Basic Plumbing 101 Hawaii Maui

In order to understand how plumbing works, three main components of basic plumbing systems must be understood. The first part includes pipes and pressurized water supply attached to fixtures, which are the second part. These fixtures are things like sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and others. Fixtures allow us to utilize the plumbing system by taking water from part one, using it, and dumping it through part three, which is the drainage. The drainage carries waste water away from your house.

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Much like with a computer system (a sound card, for example), plumbing has input and output pieces. The input is your water coming in. Cold water is pumped under enough pressure to travel to your floor, and in through a faucet. Warm water, on the other hand, first has to go through a water heater. The optimal heating temperature that's been proven to be cost-effective and warm enough for most appliances like dishwashers is 120 degrees Fahrenheit (certain fixtures like laundry machines, for example, might require temperatures around 150 degrees for optimal performance). If you're planning the piping in a building that's located in an area where you know your water supplier will provide "hard" water - which is water that can leave mineral buildup on the piping - you might want to stick with non-corrosive materials. Copper and galvanized steal, as well as brass or wrought iron are good examples. Pipes with smaller diameters are prone to affecting the performance of your fixtures the most.

Your fixtures, as the name suggests, are fixed outlets that let you use water flowing into your house from the pipes. Fancy examples include pools, Jacuzzis, saunas, and more. Smooth surfaces and secure piping connections are major necessities of fixtures; rough surfaces can be home to bacteria and bad smells, while loose piping will inevitably leak and flood your floor(s) if the problem isn't addressed on time.

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Your drainage system not only takes waste water away, but it also includes a venting system within those drain pipes. The air circulation is in place to remove dangerous gases and replace them with plain air that's less combustible. You probably know that a drain pipe is in the shape of a letter N, with water sealing off the fixture from the nasty contents of the waste below. That's why a broken sink can stink up your bathroom very quickly; the water in the bottom part of the N-shaped drain pipe acts like a seal from the stench of the breaking-down waste, because even the venting system can't take care of all the smell. This is called the "Trap." The vents also help the water to pour out and away from the house more quickly.

As a house owner, you need to know where your shutoff valves are in case of an emergency like a toilet overflow or something like that. Fixtures tend to have smaller, pre-installed shutoff valves as well, which stop the flow of the pressurized water supply. Shopping around for a water provider can be beneficial to your plumbing because hard water and improper piping materials can screw up your entire plumbing system with calcium buildup and other deposits. You may have seen those on your bathtub or in the toilet, where there's a rust-brown ring around the edge of the fixture. This is not only unpleasant to the eye, but also damaging to your plumbing. Speak with a representative of your water supplier to see what can be done to address this issue if it exists.

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A Primer on Plumbing Pipes Hawaii Maui

Some time in the past 30 or 40 years, I remember an initiative to get truth in advertising. I don't know how successful it was, but one industry that apparently wasn't affected by it is the plumbing industry. I can't think of any other industry that has as many definitions for what a 1/2" or any other size pipes are.

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One would think that 1/2" copper tubing would be the same, no matter what, but the sad truth is that 1/2" rigid copper pipe has a different outer diameter ( OD), then 1/2" flexible copper pipe. Fittings for one will not work on the other. If you want to use both you would have to purchase an adapter. The same thing can be said for plastic pipe, a piece of 1" black ABS pipe is not the same size as 1" white PVC plastic pipe. Again to use both, a home owner would need a buy an adapter.

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To help eliminate some of the confusion, here is a primer on plumbing fittings and connections.

Rigid Copper Pipe:

Used mostly for hot and cold water lines within the house. The best tool to cut rigid copper tubing is a pipe cutter. The pipe is placed in the cutter, and the knob is turned down, which brings the pipe into contact with the cutter wheel. As the cutter is rotated around the pipe, you continue to tighten the wheel, until you have cut through the entire pipe.

There are two ways to connect copper pipes together. The first is to solder or sweat the pipes together. The second is the use of compression fittings. Soldered fittings are much less expensive then the compression, but take a little more work to make a leak free joint.

When you sweat copper pipes, the first thing is to clean the ends that you are going to sweat together. then flux is applied to both the pipe and the fitting you are connecting to it. The pieces are placed together, and heat is applied to the union with a propane torch. When the union is heated enough, solder is applied to the joint, the solder is sucked into the joint, sealing the two pieces together. From experience, I can tell you take to make this work successfully, there must be absolutely NO WATER in the line, if there is the joint will leak. And once a joint leaks , there is no repairs without replacing the fitting and starting over. Professional plumbers tend to use a hotter source of heat, then the propane bottle can provide. But I'm always concerned about using any heat source inside my house. If you choose this method, be very careful with the torch in tight spaces. It might be a good idea to have a fire extinguisher handy.

