Renovating
Your Home's Plumbing Made Easy
Take five minutes to learn some water supply and plumbing basics – it will do you (and your home) a world of good
Not everyone in the world enjoys the everyday miracle that is endless hot and cold water when the tap’s turned on. Not everyone understands where the water goes once you’re done with it. It’s only when you experience the damage of a catastrophic leak, the inconvenience of having the water turned off or the disaster of a blocked drain that you appreciate the invisible system behind the walls. This simple guide to water supply and plumbing will give you the knowhow you need for your next renovation or repair, and the tools to help you better maintain your home.
Understanding your water meter
The water meter is worthy of some attention. First, ensure you know its location, because the garden can grow up around it.
A good practice is to draw a water meter location map and put it alongside other accessible emergency information. In addition, ensure all family members can turn off the water in case of an emergency where you can’t get to it yourself, and repeat this test every year.
To turn the water off, twist the shut-off valve (a tap handle visible here between the bars of the gate, to the left of the image) to a position that’s perpendicular to the pipework entering/leaving the meter. Any faults can be referred to your water supplier and they will repair it at no cost to you.
The meter is owned by your water supplier, but all pipework running into and through your property is your responsibility. So it’s in your interests to ensure pipes are kept in great condition, and any work done on them is done well.
The water meter is worthy of some attention. First, ensure you know its location, because the garden can grow up around it.
A good practice is to draw a water meter location map and put it alongside other accessible emergency information. In addition, ensure all family members can turn off the water in case of an emergency where you can’t get to it yourself, and repeat this test every year.
To turn the water off, twist the shut-off valve (a tap handle visible here between the bars of the gate, to the left of the image) to a position that’s perpendicular to the pipework entering/leaving the meter. Any faults can be referred to your water supplier and they will repair it at no cost to you.
The meter is owned by your water supplier, but all pipework running into and through your property is your responsibility. So it’s in your interests to ensure pipes are kept in great condition, and any work done on them is done well.
Pipes
Copper pipes, 20mm in diameter, run under your front garden and pop up under the house or on the side.
Copper is naturally resistant to bacteria and shouldn’t melt in a house fire. PEX piping (a flexible plastic piping) is a lower cost alternative – the material is cheaper and installation times are reduced. It has a shorter warranty and is not UV resistant (so it can only be used under the house), but it’s more energy efficient and tolerates chlorine and scale better than copper.
Pipes should be organised as elegantly as possible to minimise distance between fixtures, and to maximise the ease with which they can be maintained. A plumber who takes pride in how their pipework is organised behind the wall is a plumber whose number you should keep.
Pipes are secured with clips at correct intervals to reduce the risk of ‘water hammer’ – a pressure wave that causes a loud thump when a valve or tap is closed or turned off.
Copper pipes, 20mm in diameter, run under your front garden and pop up under the house or on the side.
Copper is naturally resistant to bacteria and shouldn’t melt in a house fire. PEX piping (a flexible plastic piping) is a lower cost alternative – the material is cheaper and installation times are reduced. It has a shorter warranty and is not UV resistant (so it can only be used under the house), but it’s more energy efficient and tolerates chlorine and scale better than copper.
Pipes should be organised as elegantly as possible to minimise distance between fixtures, and to maximise the ease with which they can be maintained. A plumber who takes pride in how their pipework is organised behind the wall is a plumber whose number you should keep.
Pipes are secured with clips at correct intervals to reduce the risk of ‘water hammer’ – a pressure wave that causes a loud thump when a valve or tap is closed or turned off.
The joints between lengths of copper pipe are vital to maintaining a dry house. They should be silver soldered for strength, and any waste solder should be wiped off so the joints are clean.
The joints behind the wall should be as carefully executed as the ones shown in this kitchen (not as polished though, perhaps!).
The joints behind the wall should be as carefully executed as the ones shown in this kitchen (not as polished though, perhaps!).
Valves
Valves allow you to quickly turn off the water to a particular tap, and are called shut-off, mini or emergency stop valves.
For instance, if the tap on this bathroom basin burst, you would be able to reach down and turn the handle that’s mounted on the wall under it. If you had to run outside to find and turn off (hopefully) your mains water, the volume of water expelled would be like leaving your garden hose on flat out.
The other benefit of these valves is that when you need a plumber to repair a leaky toilet for example, the water supply to just the toilet can be stopped, while the rest of the house continues on as usual.
Valves allow you to quickly turn off the water to a particular tap, and are called shut-off, mini or emergency stop valves.
For instance, if the tap on this bathroom basin burst, you would be able to reach down and turn the handle that’s mounted on the wall under it. If you had to run outside to find and turn off (hopefully) your mains water, the volume of water expelled would be like leaving your garden hose on flat out.
The other benefit of these valves is that when you need a plumber to repair a leaky toilet for example, the water supply to just the toilet can be stopped, while the rest of the house continues on as usual.
