Are you interested to know the most common uses of plumbing? Plumbing is as essential as the air we breathe when it comes down to necessities. It’s an integral part of our home and makes our lives much easier, cleaner, simpler, and less stressful. The beauty of plumbing is the way we have water access and waste disposal. But what is plumbing exactly? Is it only for our homes? The answer is more complicated than you think. Find out more.
Plumbing Systems: How They Are Used
Although water and plumbing are often synonymous, plumbing can be used for more than water. Egyptians first developed plumbing. The Romans further refined it. The Latin word “plumbum”, which means lead in Latin, is what gives plumbing its name.
Plumbing as we know is made up of many tools. These include pipes, valves, or fixtures to transport liquids. Plumbing is not only used to regulate the water in our homes or businesses but also in heating and cooling (HVAC), wastewater removal, and potable water delivery.
Plumbing is an important part of infrastructure and sanitation in today’s advanced world. Plumbing is often associated with plumber Baulkham Hills, but they aren’t considered plumbers.
There Are Many Categories Of Plumbing
Like the many plumbing applications, there are many types and systems. There are roughly five main categories of plumbing systems. We’ll list them all below:
1. Portable Plumbing
The simplest and most commonly used way to get water in your home is through portable plumbing.
2. Plumbing Drainage Venting
Plumbing drainage venting – a.k.a. A drain-waste vent system that maintains adequate air pressure.
3. Sewage And Septic Plumbing Systems
Sewage and septic systems can be equipped with or without hot/cold water heat recycling, gray water recovery, and treating systems. These systems are responsible for releasing used water/waste into sewage/septics; recycling water, and using water that is free from fecal contamination.
4. Rainwater Plumbing Systems
Rainwater drainage, surface water drainage, and subsurface water drainage (think gutters outside of your home).
5. Hydronics
Hydronics, i.e. Heating and cooling systems that use heat to transport thermal energy. For example, district heating systems.
Evolution In Plumbing Through The Years
Like the world has evolved, plumbing technology has also changed. Water systems from the ancient world were very different from those we have today. These systems relied on gravity to provide water. They used pipes/channels originally made of clay or lead, bamboo, wood, and stone.
For plumbing pipes (especially water mains), some used hollowed timber logs with steel banding. About 500 years ago, water distribution in England was done using logs. Centuries later American cities have adapted to England’s logs. In the late 1800s, hollowed wood logs were used in the 1800s.
Today, plumbing supply pipe is almost entirely made out of plastic. Common materials include copper, steel, and plastic. Most of the waste (also called soil) is made out of copper, plastic, and cast iron.
Water systems and plumbing are always made of pipes and tubes. This is the name given to the straight section that makes up plumbing systems. Pipes are usually made by welding, and casting, and have thick walls that can be welded or threaded. Tubes, however, are made using extrusions. Their walls are usually thin. For plastic tubes, special joining is required. This includes crimping brazing or solvent welding. These joining techniques can be found in our article about plumbing fittings and piping.