By now you've probably heard of the popular tankless water heater (TWH). If not, you may have an interest if going green is an important issue to you. The tankless hot water heater is an efficient alternative to the conventional energy wasting tank type hot water heaters. Let's take a look.
Traditional tank type hot water heaters were designed in a time when energy savings was not a big issue. This is obvious when compared to tankless water heaters. Tank type hot water heaters constantly have to heat and store hot water. This is not a very efficient way to address your hot water needs. But, it is the most widely used form of heating water in America today. The main inefficiency with these types is the constant heating and reheating of hot water when we don't really need it. When were in bed at night, when were away on vacation, or even when were at work during the day our tank type hot water heater is burning energy. This constant energy usage is borderline frivolous. Now, if you have a tankless hot water heater you don't have to worry about this, as they only heat water when we need it.
Tankless hot water heaters do not have to rely on a hot water storage tank. They heat water as it passes through the heater unit. This puts you in a big advantage when compared to traditional ways of heating and storing hot water. It should be noted, however, that there are a few drawbacks at this point in time. Tankless hot water heaters are considerably more expensive than their traditional counterparts. Many will cost double of what a tank water heat would cost. When you look at the efficiency advantage, however, it's really worth the extra cost. If you're in the process of designing a new home, installing the TWH is really a no-brainer. Being that your main costs are just the unit purchase price, the savings to your energy bill will more than make up for this over time. The main cost consideration that we see is that of installation. This is especially true when it comes to replacing a traditional unit. The construction costs associated with replacement can be considerable, so you'll need to consider these when weighing the pros and cons of going with a tankless water heater.
Now, when you go to purchase a TWH you'll find that there are two common choices. The two common types of of these are either electric or gas tankless water heaters. If you're going for a entire house unit the gas tankless water heater is a common choice. Most of the electric units available today just don't have enough power to supply hot water to an entire house. Gas tankless water heaters, on the other hand, have sufficient flow rates, which allow for simultaneous hot water usage. The drawback that comes from utilizing a gas set up, is the cost associated with installation. Installation should be handled by a qualified professional and unless you're highly skilled at construction this project is probably most suitable for an experienced contractor. The reason being is that there are often complications. Setting up a gas unit typically involves the running of gas lines, special combustion requirements, and in the running of exhaust.
Electric units are much more economical to install, because they don't have the complications like their gas brethren. Worst case install scenario is usually the running of additional power or power box changes. Electric units are great when utilized at a point of use hot water location. They can be set up in bathrooms, and kitchens or remote locations. And because they're right at the hot water source, they can be very efficient. The technology of electric units is quickly improving, and it won't be long before they have sufficient electric units for whole house applications.
If you'd like more information on how the new tankless water heater works you can visit the site for a more details. For more on the gas tankless water heaters you can find more specifics on that as well.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Rodriguez
MAUI PLUMBING
808-344-0642
Maui, Hawaii Lic.# C-30979
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Recent Maui Plumbing Reviews!
From Google Maps:
"Most people can agree that it' s hard to find a good plumber; someone you can trust and someone who is reliable and reasonable with their costs. I thought it was all fictional until I found Ray whom I was lucky enough to find on the Internet. My mom called him and he answered right away, unlike Steve's plumbing who never called us back. Ray was so friendly and prompt, he quoted us a price before he started and in under 2 hours had repaired 2 toilets, a leaking bathroom sink and fixed 2 kitchen sinks. We were amazed at his skill and that he didn't take us to the cleaners like Roto-Rooter had in the past. I would recommend Ray to anyone with the utmost confidence and pride and I feel like we can call him for any of our future plumbing problems. Ray you're awesome!!!"
From Service Magic:
Kihei- "Ray responded immediately for my call from the mainland for my tenant occupied condo in Kihei. He was fast, professional & pleasant. I have already passed the word to my friends on Maui that Maui Plumbing, Inc's, Ray is the plumber of choice."
Hana- "Excellent-on time, neat, clean, friendly and efficient. Exceeded all of my expectations. Maui Plumbing is my plumbing company of choice and I will definitely recommend Maui Plumbing to all."
Lahaina- "He is very thorough and detailed in his work. He went about in the work. I was having problems, he gave me three options to fix the work. He was just fantastic in his work."
