Mechanical and we’ll be able to come and fix it. While headquartered in North Phoenix, we proudly service the entire North Valley area and are ready to help you with your plumbing needs!
