Elements of the Plumbing System

The main purpose of the plumbing system is bringing an adequate and the potable supply of cold and hot water to the people of the house, draining all the wastewater and the sewage release from fixtures to the private disposal system or the public sewer.

Therefore, it is very important that your housing inspector be totally familiar with the elements of these methods so that insufficiencies of the plumbing structures and some other code violations can be recognized.

Cold and Hot Water Main Line

The cold and hot water main lines had been normally hung from its basement ceiling or in the crawl space in the house and are being attached to the meter of the water and the hot water tank at a side and its fixture supply risers with the other. The pipes must be neatly installed and must be supported by the straps or the pipe hangers of sufficient power and number to shun from sagging. The older homes that had the copper pipe with the soldered pipes may pose the lead poisoning danger, mainly to the children. In year 1986, the Congress banned the lead solder containing more than .2% lead and limited the lead contents of pipes, faucets, and some other type of plumbing materials to not more than 8%. Its water must be tested to identify the level or the presence of the lead in water. Until particular tests may be conducted, in the morning, the water must function for 2 minutes to flush any materials from the line. Cold and hot water lines must be about 6 inches apart except when the hot water line will be insulated. This is just to be sure that your cold water line will not pick up the heat from the line of hot water.

The main supply must have the waste valve and drain valve, stop to take out the water from the method for repairs. The valves must be on its line low end or at the end of every fixture riser. This fixture risers begin in the main basement and rises vertically into the fixtures on its upper floors. In the family dwelling, the riser branches will normally proceed from the major riser to every fixture grouping. On lots of events, the fixture risers must not rely on the branch riser for support, however, it must be supported with the pipe bracket.

The mass of the basement mains and the risers relies on the quantity of fixtures supplied. But, the 3/4 inch pipe is normally the minimum size being used. This permits for deposits on its pipe because of hardness in water and will normally provide satisfactory pressure and volume. In the houses with no basements, the lines of water are preferably situated in the crawl spaces or under a slab. The lines of water are at times situated in the attic; but, because of condensation, leaks, or freezing, this placement will result in the major water damage into the house. In the 2-story or multistory houses, the water line position for the next floor is normally in between the studs, then, for the smallest distance into the fixture, in between the upper floors and the joists.