Plumbing Science for Non-plumbers

Water always seeks its own level. That is the physical law in which plumbing is based. If you are a homeowner with zero plumbing awareness, this is one fact that, at the very least, you should be aware of. Take this to heart, because this water principle, coupled with the natural law of gravity and pressure, will make or break your home, bank account, and state of mind, depending on your actions or lack of it.

Plumbing systems work in two ways; one is to take water in, and the other is to take water out. In summary, it's clean water in, dirty water out. If that simple order or sequence gets mixed up, it's time to call a plumber to fix a monumental plumbing disaster.

How does clean water come into your home? That is explained by the natural law of pressure. Pressure allows clean water to pass through pipes, travel upwards to one or several floors, move left or right into this room or that, wherever it's needed. Those ubiquitous water valves control the way these pressurized water move in and around your home. Cold water flows from the primary pipes following the process described above. But if you need hot water, the cold water is first redirected to an installed water heater in your home that warms it up. The heated water then travels along the hot water line that again brings the water to all outlets in the home that requires hot water, like the dishwater, the bath tub or the shower.

If water intake is a simple science, so is water and waste outtake. But often, plumbing problems caused by waste outtake result to more costly repairs than the intake. You could try to fix it on your own, but it'll require dedication and determination. Overall, it's probably worth your while to seek the help of a certified master plumber.

Dirty waste water, after all, leaves your house following the law of gravity. Waste flows down to the sewer or septic tank in a gentle and easy manner. Behind this simple rule is the multitude of vents and traps to keep the process of waste removal possible. Vents cause air to fill drain pipes, which in turn creates pressure that causes dirty water to flow out. The S-shaped portions of the pipes underneath the sink drain are traps. Traps perform a crucial role in forcing most of the water through the drainpipe, but leaving some to seal the area and prevent sewer gas from backing up.

Plumbing, as you see, is a science. Ignore the science behind it and your home will either be flooded, or you will encounter water damage of varied proportions. For any severe or major plumbing problems, the repair should be left to experience plumbers. Some areas have particular local plumbing codes that need to be checked on whether or not a homeowner is allowed to self-repair plumbing problems.

Over time, understanding the science behind plumbing can save you money and help to better know your own home.