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-Plumbing-
Unlike the relatively standard electrical system in your home, the materials used in plumbing are far more varied. Although copper pipe and PVC are the most common found today, there have been many types of materials used in plumbing over the years.
Metal
Modern water lines (copper and plastics) have replaced the galvanized iron pipe of the past, although many older homes still have galvanized iron pipe today. The biggest downfall to this material is that it corrodes from the inside out. That means you have no warning before a potentially catastrophic failure occurs. The pipe will slowly start to clog from all the buildup, but since it's inside, you can't see it.
Here is what galvanized iron pipe looks like when the buildup of corrosion starts.
Copper - Copper pipes are available in three wall thickness. K - thick, L - medium, M - thin. All three types have the exact same exterior diameter. They are used in hot and cold water lines.
Black Iron - This material is normally used for the plumbing of natural gas lines throughout the house. Copper should NEVER be used to carry natural gas. A chemical reaction can occur between the copper and gas that will cause corrosion.
Plastic
Plastic water lines, typically known as PVC, have many advantages. There are two different kinds of PVC pipe.
1. PVC
2. CPVC
PVC -is standard (polyvinyl chloride). It is usually white in color and is available in many different sizes. However, it is a "soft" material and cannot be used in heated or hot water applications. For those situations, you must use CPVC.
CPVC - is chlorinated PVC. It is usually cream or almond in color and can be used for hot and cold water pipes.
ABS - Is a plastic pipe, normally black in color. ABS is used for drains, waste and vent piping. Here you see an ABS "P Trap."
PEX - Pex is one of the newer items to hit the market. Pex is a flexible tubing that can be routed through walls and around corners without the use of fittings. This is a big advantage to home owners. With fewer joints, there are fewer chances for leaks. Pex comes in rolls as long as 1000 ft. Plumbers use special fittings and a crimp tool to attach those fittings. Pex is normally RED color for hot water lines, and BLUE for cold.
Here we have the RED colored pex tubing, normally for hot water lines.
Here we have the BLUE colored pex tubing, normally for cold water lines.
Water Heaters
The water heater is an appliance that is worth its' weight in gold. There are three main types of hot water heaters: electric, gas, and tankless (on demand). We'll go through the basics of the main three types so that you'll have a better understanding of how they work.
Electric water heaters use electricity to power two heating elements inside the tank. These elements are controlled by their own thermostats. This is where you adjust the temperature of the hot water in your home. The cold water comes in the tank from the water supply into the dip tube. This tube runs from the top to the bottom of the tank. The purpose of the dip tube is to carry the cold water past the stored hot water. The fresh cold water enters the tank in the bottom, where it is rapidly heated.
Both electric and gas water heaters have what is called a sacrificial anode tube. The anode tube is made from magnesium, which attracts minerals in the water, protecting the tank from electrolysis damage. These minerals will destroy the anode tube over time. When this happens, it's pretty much time for a new hot water heater.
Both electric and gas water heaters also have a T&P valve (Temperature and Pressure). This safety valve is in place in case the tank were to overheat the water. If this happens, causing too much pressure, the valve will open and drain the water outside your home. We recommend testing your T&P valve several times per year. Without it functioning properly, your hot water heater has the ability to blast off like a rocket through your home.
Gas fired water heaters share most of the same components as electric; the one major difference being the energy used to heat the water. Gas varieties use a single open flame burner to heat the water. Gas hot water heaters do have the anode tube, and T&P valve. They also require the heater to be vented. There are strict rules about venting which, if not followed, can cause carbon monoxide to spill into your home. Carbon monoxide kills many people every year, and we recommend the use of carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. If you have a gas water heater in your home and need to replace it, call a professional. This is no time to hone your skills as a handyman (or handywoman).
Tankless (On Demand) water heaters are the newest form of water heaters. They do not use a tank to store hot water, but heat the water very quickly as it passes through the unit on its way to the faucet. This is a big advantage in energy conservation, since no energy is wasted on keeping the water hot in a tank while waiting for someone to use it. You can get these style heaters in both electric and gas varieties.
Here is a gas, tankless water heater. The electric counterpart works in a very similar way without the burner and heat exchanger. Electric tankless heaters simply use a heating element to heat the water.
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