Compression fittings do not require heat. A common place that compression fittings are used is at the water shut off valves beneath your sink, or toilet. But there are many other places that you can use them. To make up a fitting using a compression fitting, start by cutting the inlet pipe to length, using a pipe cutter. Place the compression nut and compression ring over the end of the pipe, as shown above, then insert the pipe into the compression seat. Then using two wrenches, one to hold the fitting and the other for the compression nut, tighten the compression nut completely. This forces the compression ring unto the pipe, creating a water tight seal.

Compression fittings are not fool proof. If the pipe is not seated all the way onto the seat, the joint will leak, thus it is imperative that the end of the pipe be cut flat. Compression fitting are designed as a one use only device, if it leaks cut out the offending piece and start over again. Also the pipe must be completely cleaned before you start, any dirt or corrosion on the pipe will create leaks. Tightening the compression nut in confined spaces may require to use of special tools like crows feet wrenches.

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Flexible Copper Pipe:

This is used mainly to connect natural or propane gas to your house. It is normally connected to the appropriate devices with the use of compression fitting designed for the flexible pipes. Flexible copper pipe is suitable for being installed under ground. Flexible copper pipe may look like a great choice for indoors plumbing runs, but it is not recommended for that use. Also the limited amount of fittings available make this a less then perfect choice. Flexible copper fitting are NOT interchangeable with fittings for rigid copper pipe.

Some professional plumbers are currently installing flexible water pipes, but these require special tools and fittings, that are not available to the DIY'r. Not all municipalities allow for the use of flexible pipes for water delivery with in the home.

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Rigid Pipe:

This pipe comes in either black iron or galvanized pipe. Black iron pipe is normally used to run natural gas inside the home, while galvanized is used mainly for water lines. The ends of these pipes are threaded, as are the connecting pieces. You simply screw the pieces together, after applying either plumber's tape or pipe dope.

Plumber's tape is made of Teflon, and is white in color. You should apply it to the male end of the pipe, by running the tape around the pipe several times. Install the tape in the opposite direction, then the male end of the pipe will thread into the female union. Before you thread the two pieces together, be sure to clean out any remaining Teflon tape on the inside of the female threads if you are re using the fitting. There is a Pink Teflon tape, that used solely for making up connection is natural gas lines. Pipe dope, is actually a thick paste that is applied to the threads using a brush. If you are reusing a fitting that has had pipe dope applied before, you must clean both the male and female threads, using a wire brush and a pick, much like the ones that the dentist uses to clean our teeth.

To connect two pieces of pipe together or to install an adapter or fitting, use two pipe wrenches. The first wrench is used to hold the pipe, while the second one is used to turn the fitting or adapter. While you may not use a pipe wrench all that often, this is not the place to go for the bargain priced tool. Sometimes it takes considerable energy to loosen a threaded joint that has been in place for several years. The cheaper wrenches tend to slip, which can cause injury to you or cause damage to you home.

Recently galvanized pipes have gotten some bad press, when used for water delivery. Apparently the insides of the pipes are releasing chemicals into the drinking water, so it is advised that you stick to either copper or the newer flexible pipes for water delivery.

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Plastic or PVC/ABS Pipes:

PVC ( Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe is a white plastic pipe that is used to supply both hot and cold water to the interiors of many homes. This product is very flexible and easy to use. There are two ways to cut PVC pipe, either use a hand saw or miter saw to cut large diameter pieces. Smaller diameter pieces can be cut using hand held PVC cutters. To connect PVC pieces, you first cut the pipe to length, then using a cleaning solution designed for the pipe, clean both the ends of the pipe and the connecting piece. A special glue is then applied to both pieces, and the pieces are pushed together. The glue sets, within a minute, so it is vitally important that the pieces be aligned properly when pushed together. There is a very limited amount of time that you can maneuver the pieces. It is a very good idea to use a scribe line to indicate to proper orientation of two mating pieces.

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ABS (Arcylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a black plastic pipe that is used for drain, waste and vent (DWV) plumbing in today's homes. This product replaced the cast iron pipes found in many older homes. ABS is worked in much the same manner as the PVC pipe. It can be cut with hand saw or powered miter saw. It uses a cleaner and glue similar to the PVC pipes, only this is designed for the ABS pipes.

When you are gluing either of these products, it is recommended that you use a pair of disposable gloves to protect you hand, unless you like picking dried glue off your hands for several days. Also it is recommended that you work in a well ventilated area.

