Basics of Household Plumbing

plumbing blueprints

Nothing lasts forever and household plumbing is not an exception either. If you have experienced plumbing problems, which you most certainly have, you must know how frustrating it is to stand helplessly and watch the water leaking from a sink pipe or pouring out of a blocked pipe.

For many people, plumbing systems are mysteries they fail to understand and this is the reason they find them helpless whenever a plumbing issue arises in their homes.

Sounds relatable?

Do not worry; we have got you covered!

Whether you are trying to understand the household plumbing in Santa Barbara, CA or anywhere else in the world, this article is going to answer all your questions and will help you understand the basics of household plumbing every person needs to know to maintain the system and also to deal with small plumbing emergencies.

BASICS OF PLUMBING

No matter how expensive or high-quality plumbing system you have installed at your home, you cannot completely avoid problems of plumbing in Santa Barbara, CA, or literally in any part of the world. Pipes do eventually rust, corrode and decay over time. However, this does not mean that you have no option, but to accept the fact that raw sewage, leaky faucets, and flood of water in your kitchen and bathrooms are impossible to avoid.

By understanding the plumbing system of your house and by learning to deal with the small issues as and when they arise, you can prevent them from creating havoc in your house.

HOW PLUMBING WORKS?

Have you ever read about the laws of gravity and pressure?

You are most likely to have studied these laws of nature in your school. It is these basic laws that your house’s plumbing system follows.

There are mainly two systems working simultaneously in your house; one that brings in clean and freshwater and the other that takes the waste and used water out of the house. The clean water is supplied to different households at a pressure of about 50 to 60 psi whereas the wastewater is pulled down by the gravity and moves out of the house by flowing through the drain pipes.

Both these systems of your house plumbing are further divided into two sub-categories; the clean water supply is divided into the hot and cold water systems. On the other hand, the waste or used water network is comprised of pipes that take away the water and waste material and the vents that prevent sewer gas from entering your house.

The fixtures that are installed throughout the house, such as toilet, sink, bathtub, shower, various appliances, such as dishwasher and washing machines, and faucets, are where these two systems are connected. But, all the fixtures are designed in a way that they keep both the systems segregated.

A properly functioning house plumbing system requires the smooth working of all the sub-systems.

KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR PIPES

Remember the home inspection report you received when you purchased the house you are living in?

It was given for a reason; one of them is to let you know about the kinds of pipes installed in the house.

The life of pipes that together make the plumbing system of your house depends upon the type of plumbing you have. So, dig into your heap of old documents and take out that inspection report.

If you are unable to find the report or have lost it, call an experienced and reputable plumber to inspect your house’s system of the plumbing in Santa Barbara, CA.

LIFESPAN OF DIFFERENT PIPES IN THE PLUMBING SYSTEM

Drain pipes

  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
    • 25 to 40 years
  • Cast Iron
    • 80 to 100 years

Supply pipes

  • Copper
    • 70 to 80 years
  • Brass
    • 80 to 100 years
  • Galvanized Steel
    • 80 to 100 years


Supply pipes of your house are more prone to leaks and breakages because they experience constant pressure. Thus, they are more likely to be the cause of water damage in your house.

CONCLUSION

It would not be wrong to say that household plumbing in Santa Barbara, CA is a complex network that is comprised of numerous pipes, including those for supply, drain, and vent to name a few. This makes plumbing in Santa Barbara, CA one of the most complicated systems to understand and costly to install and repair. This is why, once you have a good plumbing system in place, it is worth spending some time to understand its functioning. This will help you in maintaining the smooth functioning of the system and to deal with the small plumbing issues as and when they arise.

If you do not know how to resolve a problem in the plumbing system, get in touch with an expert plumber as soon as possible. Those looking for a reliable and experienced plumber to know about plumbing in Santa Barbara, CA houses and to deal with any emergencies, can simply call at (805) 323-9337 to get in touch with the most professional, experienced and the punctual plumber in town.