When you think about it, plumbing is one of the oldest and most fundamental of engineering disciplines. It’s also one of the most common things to break down in home or business. This is why you need to have a professional plumber on hand when something goes wrong with your plumbing system. However, it’s also important to understand the basics of plumbing so that you don’t call a plumber when there is a much simpler solution available. With that in mind, we’ve compiled this list of common plumbing techniques that every homeowner should know about before calling a plumber.
Trenchless construction
A trenchless construction technique is one that avoids digging up your yard and surrounding soil in order to install new plumbing. There are two types of trenchless construction methods: microtunnelling and pipe-within-a-pipe (bi-pass).Microtunnelling involves creating a shaft that resembles a small shaft or trench; however, it is only about a foot deep. Once the shaft is deep enough, workers will dig out the shaft and install pipes in the shaft.These pipes will then be tied into your house’s plumbing system. The pipes are long enough that they never have to break the surface of the soil.Bi-pass construction, on the other hand, involves installing a smaller, secondary pipe within a larger pipe. This smaller pipe is called a “shunt” and it is used to divert water from a main line back to the main line. The shunt is usually attached to the end of the main line, but can be placed further down the line if needed. If a problem arises, a plumber can simply divert water back to the main line instead of having to dig up the main line.
Hydro-jetting
Hydro-jetting is a plumbing technique that uses pressurized water to remove build-up and scale from pipes. This is especially helpful in cleaning and repairing cast iron and copper pipe. However, many plumbing supply stores also sell hydro-jetting units that can be used at home.Hydro-jetting uses a high pressure pump to shoot extremely pressurized water at the inside of the pipe. This high pressure literally blasts away at the build-up to clean the pipe.When used to clean cast iron and copper pipe, hydro-jetting is the only technique that will actually clean the pipe without damaging it. However, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and turn off the water before starting to clean the pipe. This will reduce the risk of scalding and flooding.
Mending
Mending is a plumbing technique that is used to repair leaks and damaged pipes without cutting or replacing the pipe. This is especially helpful in areas where the soil is too unstable for digging and installing new pipes.There are two general methods of mending: the push-tamper mending technique and the split sleeve mending technique. The push-tamper mending technique uses a plunger-like device called a “tamper” that is attached to a length of copper pipe with a special fitting. The tamper is then pushed down the damaged pipe and into the soil to create a seal. Once in the soil, the tamper seals the damaged section of the pipe and allows water to escape through the undamaged section.The split sleeve mending technique uses a similar device called a “sleeve.” However, the sleeve is a copper or plastic sleeve that is inserted into the damaged pipe and filled with cement. Once in place, the cement hardens and creates a seal. The water then flows through the undamaged portion of the pipe.
Copper pipe
Copper pipe is often used in residential plumbing systems. It is especially common in areas where there is freezing weather or water that is prone to freezing.Copper pipe is very strong and can withstand high water pressures. This makes copper piping a good choice for both commercial and residential plumbing systems. However, copper plumbing requires special care and maintenance to prevent corrosion and leaks.There are three main ways to prevent corrosion and leaks in copper plumbing. First, you can use a waterproofing product to coat the inside of the pipe. This will help protect the copper pipe from corrosion and prevent leaks. Second, you can use a pipe-cleaning product to remove any debris from the inside of the pipe. Finally, you can flush the pipe with a cleaning product to remove any chemicals or residue.These products will help protect the copper pipes from corrosion and leaks and prevent water from getting trapped inside the pipe. This can help prevent damage to the rest of the plumbing system and save you money in the long run.
Conclusion
This article has discussed some of the most common plumbing techniques that are used in residential and commercial plumbing systems. These techniques are important to understand, but they are also very simple to implement. This means that you do not need to hire a professional plumber to perform these tasks. Instead, you can do them yourself and save money in the long run.For more information about plumbing techniques, visit our blog post on the basics of plumbing.