Kula- "Excellent service....will use them again if needed."
Wailuku- "Friendly and reassuring. Professional service."
"Most people can agree that it' s hard to find a good plumber; someone you can trust and someone who is reliable and reasonable with their costs. I thought it was all fictional until I found Ray whom I was lucky enough to find on the Internet. My mom called him and he answered right away, unlike Steve's plumbing who never called us back. Ray was so friendly and prompt, he quoted us a price before he started and in under 2 hours had repaired 2 toilets, a leaking bathroom sink and fixed 2 kitchen sinks. We were amazed at his skill and that he didn't take us to the cleaners like Roto-Rooter had in the past. I would recommend Ray to anyone with the utmost confidence and pride and I feel like we can call him for any of our future plumbing problems. Ray you're awesome!!!"
From Service Magic:
Kihei- "Ray responded immediately for my call from the mainland for my tenant occupied condo in Kihei. He was fast, professional & pleasant. I have already passed the word to my friends on Maui that Maui Plumbing, Inc's, Ray is the plumber of choice."
Hana- "Excellent-on time, neat, clean, friendly and efficient. Exceeded all of my expectations. Maui Plumbing is my plumbing company of choice and I will definitely recommend Maui Plumbing to all."
Lahaina- "He is very thorough and detailed in his work. He went about in the work. I was having problems, he gave me three options to fix the work. He was just fantastic in his work."
Kula- "Excellent service....will use them again if needed."
Wailuku- "Friendly and reassuring. Professional service."
Recent Testimional/Review For Maui Plumbing!
From Angie's List.
Description Of Work:
Gave me an estimate for replacing both bath and kitchen faucets in my vacation rental condo. The bath situation would have involved cutting out tiles so I decided to only go with replacing the kitchen faucet.
Member Comments:
I called Ray to discuss a re-occuring problem I have with bath faucets in my Kihei condo. Two previous plumbers had repaired the faucet only to have them exhibit the same problems. I also asked him what would be involved in replacing my kitchen faucet with a quality faucet. He came to my place to give me a free estimate for both repairs and I decided to only go with the kitchen faucet replacement since the bath faucet currently seems to be okay and the cost (cutting through the tiles and replacing pipes) would have been expensive. We are leaving the bath option for the event that the faucet exhibits problems again.
We set an appointment to replace the kitchen faucet a couple of days later. At the day of the appointment he had a customer emergency so called that he was running a couple of hours late. It was fine with me because my situation was not an emergency. and I understand how these things go. He promised to call me an hour before he arrived which he did. He showed up and replaced my faucet quickly and professionally. He sent me my CC receipt by email which is very helpful for my records.
Overall, it was a pleasure working with him. He has a 24/7 service and I am now using him as the company to call if something needs repairing in the condo while I have guests staying there. I am actually amazed that such a young person is so professional. You just don't see that any more.
Description Of Work:
Gave me an estimate for replacing both bath and kitchen faucets in my vacation rental condo. The bath situation would have involved cutting out tiles so I decided to only go with replacing the kitchen faucet.
Member Comments:
I called Ray to discuss a re-occuring problem I have with bath faucets in my Kihei condo. Two previous plumbers had repaired the faucet only to have them exhibit the same problems. I also asked him what would be involved in replacing my kitchen faucet with a quality faucet. He came to my place to give me a free estimate for both repairs and I decided to only go with the kitchen faucet replacement since the bath faucet currently seems to be okay and the cost (cutting through the tiles and replacing pipes) would have been expensive. We are leaving the bath option for the event that the faucet exhibits problems again.
We set an appointment to replace the kitchen faucet a couple of days later. At the day of the appointment he had a customer emergency so called that he was running a couple of hours late. It was fine with me because my situation was not an emergency. and I understand how these things go. He promised to call me an hour before he arrived which he did. He showed up and replaced my faucet quickly and professionally. He sent me my CC receipt by email which is very helpful for my records.
Overall, it was a pleasure working with him. He has a 24/7 service and I am now using him as the company to call if something needs repairing in the condo while I have guests staying there. I am actually amazed that such a young person is so professional. You just don't see that any more.
