Plumbing Experts ensure piping systems are established and functioning correctly in homes and buildings. They also repair leaking pipes, clogged drains, and backflow devices.
Trying to fix plumbing issues yourself can lead to serious consequences. Calling a qualified plumber at https://www.plumbing-express.com/ and letting them handle the job to avoid costly damages is better.
Plumbing Terminology
Plumbing is the system of pipes, fixtures and appliances that deliver potable water, remove waste and vent sewage. It also includes the installation, maintenance and repair of these devices. The plumbing industry is regulated by governmental agencies to ensure safe practices and codes.
Whether you’re hiring a plumber or tackling DIY plumbing projects, it’s important to understand the terminology used by professionals. This glossary of 54 plumbing terms will help you understand what your plumber is talking about and may even save you some money!
Pipe: The straight section of a plumbing system. They are commonly made from cast iron, steel or PVC. They can be formed through welding, casting or extrusion. A pipe’s wall thickness affects its strength and ability to resist pressure.
Vent: A pipe that runs through the roof to carry away sewer vapors and other gases. Also called a roof vent, waste vent or soil vent.
Trap: A curved piece of plumbing that seals off a pipe from odors, pests and sewer gasses. The stationary part of a valve is called the valve seat.
Septic Tank: An underground tank that receives domestic sanitary wastewater and begins the treatment process. It contains a filtration system and should be pumped every three to five years.
Tools and equipment that a plumbing professional uses include pipe wrenches, screwdrivers, power drills, flaring pliers, soldering torches, pipe cutters and crimping tools. A plumbing expert can also use video cameras to inspect plumbing systems and detect issues that might not be visible to the naked eye.
Pipes
Whether it’s carrying water from your kitchen faucet to the sink or transporting waste to the sewer system, pipes are essential for a functioning plumbing system. Pipes can be made of different materials, and each type of pipe serves a specific purpose. Knowing what your pipes are made of can help you understand how they work and how to keep them in good condition.
A pipe is a hollow tube that liquid flows through. It can be made from metal or plastic and is used to convey liquids, gases or steam. Pipes are usually formed through casting or welding, whereas tubes are typically formed through extrusion. Pipes are normally thicker than tubes, and they can be joined together using brazing, crimping or compression fittings.
There are many different types of pipes, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common include copper, galvanized steel and CPVC. PEX pipes are another option, and they’re becoming increasingly popular due to their durability and ease of installation. PEX pipes are also more resistant to freezing temperatures than other types of pipe.
When it comes to plumbing, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with your home’s pipes. If you’re having plumbing issues, it’s always best to call a professional rather than trying to fix it yourself. There are a lot of hidden secrets in plumbing that won’t stand out to the untrained eye, so it’s important to leave repairs to a plumber.
Tubes
Whether or not you are a handy person, you should never attempt to fix plumbing issues alone. This goes for both your home and business. There are countless videos and tutorials on the Internet that will try to convince you otherwise, but let us assure you, there are plenty of things about plumbing that just do not stand out to someone who hasn’t gone through a state-sanctioned training program to become a plumber. It’s always safer and more affordable to call a plumber from the start and get it done right the first time. And that plumber will most likely be the same one you go to for any future issues as well. This will help build trust and a relationship with your local company.
Pipe Fittings
There are many different pipe fittings in the plumbing configuration. You need a variety of these to get water to different areas in the home and to connect pipes of different sizes. Plumbers carry a large tool chest full of different pipe fittings. They know how to use these to make quick work of a repair or install a new fixture.
Most pipe fittings are threaded and can be joined with Teflon tape or other threading compounds. The sizing of these fittings depends on their inside diameter, known as the ID. You can measure the ID by wrapping a string around the outside of the pipe and marking where the string overlaps, or by using a caliper or a ruler. You can also refer to a pipe thread size chart to find the proper sized fitting.
Elbow fittings bend water at a 90 degree angle, allowing you to run long lengths of pipe behind walls. Tee fittings branch off a line, and you can get tees with two outlets or one outlet. Couplers join two pipe segments together, and they come in a variety of styles, materials, and sizes.
A coupling is a short stub of pipe with male pipe threads on both ends that allows you to link two different pipe types or sizes. It can also be referred to as a reducing coupling or reducer, and it is often used to connect copper pipe to PVC or CPVC or galvanized steel pipe to copper. A regular coupling has a small ridge to prevent the over-insertion or under-insertion of one of the pipe segment. A slip coupling has no ridge and can be used to connect plastic pipe or CPVC to copper, after soldering or gluing the adapter onto the end of the pipe.
Water Heaters
Water heaters are devices that heat water to regulated temperatures for a variety of applications. They are most commonly used to assist with washing clothes and dishes, taking showers and baths, and other domestic functions. However, they can also be used for industrial process applications.
Tank-style water heaters are most common in homes and typically use natural gas, liquid propane, oil or electricity for power. They have a gauge that monitors the temperature of the water and a shut-off valve located on the side of the unit to help prevent water loss. They should be inspected regularly for any issues, such as sediment buildup, and components like the pressure release valve and anode rod should be replaced when needed.
Some brands of water heaters offer features such as anti-scale devices to reduce the buildup of mineral scale in the tank, and glass-lined tanks that help to protect against corrosion. These additional features may increase the cost of the water heater, but they are generally necessary for a high-quality and efficient water heating system.
A plumbing & HVAC expert witness is a licensed professional engineer with experience in the design, inspection and forensic analysis of various types of mechanical systems. He or she can provide expert testimony in cases involving construction defects, plumbing & HVAC systems, indoor air quality, and personal injury claims. Many states require a plumbing & HVAC expert witness to be a registered professional engineer with the appropriate engineering license.
Backflow Prevention
Backflow preventers help keep foreign materials like pesticides, chemicals and other contaminants out of your plumbing system. When backflow occurs, it can cause serious damage to your pipes that can be extremely expensive. Backflow preventers can be complex, and are best inspected by a professional backflow prevention inspector. If you’re a commercial property inspector, it’s important to understand how these devices and assemblies work in order to add them to your client’s inspection report.
All backflow devices are required to be tested yearly by EBMUD and should have a test tag attached to them with the date of last inspection. If the device has not been tagged, you will need to contact the tester directly to schedule an inspection.
To protect the quality of water supplied to consumers, backflow prevention devices are required on all auxiliary water systems such as hydrants, water meters, pools, ponds and catchment tanks. These devices are designed to prevent water from flowing backward in the supply line and introducing contaminated liquids, gases or suspended solids into potable drinking water.
A backflow prevention assembly is typically comprised of two one-way valves, or check valves, that get lined up in a series and only allow water to flow through them in one direction. The device must also be approved by the county based on its classification of hazard. It is the responsibility of the consumer to install, maintain and test their backflow prevention assembly as well as to have it inspected annually by a certified backflow inspector.