| ing is the skilled trade of working with pipes and | | | | enlarge pipe size, or connect to some type of fixture. |
| tubing for fluids such as water, sewage, steam and | | | | Pipes are made from several different metals and |
| natural gas. Plumbing originated during the ancient | | | | plastics. You often can identify a pipe's purpose by its |
| civilizations such as Persian, Chinese, Indian and | | | | size and makeup: indoor water supply pipes generally |
| Roman civilizations as they developed public baths | | | | are copper or galvanized iron pipe. |
| and needed to provide fresh water and drainage. The | | | | The plumbing system in your home is designed to |
| piping used to convey the water and waste was | | | | direct fresh water and wastewater to where you |
| often made of lead. Because lead is very toxic, | | | | want it to go, without incident. You want |
| nearly all modern manufactured plumbing products | | | | wastewater to leave your home down a drain |
| and materials are lead free. | | | | instead of overflow into your home and you want |
| A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping | | | | fresh water to come out of a spout rather than |
| systems, plumbing fixtures and equipment such as | | | | leaking somewhere within the walls. The plumbing |
| water heaters and boilers. | | | | trade has adopted a number of basic strategies and |
| A plumbing fixture is a device which is part of a | | | | conventions to keep water controlled and go where |
| system to deliver and drain away water, but which is | | | | we want it. It is a good idea to understand how your |
| also configured to enable a particular use. | | | | plumbing system works before tackling any plumbing |
| Your house has several separate plumbing systems: | | | | project. |
| Sinks, toilets, washers, bath tubs, and related | | | | If your plumbing fixtures drain slowly, the problem |
| fixtures. Plumbing is something we use every day and | | | | may be a clogged vent. This happens when vents |
| which most of us know little about. Shopping for | | | | are improperly located and when birds or animals |
| your own plumbing fixtures rather than getting them | | | | deposit debris in the vent where it exits the roof. |
| through your plumber allows you choose from a | | | | Whatever your intended plumbing projects, the first |
| wider selection and save money. | | | | step is to familiarize yourself with the water system |
| Plumbing systems are composed of pipes and fittings. | | | | in your home. At the very least it is important to |
| Metal or plastic pipes are joined by a variety of | | | | know where to switch off the mains in case of an |
| fittings designed to couple lengths in a straight line, | | | | emergency. |
| turn corners, branch in two directions, reduce or | | | | |