Hydro Jetting - Washing Drain Pipes, Sewer and Conduits With Pressurized Water, Maui Hawaii
Drain and sewer jetting is an extremely effective method for cleaning and clearing blocked drains. The interior walls of plumbing are rinsed completely clean of grime and clogs, with the filth washed away by the torrents of water.
Maui Plumber
The hydro jetters used by professionals are industrial sized units with the ability to deliver water at incredible cutting force under thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch. Homeowners and handymen can invest in smaller units, or purchase an attachment for the common pressure washer.
Jetters are amazingly versatile at all sizes. There are new applications being discovered constantly for the technology, limited only by imagination and circumstance. Besides plumbing, uses have been found involving blast washing of any surface, the cleaning of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) conduits, and trailblazing for fiber optic cables.
Maui Plumber
Their remarkable utility comes from a combination of ingenuity and determination. Advances in hydro mechanics have made pressure washers and similar tools affordable and portable. Combined with precision-machined spray nozzles, these tools deliver water with cutting ability that is hard to believe. Industrial units can cut metal and be used for demolition work. Home units can be expected to clear, clean, and cut everything typically encountered in plumbing, including greasy, oily built up blockages, gnarled intrusive tree roots, accumulation of coffee grinds or other gritty residue, and standard sewage.
Hydro jetting is perfect for when build up on the inside of pipes or lines is wide-spread and resilient. A very common problem is extensive and thick accumulation of a material on the insides of pipes or lines. Examples include mineral build up from hard water, plaque-like crusts from bacterial infestations, and drains downstream of greasy or oily workspaces. Unlike drain augers, which are cables threaded through plumbing, drain jetters totally clear everything in their path. Augers can frequently leave corners and sides untouched.
Maui Plumber
Drain jetting systems also have another benefit over auger cables or plumber's snakes: the nozzles spray water backwards, creating a thrust which pulls the wash nozzle farther down the line. Auger cables and similar devices must be corkscrewed and forced around corners and bends, whereas jetter nozzles enjoy more freedom of movement. Washing nozzles can pull themselves through the plumbing, pulling their support hose behind them, and even bringing along a fiber optic cable to a remote inspection camera.
Hydro jetting is undoubtedly one of the most modern and impressive drain cleaning technologies available. It has bonuses for the homeowner or handyman considering a purchase, because a washer is so much more useful than an auger or plunger. When enlisting the help of a drain servicing professional, inquire if hydro jetting, or drain and sewer jetting, is a service that they offer.
Maui Plumber
Maui Plumbing is proud to announce that they have a gorgeous new hydro-jetter to serve Maui.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andam_Persand
Maui Plumber
The hydro jetters used by professionals are industrial sized units with the ability to deliver water at incredible cutting force under thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch. Homeowners and handymen can invest in smaller units, or purchase an attachment for the common pressure washer.
Jetters are amazingly versatile at all sizes. There are new applications being discovered constantly for the technology, limited only by imagination and circumstance. Besides plumbing, uses have been found involving blast washing of any surface, the cleaning of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) conduits, and trailblazing for fiber optic cables.
Maui Plumber
Their remarkable utility comes from a combination of ingenuity and determination. Advances in hydro mechanics have made pressure washers and similar tools affordable and portable. Combined with precision-machined spray nozzles, these tools deliver water with cutting ability that is hard to believe. Industrial units can cut metal and be used for demolition work. Home units can be expected to clear, clean, and cut everything typically encountered in plumbing, including greasy, oily built up blockages, gnarled intrusive tree roots, accumulation of coffee grinds or other gritty residue, and standard sewage.
Hydro jetting is perfect for when build up on the inside of pipes or lines is wide-spread and resilient. A very common problem is extensive and thick accumulation of a material on the insides of pipes or lines. Examples include mineral build up from hard water, plaque-like crusts from bacterial infestations, and drains downstream of greasy or oily workspaces. Unlike drain augers, which are cables threaded through plumbing, drain jetters totally clear everything in their path. Augers can frequently leave corners and sides untouched.
Maui Plumber
Drain jetting systems also have another benefit over auger cables or plumber's snakes: the nozzles spray water backwards, creating a thrust which pulls the wash nozzle farther down the line. Auger cables and similar devices must be corkscrewed and forced around corners and bends, whereas jetter nozzles enjoy more freedom of movement. Washing nozzles can pull themselves through the plumbing, pulling their support hose behind them, and even bringing along a fiber optic cable to a remote inspection camera.
