Plumbing is any mechanical system which delivers liquids for various uses to its destination. It includes both domestic and commercial plumbing systems. Plumbing, unlike the common notion, is not a single stream of water that runs from a single source to another but rather it comprises several streams of water which are each suited for a specific purpose. Domestic plumbing, on the other hand, involves the movement of water from inside a building to an outside drainage system or to a public drain such as a sewer. Commercial plumbing, meanwhile, involves the movement of water from a public drain into a private drain such as a septic tank.
Residential plumbing systems consist of main sewer lines and private sewers. These two types of plumbing can be classified as public or private plumbing depending on the method of delivery of water to the individual homes. Public plumbing system involves the movement of water from a public supply through the plumbing system to individual homes and the distribution system to the drainage system. Private plumbing system, on the other hand, involves the movement of water from an individual’s indoor plumbing system directly to the water supply.
Private plumbing systems are usually set up in houses or apartments without having to go through any governmental regulatory authority. For this reason, they are mostly cheaper than the public ones and provide high quality water supplies. They are usually connected to the main water supply line, though they do not require a connection to be installed underground. The most common type of such plumbing system is the above-ground plumbing system or the sink and lavatory.
Over the years, different materials have been used to make plumbing fixtures. The most popular materials used are copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel, cast iron, copper, pewter, and nickel. These materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. While copper is highly durable and attractive, it tends to corrode with time and corrosion may lead to the complete break down of the plumbing system.
On the other hand, brass and bronze are relatively less expensive than copper, but they can rust easily. In case, the fittings and fixtures break down, you can always try to replace them with similar fixtures but they will be quite heavy. On the other hand, nickel fixtures tend to be the best option since they are corrosion and rust resistant.
The plumbing systems have helped in creating the efficient and reliable world population that we have today. The plumbing industry has created different techniques to conserve water; however, improper use of the various plumbing systems can result in the leakage of unwanted water. Unwanted water, especially if it is of dirty quality, can cause several problems including mold growth. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to use high quality fixtures that are able to reduce the amount of wastage of water. Moreover, the fixtures should be made of materials that are strong enough to carry the load of the drainage material.