Plumbing is your homes system that is designed to bring potable water into your home and also remove waste through a collection of pipes, drains and vents. The application of technologies involved in providing clean or "potable" water to homes, businesses and public buildings is a major subfield of sanitary engineering.
Plumbing was extremely rare until the growth of modern cities in the 19th century. At about the same time public health authorities began pressing for better waste disposal systems to be installed. Earlier, the waste disposal system merely consisted of collecting waste and dumping it on ground or into a river. There are still many occurrences where through poor design or lack of training that raw sewage is "accidentally" discharged into lakes and rivers.
Water systems of ancient times relied on gravity for the supply of water, using pipes or channels usually made of clay, lead, bamboo wood or stone. Present-day water-supply systems use a network of high-pressure pumps, and pipes are now made of copper, brass, plastic, or other nontoxic material. Present-day drain and vent lines are made of plastic, steel, cast-iron or more commonly ABS and PVC.
Bathtubs and lavatories can have overflows installed. These two fixtures are often used without close observation. A person preparing to take a bath will typically turn on the water and leave while the tub is filling up. If left for a long time, the tub water may rise to a height where the overflow will take the excess water to the drain, preventing flooding of the area. Many tubs are capable of supplying water at rates greater than the flow rate of the overflow. With such fixtures, overflowing and flooding may not be prevented. It is important to check bathtub water supply and drains during the home inspection.
Many newer homes now have whirlpool type bathtubs installed. The Barrie Home Inspector will perform the following tests to ensure proper installation and performance; Fully open the hot and cold water faucets and fill the whirlpool tub with water at least 1 to 3 inches above the whirlpool jets. Do not operate the pump until all jets are submerged. Direct the jets downward before activating the pump. Inspect the amount of bubbling with the controls. The suction inlets typically have very small openings, less than 1/8-inch in diameter, to prevent catching hair and pulling someone's head under water. This has happened in the past and some suction inlets have been recalled. If dirty water comes out of the jets, the circulation system is probably dirty and the tub is not sanitary, and the inspector should recommend a professional cleaning. There should not be any odor emanating from the tub. All whirlpool tubs should have a dedicated electric circuit protected by a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). Inspect and measure the area of the access panel.
Bathtubs are made from many different types of materials, including enameled cast-iron, porcelain-enameled steel, and plastic. Plastic tubs are made from materials such as ABS, PVC, fiberglass, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, acrylic, and cultured-marble acrylic. Bathtubs that are equipped with shower fixtures should be manufactured with slip-resistant surfaces. Bathtubs should have a drainage outlet (tailpiece) with a minimum diameter of 1-1/2 inches (38 mm). Every tub should be equipped with a stopper. The bathtub should have an overflow outlet installed. The overflow prevents flooding if the tub is being filled while unattended, and prevents overflow of the water when a person enters a tub that is full. The hard water in some communites, such as Barrie ON has the potential to damage enamel surfaces and can actually remove enamel in areas such as at the bathtub drain area. A water softener is often advised in areas of hard water.
The Barrie Home Inspector has been fully trained in plumbing inspections and will inspect and operate all your homes fixtures to ensure proper installation and operation. Knowledge of the plumbing code is important in order to be able to properly assess your homes plumbing system.
Plumbing was extremely rare until the growth of modern cities in the 19th century. At about the same time public health authorities began pressing for better waste disposal systems to be installed. Earlier, the waste disposal system merely consisted of collecting waste and dumping it on ground or into a river. There are still many occurrences where through poor design or lack of training that raw sewage is "accidentally" discharged into lakes and rivers.
Water systems of ancient times relied on gravity for the supply of water, using pipes or channels usually made of clay, lead, bamboo wood or stone. Present-day water-supply systems use a network of high-pressure pumps, and pipes are now made of copper, brass, plastic, or other nontoxic material. Present-day drain and vent lines are made of plastic, steel, cast-iron or more commonly ABS and PVC.
Bathtubs and lavatories can have overflows installed. These two fixtures are often used without close observation. A person preparing to take a bath will typically turn on the water and leave while the tub is filling up. If left for a long time, the tub water may rise to a height where the overflow will take the excess water to the drain, preventing flooding of the area. Many tubs are capable of supplying water at rates greater than the flow rate of the overflow. With such fixtures, overflowing and flooding may not be prevented. It is important to check bathtub water supply and drains during the home inspection.
Many newer homes now have whirlpool type bathtubs installed. The Barrie Home Inspector will perform the following tests to ensure proper installation and performance; Fully open the hot and cold water faucets and fill the whirlpool tub with water at least 1 to 3 inches above the whirlpool jets. Do not operate the pump until all jets are submerged. Direct the jets downward before activating the pump. Inspect the amount of bubbling with the controls. The suction inlets typically have very small openings, less than 1/8-inch in diameter, to prevent catching hair and pulling someone's head under water. This has happened in the past and some suction inlets have been recalled. If dirty water comes out of the jets, the circulation system is probably dirty and the tub is not sanitary, and the inspector should recommend a professional cleaning. There should not be any odor emanating from the tub. All whirlpool tubs should have a dedicated electric circuit protected by a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). Inspect and measure the area of the access panel.
Bathtubs are made from many different types of materials, including enameled cast-iron, porcelain-enameled steel, and plastic. Plastic tubs are made from materials such as ABS, PVC, fiberglass, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, acrylic, and cultured-marble acrylic. Bathtubs that are equipped with shower fixtures should be manufactured with slip-resistant surfaces. Bathtubs should have a drainage outlet (tailpiece) with a minimum diameter of 1-1/2 inches (38 mm). Every tub should be equipped with a stopper. The bathtub should have an overflow outlet installed. The overflow prevents flooding if the tub is being filled while unattended, and prevents overflow of the water when a person enters a tub that is full. The hard water in some communites, such as Barrie ON has the potential to damage enamel surfaces and can actually remove enamel in areas such as at the bathtub drain area. A water softener is often advised in areas of hard water.
The Barrie Home Inspector has been fully trained in plumbing inspections and will inspect and operate all your homes fixtures to ensure proper installation and operation. Knowledge of the plumbing code is important in order to be able to properly assess your homes plumbing system.
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