Hydro jetting is undoubtedly one of the most modern and impressive drain cleaning technologies available. It has bonuses for the homeowner or handyman considering a purchase, because a washer is so much more useful than an auger or plunger. When enlisting the help of a drain servicing professional, inquire if hydro jetting, or drain and sewer jetting, is a service that they offer.
Maui Plumber
Maui Plumbing is proud to announce that they have a gorgeous new hydro-jetter to serve Maui.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andam_Persand
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Care and Feeding of Your Garbage Disposal Hawaii Maui
Most people don't think about their garbage disposal until something goes wrong. It's an appliance like any other that requires proper use and regular maintenance. With proper care, a good disposal should last ten years or more. If you added a new disposal during your kitchen remodel, ensure you keep it clean!
Image Source
Hawaii Maui plumber
How to Clean Your Disposal
Regular cleaning is necessary to ensure that your disposal doesn't harbor bacteria and to remove damaging build-up. There are a couple of methods for cleaning your disposal. One involves grinding up ice cubes, which cleans the disposal and sharpens the blades at the same time. Some experts suggest that the only way to get rid of potentially harmful bacteria is with bleach. They recommend a teaspoon of bleach followed by a liter of water. To remove scale from the unit's inside, others recommend pouring down a cup of vinegar and leaving it for an hour. If the disposal's smell is an issue, grind up a slice of lemon.
Hawaii Maui plumber
Proper Use of Your Garbage Disposal
Only put small amounts of food down the disposal and make sure each piece is fairly small. Cramming too much down at once can cause a clog in your pipes. Run cold water into the disposal while you're feeding food into it. Water helps to grind up the food and encourages the waste to keep moving through the pipes. Avoid adding overly fibrous materials like corn husks and artichokes, or hard items such as shells, large bones, glass, or metal objects. Even too much pasta all at once can create a clog.
Hawaii Maui plumber
How to Remove Blockages
Always reach for clogged items with a set of tongs or similar item. Never place your hand in the disposal. A short can occur and damage your hand. It is essential to remove a foreign object, however; it can dull the blades or jam the unit. If your disposal stops running altogether, you can press the reset button at the bottom of the unit under your sink. If that doesn't work, try flipping the wall switch on and off. This creates a jerking movement that may dislodge the object so that you can remove it with tongs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joaquin_Erazo,_Jr.
Hawaii Maui plumber
How to Clean Your Disposal
Regular cleaning is necessary to ensure that your disposal doesn't harbor bacteria and to remove damaging build-up. There are a couple of methods for cleaning your disposal. One involves grinding up ice cubes, which cleans the disposal and sharpens the blades at the same time. Some experts suggest that the only way to get rid of potentially harmful bacteria is with bleach. They recommend a teaspoon of bleach followed by a liter of water. To remove scale from the unit's inside, others recommend pouring down a cup of vinegar and leaving it for an hour. If the disposal's smell is an issue, grind up a slice of lemon.
Hawaii Maui plumber
Proper Use of Your Garbage Disposal
Only put small amounts of food down the disposal and make sure each piece is fairly small. Cramming too much down at once can cause a clog in your pipes. Run cold water into the disposal while you're feeding food into it. Water helps to grind up the food and encourages the waste to keep moving through the pipes. Avoid adding overly fibrous materials like corn husks and artichokes, or hard items such as shells, large bones, glass, or metal objects. Even too much pasta all at once can create a clog.
Hawaii Maui plumber
How to Remove Blockages
Always reach for clogged items with a set of tongs or similar item. Never place your hand in the disposal. A short can occur and damage your hand. It is essential to remove a foreign object, however; it can dull the blades or jam the unit. If your disposal stops running altogether, you can press the reset button at the bottom of the unit under your sink. If that doesn't work, try flipping the wall switch on and off. This creates a jerking movement that may dislodge the object so that you can remove it with tongs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joaquin_Erazo,_Jr.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
Image Source
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_V_Powell
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_V_Powell
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Salow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2395638
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Hawaii Maui plumber
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Salow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2395638
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