How Does Basic Plumbing Work?

Basic plumbing involves water being provided by the local authority or municipal authority after purification. The water is drawn from some remote water source such as a river, lake, reservoir, dam, sea etc. Some residences and offices or industries where the water is provided have their own water tanks at ground level where this water accumulates. It is then pumped to the water tank on the roof. There are valves that control the flow of water at each stage. In cooler climates the basement of a building may also have a boiler which uses gas to provide central heating. Where there is abundant sunshine solar power can be used to heat the water supply as well. Most pipes which provide a route for the water to travel are made of metal. These pipes connect to taps from which we access water.

The plumbing system in your home is designed to direct fresh water and wastewater to where you want them to go, without incident. You want wastewater to leave your home down a drain instead of overflowing into your home and you want fresh water to come out of a spout rather than leaking somewhere within the walls. The plumbing trade has adopted a number of basic strategies and conventions to keep water controlled and go where we want it. It is a good idea to understand how your plumbing system works before tackling any plumbing project.