Generally, you will not see both white and black plastic pipes connected together. One exception to this is maybe found under the sink. A lot of manufacturers are making "P" traps, shown here in black ABS, for the sink drains out of white plastic.

Because of its flexibility you may find homes in earth quake areas plumbed with PVC rather then the conventional rigid copper pipes. There was a lot of bad press in the 90's about PVC pipes breaking within the walls of homes, this was traced to specific manufacturers, and shouldn't be seen as a condemnation of the product.

The PVC and ABS pipes are not sized the same. a 1 " PVC will not connect to a black 1" ABS fitting. This may have been done to keep us from inadvertently using the wrong pipe for the wrong application, but it sure is confusing. I mean a 1" pipe should be a 1" pipe.

I hope this helped clear up some of the confusion about the many options offered to us by the plumbing manufacturers. A word of advice learned the hard way, check to be sure that all your fittings do actually connect before you leave the store or you may find yourself making return trips to your DIY store as I've done many times.

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Plumbing Services Maui Hawaii

Every house has a plumbing now. Small problems like clogged sinks, tubs toilets, etc can be dealt by the person himself, by buying the proper tool and using it according to the instruction manual, however, these are just small problems, if there comes to be a large problems, likes tree roots, blocked drainage pipes, taps, water heaters, and rusted water pipes, then an individual can't do the job himself, he has to call a professional plumbing service to solve the problem.

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Firstly, the reason due to which the plumbers have to be called is tree root problem. This problem, is caused because the drainage pipes that are laid down are in the reach of these roots, sensing water movement in these pipes the roots starts probing these pipes and growing thicker around them and over time, if these roots become enough thick then they can break through the drainage pipe walls to get water, thus causing blockage of the flow of the water, or leaking of the water in the area, so the professional are called who analyze the problem and takes steps accordingly to solve the problem. Secondly, blocked drain is quite a big problem. These drain pipes can get blocked due to several reasons, like pile up of hair in the bath and sink plugholes or fat and grease is poured down the sink, causing the fat to get encrusted on the sides. This reduces the flow of the water and water borne wastes, thus clogging the drain pipes. Moreover, sometimes people carelessly, flush away things that are not supposed to be flushed away, like plastic wrappers, soaps, baby diapers etc these things tend to block the pipes and stop the flow of waste through them. This phenomenon is much more common than one thinks. So solve this problem professionals are called as they have the specific tools to clear away the clogs.

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Thirdly, leaking taps is a major problem. With the passage of times, the washers and Teflon tape inside the taps gets worn out and as a result water starts to seep out. If this problem isn't taken care of then quite a large amount of water is lost from the leak, as with the passage of time, the leak will worsen. This constant leakage may also damage the toilet as it may step in to the walls or floor of the toilet causing major problem. Fourthly; there is a case of leaking toilet tanks, due to some problem or damage inflicted on the tank, the water starts to leak from them and it can result in huge loss of water. Fifthly; rusted and old water pipes is also one of the reason to call a professional. Over time the pipes get rusted or corrode away, as a result the water start leaking away, so either to repair the pipe, or to replace it, professional help is needed, otherwise it cannot be done individually.

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These are some of the reasons mentioned because of which we need the plumbing service. There are a number of other reasons to out there, because of which one might need a professional's help, so it is necessary to have plumbing services to solve these problems and keep the plumbing condition perfect, as not every problem can be dealt with individually.

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Eco Friendly Plumbing - How to Go Green With Your Plumbing Maui Hawaii

Our daily activities in the home result in the consumption of large quantities of water. However, it is possible to significantly reduce home fresh water consumption to environmentally friendly levels and still save money by simply making simple modifications to your plumbing system.

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Gray Water System

By installing a gray water system, you will benefit from having in place a safer and easier means of collecting and filtering water used in dishwashers, faucets and washing machines. The water may then be reused for other purposes other than drinking such as watering your garden. A gray water system is also ideal for keeping your soil well irrigated through the diversion of water to your garden instead of the local sewage system. With this system in place, you will be able to significantly cut down on fresh water consumption in your home.

Water Filtration System

By installing a water filtration system, you may have enough water to fill more than 3,000 disposable plastic water bottles each year. This is ideal not only because you get to save money by not buying bottled water, but also due to the fact that you will not be contributing to the demand for crude oil used in the manufacture of disposable water bottles - thereby reducing your carbon footprint.