Drains and sewer pipes
Our everyday invisible plumbing miracle continues as the water, dirtied in the sink, toilet, dishwasher or other fixtures, is whisked away by the drainage system and into the sewer. It doesn’t bear thinking about where we would be without it – thunderbox and night soil collections, anyone?
Gravity pulls the waste down into PVC drain pipes, then it flows past a trap. The trap is very much your nose’s best friend.
One example is the U-shaped bend sitting under the sink – the last of the flowing water fills the U. This water seal prevents gases and therefore odours from the sewer side of the system from making an unwelcome re-entry to your home.
When traps are on display as seen in this bathroom, they can be installed in other materials or finishes such as chrome or copper.
Our everyday invisible plumbing miracle continues as the water, dirtied in the sink, toilet, dishwasher or other fixtures, is whisked away by the drainage system and into the sewer. It doesn’t bear thinking about where we would be without it – thunderbox and night soil collections, anyone?
Gravity pulls the waste down into PVC drain pipes, then it flows past a trap. The trap is very much your nose’s best friend.
One example is the U-shaped bend sitting under the sink – the last of the flowing water fills the U. This water seal prevents gases and therefore odours from the sewer side of the system from making an unwelcome re-entry to your home.
When traps are on display as seen in this bathroom, they can be installed in other materials or finishes such as chrome or copper.
In the photo above, a white PVC trap is visible to right of the ceiling fan. It flows into the larger drain pipe. These horizontal pipe runs are self cleansing if they are the correct diameter, and have a gentle downward slope – note the pipework above the sink area.
All drains lead to the largest one that runs vertically all the way through the house, also known as the main stack. Waste flows downwards by gravity into this pipe and then out of the home.
For drains to run freely and quickly, the right balance of water and air must be reached. One way to ensure air inflow is through vents: the vertical component of drain pipes that run up through the walls.
All drains lead to the largest one that runs vertically all the way through the house, also known as the main stack. Waste flows downwards by gravity into this pipe and then out of the home.
For drains to run freely and quickly, the right balance of water and air must be reached. One way to ensure air inflow is through vents: the vertical component of drain pipes that run up through the walls.
A roof vent can be seen in the photo above, sitting next to the solar panel, just down from the ridge line in white PVC.
Plumbing codes define the location of vents and these rules are there for a reason. If a vent is too far away, it cannot break the vacuum and allow fast drainage. The vacuum can also pull all of the water out of traps, leaving nothing between you and the smells of the sewer.
In a well-planned sewer, there are plenty of inspection openings that can be unscrewed to allow for easier cleaning and inspection of blocked pipes.
Plumbing codes define the location of vents and these rules are there for a reason. If a vent is too far away, it cannot break the vacuum and allow fast drainage. The vacuum can also pull all of the water out of traps, leaving nothing between you and the smells of the sewer.
In a well-planned sewer, there are plenty of inspection openings that can be unscrewed to allow for easier cleaning and inspection of blocked pipes.
As the drain pipes leave the safety of your home to meet the city sewer under the road, they run the gauntlet of thirsty trees in the garden. As long as the pipes’ joints have been correctly installed with allowances for flexion and expansion, they will not leak and therefore won’t attract any tree’s attention. Any breaks in the pipe will become an entry point for rapidly dividing roots, and a consequent headache for the homeowner.
So there you have it: a rudimentary uncovering of the everyday miracle of water ‘on tap’, and the magic of disappearing waste.
Whether you’re considering a renovation or maintenance work on your property, the plumbing – not just your taps and sinks but the invisible system that lies behind your walls and beneath your floors – needs your consideration, too. A high functioning and well-installed plumbing system can help protect your home from nasty plumbing disasters, and make managing emergencies quick and easy.
YOUR SAY
Had a plumbing disaster? Share your tale of woe in the Comments.
MORE
Bathroom Plumbing You’ll Want to Show Off
9 Bathroom Reno Questions You Never Thought to Ask
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So there you have it: a rudimentary uncovering of the everyday miracle of water ‘on tap’, and the magic of disappearing waste.
Whether you’re considering a renovation or maintenance work on your property, the plumbing – not just your taps and sinks but the invisible system that lies behind your walls and beneath your floors – needs your consideration, too. A high functioning and well-installed plumbing system can help protect your home from nasty plumbing disasters, and make managing emergencies quick and easy.
YOUR SAY
Had a plumbing disaster? Share your tale of woe in the Comments.
MORE
Bathroom Plumbing You’ll Want to Show Off
9 Bathroom Reno Questions You Never Thought to Ask
How to Get Five More Years Out of Your Bathroom
Water supply to your property comes through a branched pipe from the main under your street to the water meter – this is a low, N-shaped structure usually located in your front garden.
The meter clocks up the water usage on your property, but it also has the important job of stopping the high 500kPa pressure flow if you need it to – say if a pipe bursts or you need plumbing work done in the house, stopping the flow will keep things dry throughout.