Five Plumbing Trivia Bits

1.Water pipes in the past were made from lead. Actually, the words plumbing, plumb and plumber, are derived from the Latin word for lead which is plumbum. Incidentally, the periodic table element label for lead, Pb, is derived from the same Latin word.

2.Water pipes have not always been made from metal. In the 1800′s, both Boston and Montreal used wood pipes  made from logs that were hollowed out and tapered at each end to slot together.

3.Lead solder was still used long after lead was found to be potentially harmful to humans, all the way through the 1980s. It was believed that the amount of lead that could potentially leach into the water was too small to warrant concern.

4.There are two common types of drain plungers – a toilet plunger and a sink and shower plunger. Toilet plungers are narrow at the bottom to fit into the toilet drain, as opposed to sink and shower plungers which have a flat rim.

5.Sir John “the john” Herrington is credited by some for inventing the modern flushable toilet in 1596. He called it the Ajax a shortened version of “a jakes.”  Jakes was common slang for toilet in that period. Unfortunately, Sir John’s ajax title for the flushable toilet didn’t stick, but his name did.

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Domestic Water Usage

A typical NZ family uses between 250-300 litres of water per person per day.

Where does the water go on a daily basis?

  • Cooking, drinking and hand washing – 25 litres per person;
  • Bathing – 80 litres per person;
  • Showers – 30 litres per person;
  • Toilet – 3-9 litres per flush (dual flush);
  • Automatic washing machine – 49-100 litres per wash (depending on efficiency of machine);
  • Dishwasher – up to 35 litres per wash;
  • Dripping tap – can waste up to 3640 litres per year (thats more than a bath-full each week).
  • A hose or garden sprinkler – can use between 1000 and 2000 litres per hour.
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More Plumbing Systems

Continued from previous post…

Unlike the supply system, drainage systems do not depend on pressure. Instead, waste matter leaves your house because the drainage pipes all slope downwards. Simple gravity pulls the waste along the pipes. The sewer line continues this downward flow to a sewage treatment facility or a septic tank (although in some low lying areas pumping may be used).

While the system may sound simple, there are numerous essential components to it, including vents, traps, and clean outs, all of which your Whangarei plumber knows well. The vents sticking up from the roof of your house allow air to enter the drainpipes. If there was no air entering from the vents, waste water would not flow out properly and the water in the traps would need to be siphoned away.

trap plumber

Traps are an important part of the drainage system. You can see a trap under every sink or basin. It is the S-shape section of pipe under a drain. Water flows from the basin with enough force to go through the trap and out through the drainpipe, but enough water stays in the trap afterward to form a seal that stops sewer gas and bad smells from coming up into your home.  Toilets are self trapped by the bowl water and don’t need an additional trap in the drain. Some kitchen sinks have grease traps to collect grease that might otherwise cause blockages. Because grease and hair are the common causes of drain blocks, traps sometimes have clean out plugs that give you easier access to remove any blockage.

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Plumbing Systems

All plumbing adheres to the basic laws of nature — gravity, pressure, water finding its own level.

The plumbing system in your house is comprises two interdependent subsystems. One subsystem delivers fresh water, and the second takes waste water away. The water delivered to your house is under pressure. It enters your home under sufficient pressure to allow it to travel upstairs or wherever it is needed. As water comes into your property, it passes through a meter that records the volume you use. The main water shutoff valve is usually located close to the meter. In a plumbing emergency, it is important that you quickly close the main shutoff valve before you call the plumber. If a pipe bursts, it can flood your house quickly, so know where that valve is located before you need it. If the emergency is limited to a sink, tub, or toilet, you may not want to turn off your entire water supply. Some fixtures will have individual stop valves to allow this.

Water from the main supply is of course ready for your cold water needs. The hot water supply, however, requires another process. One pipe carries water from the cold water system to your water heater. From the heater, a hot water line carries the heated water to all the fixtures, outlets, and appliances that need it. A thermostat on the heater maintains the temperature you select by switching the heating elements on and off as required.  Some automatic dishwashers require higher temperature water, so many of these have a water heater within them that boosts the temperature.

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Hot Water Cylinder Leaks

Leaks from a hot water cylinder are typically caused by corrosion. If your cylinder is leaking this is usually a sign that the tank is at the end of its life and should be replaced. It doesn’t make financial sense to repair a tank if it’s reached this stage, which is generally 20-40 years for electric low-pressure tanks and five to 20 years for mains pressure tanks.

hot water systems
Turn off the tap that leads to the cylinder or the tap that controls the water to the header tank if you have one in the ceiling. If you have a mains pressure gas-heated hot water system, cutting off the mains supply will do the trick.

You will have to wait until the water system empties before the flow at the leak stops. this may require draining the tank from the bottom outlet. A small leak in a pipe can be temporarily fixed with a rubber patch and metal clamp. This should be followed by a permanent repair by your plumber promptly.

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Drought Info

Following recent rain the Whau Valley dam is now 76.17% full.  While improved over recent levels consumers are reminded there is still a need to conserve water.

Water levels can be checked anytime here.

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Drought water shortage

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