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Epoxy Pipe Lining

When pipes and drywall become irreparable due to too many pinhole leaks and systemic problems, we are normally tempted to simply replace the entire plumbing system by re-piping, which involves cutting our walls open and tearing out the pipes. In the process, we end up throwing out and wasting old pipes and drywall which thereafter have to be replaced; and the process of manufacturing these new materials is known for having a negative impact on the environment. The good news is that instead of wasting pipes and drywall, one may simply use epoxy pipe lining which helps save on time and money, while leaving less of a footprint. Once epoxy lined, you may find that you no longer need to re-pipe or cut open your walls. Moreover, epoxy lining pipes helps prevent corrosion and erosion damage, which reduces the need for repair or replacement.

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Other effective ways of having environmentally sound plumbing in your home is through the addition of low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators. These help reduce fresh water consumption by up to 50%, as well as a 50% reduction in water heating which helps you save on energy consumption. In addition, these eco-friendly efforts are very quick and very affordable for a homeowner to implement.

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Money Saving Plumbing Tips Maui Hawaii

The plumbing system in your home should undergo routine checks and maintenance. Whether you are a home owner or live in an apartment, plumbing repairs are a regular part of your home life. There are several ways to prevent plumbing repair problems by taking care of your plumbing and inspecting it to prevent further damage before you call a plumbing specialist.

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* Take a look around the base of the toilet for any signs of leaks. This involves stains or water damage.
* To see if you have a "soft floor", stand and straddle over the toilet while rocking back and forth on each foot to check for any spongy feeling in the floor. If so, it is probably rotting or is weakened.
* To check for leaky or loose tiles, press on the walls where they come in contact with the bathtub. If the walls are soft, there may be water damage below your tiles.
* Turn on the water in the bathtub and the kitchen sink. If there is a significant reduction in water volume, this may mean that the piping in the house may need to be replaced due to calcium and mineral deposits.
* If the home has a basement, check exposed piping for signs of leaking.
* Check the date of your water heater to see if it needs to be replaced. The first four numbers of the serial number on the water heater are the month and year. Any heater over 15 years old may need to be replaced.
* A rusty water tank is a sign of pending problems.
* Check the inside of the cabinets for water damage, preferable with a flashlight.
* Check your garbage disposer and dishwasher and make sure that the connections are tight and leak free.
* Check your washing machine hoses for rupture. Turn the valves on and off to test for leaks.
* Check the manufacturer's site for further information and tips on the appliance in your home.
* Inspect the yard for areas that are too wet with unusual plant or grass growth to check for standing water. Excess water in a yard may be coming from a damaged sewer line and contain waste from the home.

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Keep these plumbing repair tips in mind as taking preemptive action against plumbing repair problems will save you money in the long run. Even if you don't know much about plumbing repair, you can prevent further damage before you call a plumber and maintain the plumbing of your home. If you can't find what you're looking for, you can get in touch with a plumbing specialist who can assist you with your further plumbing problems.

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Roman Plumbing - Why the Roman Plumbing System Was So Advanced Maui Hawaii

You always hear plumbers talking about how good their plumbing expertise is, especially after they have fixed a major problem in your kitchen or in your bathroom area but I think historically there have been many civilizations that have both stated plumbing that even rivals the systems that we use today. The Romans had one of the most successful empires in the history of human civilization and they were known for conquering most of the known world back then. They were not only master warriors and architects but the city of Rome had one of the best plumbing systems ever built. For them to have large and small aqueduct systems, lead pipes that we use even today, floors that were heated according to their liking and drainage systems and dams that are even study by plumbers today.

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Each individual home in the city of Rome had water package flow continuously into it through a specialized nozzle that was built by their expert plumbers. Each house owner had a different rate to pay for their water supply according to the size of the nozzle that was built specifically for the. For instance, a home that had a larger nozzle would pay a little more than someone with a smaller nozzle because of the fact that more water could flow into their home at a faster rate. It's incredible to see this technology in action as it was plumbing that was way beyond its time.

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Even public baths in Rome were fitted with the latest plumbing technology as they featured faucets that were made of silver. For the rich and famous Romans they often had luxury plumbing that had very advanced four-branch fittings, stop cocks that were made of brass and very elegant bathtubs that were made of bronze. As the Roman Empire declined not only did their power fade but also their care for their plumbing system and as this happened the Standish of the smell from the lack of plumbing contributed later to many diseases that the Roman people picked up. We often neglect to understand how important good plumbing is to not only a home but to a city as a whole until a major crisis happens, so next time you see your favorite neighborhood plumber be sure to shake his hand and thank him for the good job he has always done on your plumbing problems.

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