| Know Your Drains, Taps & Vents | | | | can cause problems with the home's drainage |
| Whenever water comes into a home, it has to | | | | system. |
| have a way to leave after it's been used. This is | | | | The most important component of a drain, which |
| where the importance of drains and proper | | | | most people take for granted, is the trap. They're |
| drainage comes into play. Most homes utilize the | | | | called traps because they do just that: trap water |
| same basic principles for plumbing and drain | | | | inside, preventing sewer gases from coming back |
| systems: A main water line usually comes in | | | | into the house. |
| around the home's foundation; from this point, it | | | | Several connections are needed when connecting |
| runs over to a water heater. The water heater | | | | a trap. First is the nut, which connects two pieces |
| generates hot water for the entire house. From | | | | together with a threaded fitting. A ferrule forms |
| the water heater, hot and cold water lines run | | | | the seal; the nut simply screws down over the |
| throughout the house, supplying each of the | | | | ferrule to form a water tight seal. |
| fixtures with water. | | | | Vents are a major component in a home's |
| Most people don't realize how a home drainage | | | | drainage system. Venting allows water to pass |
| system works; they assume that when they | | | | out of the drains easily. Today, houses are |
| release water from the sink or flush a toilet, the | | | | vented through the roof. Roof flashing, made |
| water just goes away. Although this is partially | | | | from heavy grade rubber, lead or sheet metal |
| true, a little more is involved in the process of | | | | holds the vent pipe in place. |
| removing waste water from the home. Each | | | | Another thing to consider is pitch. Pitch simply |
| fixture has its own drain line; each of the drain | | | | means the angle in which water will flow easily |
| lines ties into a larger main line, which takes the | | | | and gradually with the help of gravity. Every |
| water out of the house. | | | | drainpipe, whether underground or in a wall, must |
| People who live in urban and suburban areas and | | | | have some type of pitch and be sloped properly |
| get their water from a municipality usually have | | | | to allow wastewater leaving the home to drain |
| their waste water drain into a sewer system. | | | | out. To ensure water will drain properly and won't |
| Septic tanks generally need to be pumped out | | | | back up in the line, a good rule of thumb to follow |
| every 10 years or so to prevent backup, which | | | | when installing pipe is a drop of 1/4 inch per foot. |