If you're like many people
across the country, your home's plumbing system seems
complicated. But once you get to know some of the basics,
the system is actually quite easy to understand.
Supply, drain, vent
These are the three main functions of the plumbing system in
a typical home. The supply system supplies water to the
house, dividing it into hot and cold water lines and sending
it to all the fixtures in the house such as sinks, toilets,
showers, and tubs. Water is also supplied to appliances that
need it, such as washing machines, dishwashers, water
heaters, and heated system boilers.
The drainage system, as the name implies, brings water away
from all the fixtures in the house, while the vent system
injects the drainpipes with air so that waste can be carried
away. Drains and vents use the same type of pipes and are
connected, so you'll often hear them referred to as the
drain-waste-vent system or DWV.
Water meter
To become more familiar with your plumbing system, find out
where the water meter and main shutoff is located. If you
have metered water search for the place where water first
enters the house, and you should find a water main (a pipe
about an inch thick) in the floor of your basement or first
floor. It should enter and exit a round gauge - this is the
water meter. It will either be a digital readout or contain
5 or 6 dials. Not every house has a meter.
You should be able to find one or two valves near where the
water enters your house - this is the main water shutoff.
Some homes have another shutoff outside the house in
something called a "buffalo box," or buried cavity. Near the
street or edge of your property, try to find a round metal
cover in the ground, perhaps underneath grass. Lift it up
and peer inside with the aid of a flashlight. Depending on
where you live, you may find a valve you can turn by hand,
or it may require the use of a long-handled "key." In warmer
climates many older homes actually have an exposed valve
outside.
Especially in older homes, be aware that the inside shutoff
may not be enough in the event of an emergency, as it can
break, leak, or stop shutting off. During a renovation
project, if you will have to shut off the water quite often,
it's a good idea to know where the outside shutoff is
located so that you can turn off your home's water system
from there. |
