PLUMBING SYSTEM – HOW DOES IT WORK
Typically, it consists of three basic parts: a water supply system, fixtures (sinks, bathtubs, showers, toilets) and appliances (water heaters, dishwashers, etc.), as well as a drain-waste-vent system.
Fresh water, provided by either a municipal water company or a private underground well, enters a home through a main supply line. This, in turn, branches off and heads into a water heater, from which hot and cold water is carried throughout a house, and may be controlled with faucets and valves.
Next, waste water enters the drain system and must flow past a trap, the aim of which is to prevent sewer gases from infiltrating your living space. Because the system works entirely by gravity, waste water may flow downhill through a series of drain pipes in order to reach a sewer line, and finally be carried out of the house to a city sewer system or a home septic tank.
MATERIALS
In some older homes, the most common ones are lead, copper or cast iron. Currently, the supply and drain pipes are usually made of plastic (PVC). In fact, the plumbing system can be made of various materials. Yet, you have to ensure that it is watertight and corrosion-proof.
PROPER PLUMBING SYSTEM
Without any doubts, it is hard to
imagine a family house without access to running water or the system that can remove our household waste water safely and efficiently. Thus, for your plumbing system to work well, always remember about some basic issues:
– All the pipes should be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
– Drain pipes must be connected to vent pipes;
– Every fixture drain should have a trap;
– Horizontal drain lines must be properly sloped to ensure that waste water is carried away;
– You should check pipes and faucets for any leaks.
Magdalena Marcinkowska
GLOSSARY:
plumbing system – instalacja kanalizacyjna
tenement – kamienica
to adhere to sth – być zgodnym z czymś
water supply system – instalacja wodociągowa
fixture – armatura
appliance – urządzenie
water heater – terma
drain-waste-vent system (also: drainage system, drain system) – kanalizacja sanitarna
municipal water company – wodociąg miejski
well – studnia
faucet – kurek
valve – zawór
waste water – ścieki, woda odpływowa
trap – syfon kanalizacyjny
sewer gas – gaz kanałowy
to infiltrate – tu: przenikać
to work by gravity – działać na zasadzie grawitacji
drain pipe – rura ściekowa
sewer line – kolektor kanalizacyjny
city sewer system – miejski system kanalizacyjny
(home) septic tank – przydomowa oczyszczalnia ścieków
lead – ołów
copper – miedź
cast iron – żeliwo
watertight –szczelny
vent pipe – rura odpowietrzająca
horizontal drain lines – poziomy kanalizacyjne
slope – spadek
leak – pęknięcie, szczelina
