Plumbing systems are vital in keeping your home or business sanitary and comfortable. There are two systems involved in creating these necessary conveniences – the water supply and drainage systems.
Without quality plumbing, your property may be in danger of wood rot, mold growth, and other forms of damage, possibly leading to the need for repiping in Orange, CA. Beyond that, poor plumbing can also lead to major health hazards, including dangerous bacteria and parasites that spread through contact with contaminated water.
As the repipe specialist trusted by residential and commercial clients, A-1 Total Service Plumbing offers a quick look at plumbing basics.
Gravity & Pressure Do the Work
Gravity helps to force water downward through pipes, while pressure helps to push it upward when needed. In simpler terms, gravity is used for drainage, while pressure is used for water supply. By manipulating these two variables, plumbers can create a functioning system that moves water where it needs to go.
When you flush water down a drain, it goes into slightly pitched or sloped pipes. This allows gravity to naturally move wastewater to a sewer or septic system. When there is not enough pitch to a plumbing pipe, meaning the angle and slope are incorrect, water and waste cannot flow freely and are instead trapped, leading to water backups. Too steep slopes can also cause issues, as water moves too quickly and can leave debris behind.
Fixtures work based on the pressure that pushes air and water through them. When the pressure in a water line is greater than in your home or business, water flows through your fixtures when you turn on your tap.
An imbalance in pressure can cause too much air and water to push through your fixtures, potentially leading to damage and the need for plumbing repair using either copper repiping or PEX repiping. However, if there is not enough pressure, you get a weak stream or no water.
How Do Clogs Form?
Clogs are the enemy of your plumbing system. A clog can form slowly over many months or even years. Everything from toilet paper to grease, hair, soap scum, and other materials can build up on the insides of your drains and pipes and can eventually lead to a need to repipe the system.
Even if you’ve had copper repiping done in the past, immense pressure applied to the insides of your pipes as clogs form can lead to deformities. This is why it’s essential to inspect your pipes regularly and perform preventative maintenance to clear out potential blockages before they cause too much damage.
A-1 Total Service Plumbing offers reliable whole-house repiping services, and we can help you better understand how to maintain your plumbing system. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
