If you’re looking for a Calgary plumber, whether it’s to fix a plumbing issue or to install an upgrade, it will help to enter the situation equipped with some basic plumbing knowledge. This way, when your plumber asks you questions or explains something to you, you’ll be able to follow what he or she is saying with no difficulty.
After all, while plumbing is a mystery to many people, there’s really not much to it. It relies mostly upon the basic laws of physics, using gravity and water pressure to bring water in, move water out, and keep things running smoothly.
So, before you have that Calgary plumber come to your home, understand these basic facts about how plumbing works.
1. Two systems: Plumbing is a two-sided system, with each side working independently of the other, and with the fixtures (tubs, sinks, toilets) acting as meeting points between the two sides. There’s the side that brings the water in, and there’s the side that brings the water out. Why is this important to know? It’s simple: When you’re working with an element of your home plumbing, whether it’s a pipe or a valve, it’s essential to understand which side of the system it’s in.
Plus, as any Calgary plumber will tell you, the incoming system is more dangerous to work with. Outgoing water is dirty, but clearing these pipes is easy—just don’t use any water. Meanwhile, the incoming water supply is unlimited and must be completely shut off before you can do any plumbing work. Otherwise, a burst pipe can very quickly lead to flooding.
2. Hot water vs. cold water: When water comes into your home, it automatically enters the cold water system. For your hot water needs, a separate pipe carries this cold water into the water heater, which warms the water to temperatures as high as 60-70 degrees Celsius. Heating water requires electricity, so the more hot water you use, the higher your electric bill will be. If you have high bills, you might want to talk to your Calgary plumber about ways to reduce hot water usage.
3. Pressure and gravity Your local water supplier pushes water out into the system with a huge amount of force. The water pressure from your taps and showerheads has nothing to do with anything inside of your home; rather, it comes from the force of the water entering from the outside.
Meanwhile, outgoing water relies upon gravity. Basically, the overall trajectory of the outgoing system is set on a downward pitch, so that each step of the process is lower than the preceding step.
And if you’re wondering about that S-shaped pipe that sits underneath most sinks, the explanation is simple: While the gravity of the water draining from the sink is sufficient to push the water through, some water gets caught in the lower portion of the curve. This is a good thing, as it blocks sewer gas from coming back up through your outgoing plumbing system. Without this, the sink would always smell like sewage.
