Plumbing Basics You Should Know In 2022 (Do It Yourself Tips)

A trillion gallons of water are wasted in the United States every year due to plumbing leaks. That’s equivalent to 40 million swimming pools. The majority of these leaks don’t even require the attention of a professional. 

Ferrari Plumbing is here to help you save water and money by showing you how these tasks can be done yourself. To find out if our plumbing services suit your goals, you can check out our service and also read about what our customers review and what they say about us and our customer services.

Some of the most persistent leak problems can be fixed with a wrench and a few plumbing basics . Repairing leaks on your own is more economical, but you also need to know when to call a plumber. 

Residential plumbing systems are important to know about. Plumbing is the system that brings clean water into your house and takes away dirty or wastes water after it has been used. 

Throughout this article, we’ll dissect pipes down to their most basic components. You’ll discover when to DIY and when to call a plumber, as well as how to tell the difference between the two.

We live in an era where technology is evolving at a rapid pace. Innovations are constantly being created, and even the most basic tasks of our lives have been turned into apps. 

This can be a great thing for some people, but what about those who still need to use their hands? For these individuals, skills like plumbing or carpentry may not be a viable option. Fortunately for them, there are plenty of other options that require less physical labor.

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For more information on our plumbing services, contact us today at (630) 260-5898.

A few things, such as knowing where your main shut-off valve is located and turning it off when a leak happens could prevent massive damage from happening in the future. Next time you have an issue with a faucet or a pipe, try looking yourself up on how to fix it before you call a plumber.

You can learn basic plumbing skills at home by using instructional videos or books from the library for free! You can also ask your local Ferrari Plumbing professional about what we recommend and where you could find us in case of an emergency.

There are a few basics of plumbing that every homeowner should know, such as how to turn the water off in case of an emergency and where your main shut-off valve is located. Knowing these things can help you save time, money, and stress in the future. Ferrari Plumbing can help you with all of your plumbing needs, big or small.

Pipes are made of different materials. The type of material used will determine the lifespan and price of a pipe. Copper, Iron, PVC, and Galvanized Steel Pipes are some of the most common types of piping materials.

Each material has its benefits and drawbacks that should be considered when selecting a pipe for your home.

There are many different types of plumbing fittings. Some of the most common ones include:

Each type of fitting serves a specific purpose in plumbing systems. It is important to know and understand the different types of plumbing fittings so you can select the one that is needed for any particular job.

The home plumbing system is pretty straightforward. It may seem overwhelming at first glance to look at the interwoven mesh of pipes and valves but bear with me. If you understand a few general plumbing basics , you will be able to navigate the mesh with ease.

A water supply system consists of pipes that bring fresh water into a house. Water pressure plays a crucial role in this system. These pipes are filled with water from two sources: City water and Wells.

City Water Main Pipes

There is a huge pipe that runs parallel to your street that carries water from the city to your house. When you have a problem with your main connection, you should contact a professional. It is possible to file a lawsuit and pay hefty fines for damage to the main.

Fresh Water From Wells

In areas without city water, most people get their fresh water supply from wells. High pressure must be used to pump water into homes. Water is prevented from reaching the highest and farthest parts of your house due to reduced pressure.

Low pressure affects running faucets and showers the most. From leaks to blockages, the cause of low pressure can vary. Leaks caused by loose connections can be easily repaired in-house.

You should consult a professional plumber if, on the other hand, the leak requires repiping. The following are more plumbing problems you should leave to a professional plumber.

The main water pipe is attached to your water meter. Usually, the shutoff valve is located before or after the meter. When performing repairs, the valve shuts off the water supply system.

The piping must be correctly installed to prevent leaks. Unfortunately, the system degrades over time. It may be necessary for a plumber to completely overhaul the plumbing system in some cases.

High pressure is the best way to supply water to your home. This makes the system highly sensitive to damage. As an example, a leak in the drainage system will only lead to damp-related issues. The damage caused by leaks in the water supply system goes a step further: they disrupt water pressure. Showers and flushing toilets become difficult as a result of low water pressure.

A leak in the water supply is the most dangerous. It’s best to have professionals handle the problems of this complex system due to its sensitivity.

There is a good reason why the plumbing systems in a home do not overlap. Despite this, the two systems are interconnected in many ways in the home. Fixtures are the bridges between the two systems.

As for you, you are familiar with their household names, they are Sinks, faucets, washing machines, and so forth.

Any point where water is used is considered a fixture. A fixture receives clean water, while a fixture discharges wastewater. To remove wastewater from the house, gravity is heavily relied upon.

Gravity is used to move water from fixtures into sewers through these downward-angled pipes. Based on what you observe, this system is more complex than the water supply system. Relying on gravity has many disadvantages.

A drain pipe must be engineered and positioned in a manner that allows gravity to work to its advantage. As an example, consider the angle at which the pipe is installed. Pipes installed in water supply systems are also bigger.

The drain trap, also called the P trap, is a U-shaped pipe that prevents wastewater from backing up into the plumbing system. Thanks to their curvy shape, these pipes hold water consistently as well.

There are many different types of drain pipes, but the three most common are: PVC (polyvinyl chloride), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and Cast Iron . 

DWV connects your house with your sewer line. Drain traps prevent sewer gases from entering your home, which could turn your home into a stink-fest. They also allow grease, hair, and other particles to collect in the drain.

Clean-out plugs are used to remove the debris. If the traps were not in place, the debris would move down the pipe causing clogging.

Turning an upside-down bottle of water creates a chaotic flow of water. That’s what happens when water flows through a closed system; it’s just not smooth. That’s where drain vents come in.

The drain vent system runs from your roof and into your drain pipe. This allows air to enter the plumbing to help it drain smoothly.

DWV efficiency will be affected if any of these three systems are damaged. The use of substandard products will also affect drainage efficiency. You should only purchase quality products to ensure drainage efficiency.

Water systems with DWVs suffer from clogging the most . Clogs in the bathroom are caused by hair, but in the kitchen, they are caused by grease. Fill plugs with clean water frequently to prevent clogging.

Keep an eye out for leaks as well . The best part of DWVs is their hidden piping. Symptoms of leaks include mold infestations, damp ceilings, and musty rooms.

There is also structural damage as a result of leaks . Calling a professional plumber to examine your piping system for leaks isn’t a bad idea. It doesn’t matter that you don’t see it: 10% of US homes lose 90 gallons of water each day due to leaks.

There are two main areas of plumbing in the home:

Plumbing in the kitchen is mostly hidden inside the walls. Hot and cold water is supplied from the water supply system. It is best to leave plumbing in the walls to the plumbers.

There is a heavy reliance on the pressure in bathroom fixtures. There are also separate hot and cold piping systems. You should call a plumber if the pressure ever drops to a dangerous level.

To lower pressure that much, there must be a significant leak. DIY approaches aren’t recommended in such a situation. You’ll only make things worse.

Houses are made or broken by their plumbing. A house’s value increases when its plumbing is in good shape. A house’s maintenance schedule should include professional plumbing services.

Keeping the house free of allergenic mold is another benefit of good plumbing. It is common for people to find out about their mold problem only when they are trying to sell their home. That’s sad considering how dangerous these molds are. You should prioritize your plumbing.

You have learned essential plumbing basics from this article. Hopefully, you now understand the importance of good plumbing in your home. Let a professional plumber handle the maintenance if you aren’t comfortable with any of the tips. 

Even a simple task like unclogging a toilet can cause plumbing mayhem if done incorrectly. Be sure to verify your plumber’s credentials before entrusting them with your plumbing.

You can contact us today here at (630) 260-5898.