What Are the Three Types of Plumbing?
Types of Plumbing
Whether you’re dealing with a leaky faucet or a full-on plumbing disaster, it’s always helpful to have a little knowledge going into the situation. Not only will this help you to understand what’s happening, but it can also save you some money and frustration down the road.
When most people think of plumbing, they envision the pipes that carry water to and from sinks, showers, toilets, and more. However, there’s far more to this industry than meets the eye. In fact, there are three main types of plumbing: potable, sanitary, and stormwater systems. Each has its own purpose and function within the building that it’s installed in.
In most homes, there are five different types of pipes that are used in the plumbing system: copper, galvanized steel, PVC, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and cross-linked polyethylene (PEX). Of these, copper is the most common. It can stand up to extreme temperatures and comes in a variety of sizes, making it an ideal choice for residential plumbing. It’s also easy to work with, making it a favorite among plumbers and homeowners alike.
Aside from the piping that delivers fresh drinking water, your home’s plumbing also has a series of drainpipes that are used to transport wastewater away from fixtures. This is known as the drainage system and it’s important for preventing flooding, water damage, and mold growth in your home.
What Are the Three Types of Plumbing?
The drainage system is made up of pipes that run from your home to the sewer system, as well as gutters and downspouts to prevent excess water from flowing into the house. It’s crucial that this system is working properly at all times, as clogged or damaged pipes can cause major issues and even lead to flooding and water damage.
Sanitary plumbing is a vital part of any home, as it helps to keep human waste out of the public water supply. It can be a gravity system, which uses the natural slope of the ground to transport wastewater to the sewage system, or it can be a pressure system that relies on pumping action to move wastewater. There are also specialty plumbing systems that utilize air pressure to get rid of liquid waste, such as a high-pressure steam vacuum system.
Along with the pipes themselves, there are many different types of fittings that can be used to join them together. These include couplings that are used to connect two pieces of pipe together, elbows that are used to create turns in the piping, and tees that are used to branch a line off at an angle. There are also reducers that are used to transition from one size of pipe to another.
In addition to these basic parts of the plumbing system, there are other accessories that can be used, including flange fittings that have a flange that sits on the floor or wall and allows for a tighter seal than regular elbows, compression fittings that use a nut and ferrule to make a watertight connection, and fittings like a union that allow for the joining of two different types of pipes.